Mom Kong, executive director of the NGO Cambodia Movement for Health (CMH), has raised alarms regarding the detrimental effects of alcohol consumption among children and youth.

Kong highlights the urgent need to safeguard young individuals from the potential harms associated with alcohol’s side effects.

The growing prevalence of alcoholic beverages in the sports sector has prompted this call for concern. Kong asserts that the increasing presence of alcohol advertising in sporting events is normalising alcohol consumption among children and youth, leading to a concerning rise in the habit within society.

Kong’s apprehension is further validated by the recent large-scale sporting event held in Qatar, where alcohol usage was banned and alcohol-related advertising was limited due to its adverse impact on various audiences, including children and young people watching from home.

“Alcohol advertising on social media further compounds the issue,” he said, noting that these campaigns infringe upon children’s rights, including the right to accurate information and a safe environment. As a state party to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, protecting children’s wellbeing is paramount.

Several ASEAN nations have already taken steps to ban alcohol advertising, particularly in connection with sports. However, in Cambodia, these measures appear limited, with alcohol advertisements still prevalent in sporting events.

A report by the US-based Wisevoter, published in July this year, reveals Cambodia’s ranking as the third-highest consumer of alcohol in ASEAN and 36th globally. Laos holds the top spot within ASEAN and ranks 18th globally, while Brunei, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia exhibit the lowest alcohol consumption rates in the region.

In 2015, the Ministry of Health unveiled plans for a law aimed at controlling alcohol products to safeguard public health and mitigate economic and social repercussions. Despite these intentions, the draft law has not yet materialised.

Phan Oun, head of the Consumer Protection, Competition and Fraud Repression Directorate-General (CCF), confirmed that a sub-decree setting the legal age for alcohol purchase has been drafted. The sub-decree’s submission to the cabinet is imminent, with expectations that it will provide a degree of control over alcohol consumption by establishing age-related restrictions on purchasing, selling, and consumption.

The Cambodia Demographic and Health Survey 2021-2022, released in April, highlights that seven out of 10 men in Cambodia consume alcohol. Among them, approximately 10 per cent drink alcohol on a daily or near-daily basis, with 60% consuming alcohol on five days or fewer per month. Additionally, 18 per cent of men consume alcohol between six and 10 days a month, while 12 per cent consume it for 11 to 24 days a month.

The report also indicates that 16 per cent of women partake in alcohol consumption, predominantly limited to one to five days per month.