The Minister of Culture, Mr. Somsak Prissanananthakul (สมศักดิ์ เกียรติสุรนนท์), has announced his intention to reduce gaming addiction among Thai youths by 70 percent within the next 90 days.

Mr. Somsak said that more than 1,500 officials from the Metropolitan Police Bureau, the Children Juveniles and Women Division of the Royal Thai Police, and game production companies will be inspecting more than 1,500 computer game shops in the Bangkok Metropolitan area and in regional provinces. The Minister of Culture said that the initiative is aimed at reducing violence among youths through support, prevention, and suppression.

Mr. Somsak said that, in the past, officials have campaigned for reductions in gaming but have been inconsistent in their work. The Minister of Culture said that, in his current capacity, he will carry on efforts to reduce gaming addition for the sake of Thai youths.

Meanwhile gaming establishments disagreed with the ministry’s initiative due to the more than 80,000 computer shops thoughout the nation. Gaming shop operators argued that game production companies are at fault for the violent contents in video games.

Source : National News Bureau, Public Relations Department of Thailand