BANGKOK, Dec. 4 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's Royal Thai Police and the Ministry of Public Health on Friday issued an announcement banning the sale or advertisement of alcoholic beverages via digital channels starting next Monday onward.

"Direct selling, persuading consumers, introducing products or other related services via digital channels that enable sellers to complete a sale without meeting the buyer face to face will be banned," said Siriwat Deephor, spokesman for the Royal Thai Police's Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD) office.

This prohibition, however, does not include paying for alcoholic beverages via electronic methods at stores, restaurants or establishments that serve alcohol.

"Violators face up to six months in prison and/or 10,000 baht (331.58 U.S. dollars) in fines," said Siriwat, adding that his office had received complaints of underage people buying alcoholic beverages via online.

The Thai law stipulates that those under the age of 18 are banned from buying alcoholic beverages, online or in stores.

Siriwat said that these controls are being introduced because it is difficult to check if the sale of alcohol online is in compliance with legal limits, such as age, in line with the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act.

"This prohibition applies to all retailers and wholesalers, regardless of the size of the company," he said. Enditem

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