China tightens controls on alcohol sales
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-07-08 07:12

BEIJING - China has tightened regulations prohibiting the sale of alcohol to minors in what is to be a step toward establishing a legal drinking age, state press reported.

New regulations issues on July 1 ban the sale of drinks with an alcohol content higher than 0.5 percent to persons under 18, the Beijing News reported.

"These regulations are sort of preliminary standards that are in the initial stage and are not stringent standards," a ministry official told the paper, suggesting stricter regulations were to come.

"Everyone expects that the scope of these regulations will effectively curb the increasing drunkenness and criminal activity after drinking of the youth," the paper said.

China does not have a legal drinking age although a 1999 law on "Preventing Crime Amongst Minors" does carry a stipulation that tobacco and alcohol should not be sold to minors, the paper said.

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