The Ministry of Health has completed a draft law on alcohol regulation, which will set a minimum drinking age, increase taxes on alcohol and place other controls on the sale, consumption and advertising of alcohol.

Dr Ray Rany, head of tobacco and alcohol at the Health Ministry’s National Centre for Health Promotion, yesterday said that Health Minister Mam Bun Heng met with representatives from other ministries and finalised the draft legislation on Wednesday.

“The inter-ministerial committee has finalised the draft law, and it is ready to be sent to the Council of Ministers and the National Assembly after that,” Rany said yesterday.

“The law includes items that make it illegal to sell alcohol to people under 21 years of age, and to pregnant women.”

Rany and other Health Ministry officials yesterday de-clined to provide a copy of the draft legislation.

In its current iteration, the draft includes 11 chapters and 39 articles, said Mom Kong, director of Cambodian Movement for Health.