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Published on February 21, 2008

If convicted, the offending business promoters face a fine, a jail term or both.

"The maximum jail term is one year," FDA secretary-general Siriwat Tiptaradol said yesterday. The fine is in five-digit amounts.

Siriwat encouraged members of the public to call the FDA Hotline 1556 or alert provincial public-health offices if they found campaigns for caffeinated drinks included lucky draws or random prize offers.

According to Siriwat, the FDA has enforced the ban on lucky-draw promotional gimmicks for such beverages since December 25 last year but has allowed a three-month grace period. "But from March 25 on, we will seriously take action against offenders," Siriwat said.

He has called on the Interior Ministry and the Excise Department to cooperate with the FDA in enforcing the ban on promotional gimmicks.

The Nation