Srinakharinwirot University (SWU) applies a multi-layered alcohol control approach that combines legal compliance, campus-level regulations, health-promotion campaigns, and supportive services for students and staff. The measures below demonstrate how SWU addresses each element of ZT 2.1 in practice.
1. Prohibition of alcohol sales within and immediately around (300 meters) the university premises
SWU operates within the framework of Thailand’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Act, which prohibits the sale of alcoholic beverages in and around educational institutions, and the University actively participates in national initiatives to enforce these restrictions. A national feature article by the Thai Health Promotion Foundation identifies Srinakharinwirot University as one of 15 universities that have implemented zoning measures to create “alcohol-free areas” around campuses, aiming to control the density of alcohol outlets near university gates and protect students from exposure to drinking environments. In addition, documentation on the Srinakharinwirot University Friday Night Market notes that this on-campus market does not sell alcohol at all, providing a popular social and food space that is explicitly alcohol-free. Together, these examples show that SWU goes beyond basic legal compliance by actively promoting alcohol-free commercial and social environments on and around its campuses.
Source: ประกาศนโยบายและมาตรการการจัดกิจกรรมน้องใหม่
2. Ban on alcohol consumption at all social functions hosted by the university
SWU has formal policies that prohibit alcohol use at key university-hosted activities, especially those involving students. The University’s announcement on “Policies and Measures for Organizing Freshmen Welcoming Activities” states that welcoming events must be conducted in a safe, creative, and ethical manner and explicitly bans the consumption of alcohol and intoxicants in these activities, aligning with national guidance from the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation. This reflects a broader institutional culture of organising official functions—particularly student-facing events—without alcoholic beverages, consistent with SWU’s positioning as a “Well-Being University” in partnership with ThaiHealth and the SWU Well-Being Club network, which promotes healthy, alcohol-free organisational cultures for both staff and students.
Source: ประกาศนโยบายและมาตรการการจัดกิจกรรมน้องใหม่
Source: https://fofa.swu.ac.th/noalchohol-240827/
Source: https://www.facebook.com/p/swuwellbeingclub-61559139487187/
3. Educational campaigns to inform students and staff about the risks and negative impacts of alcohol consumption
SWU conducts educational and communication campaigns to raise awareness about the harms of alcohol among students and the wider community. The University is highlighted in media coverage of the “SWU Well-Being Club” created in collaboration with ThaiHealth, where student and staff leaders promote healthy lifestyles and supportive environments in surrounding communities, including work on reducing exposure to alcohol and other health risks. University-wide campaigns such as “งดเหล้าเข้าพรรษา” (Abstain from Alcohol during Buddhist Lent) are organised by the University Communications and Image Promotion Committee, encouraging staff and students to pledge to stop drinking and framing abstinence as a visible norm on campus. Additional creative initiatives include student health-communication contests like “Party No L Contest 2025 – ปาร์ตี้สนุกได้ไร้แอลกอฮอล์”, where SWU student teams create media and short videos promoting alcohol-free parties and highlighting alcohol-related risks for young people. These campaigns collectively provide continuous education about alcohol harms, social consequences, and safer lifestyle choices.
Source: https://fofa.swu.ac.th/noalchohol-240827/
Source: https://www.facebook.com/p/swuwellbeingclub-61559139487187/
4. Prohibition of alcohol-related advertisements within university property
In line with the Thai Alcoholic Beverage Control Act, which bans the sale and drinking of alcohol in educational institutions and restricts alcohol advertising that promotes consumption, SWU treats its campuses as alcohol-advertisement-free zones. The University’s participation in the national “alcohol-free zone around universities” initiative, led by ThaiHealth and partner organisations, is specifically aimed at controlling not only alcohol outlets but also the visibility and marketing presence of alcohol around campuses. Campus-level events and markets identified as alcohol-free, such as the Friday Night Market, operate without alcohol branding or product promotion, reinforcing an environment where alcohol marketing is not part of students’ everyday campus experience.
Source: https://www.facebook.com/HealthComCOSCI/posts/1243374937636156/
Source: https://happy8workplace.thaihealth.or.th/news/71
5. Counseling and referral services available for individuals seeking help with alcohol issues
Although SWU does not operate a standalone “alcohol clinic” on campus, the University provides structured counselling and referral pathways that can support students and staff facing alcohol-related problems as part of broader mental-health and well-being services. The SWU Smile counselling service under the Division of Student Affairs offers psychological counselling through in-person sessions, online consultations, and telephone hotlines, with the stated aim of screening, monitoring, and improving students’ mental health and providing tailored assistance. In addition, the SWU SMILE and Well Youth app–based services enable students to register, consent to data sharing, and receive integrated health and mental-health support online, which can include cases where alcohol use contributes to stress, depression, or other psychosocial difficulties. Complementing this, SWU has commissioned an internal “Alcohol Consumption – Report” (Alcohol Report) to examine alcohol-use prevalence among students and personnel; this evidence is used to inform prevention strategies, targeted communication, and referrals for those at risk, thereby linking prevalence monitoring with support services.
Source: https://rankings.swu.ac.th/swu-sdgs/sdg-3/335
Source: https://rankings.swu.ac.th/swu-sdgs/sdg-3/337
Source: Alcohol Report.pdf
6. Any other innovative alcohol control measures implemented
Beyond conventional bans and campaigns, SWU has introduced several innovative alcohol control measures that align with its identity as a Well-Being University. The SWU Well-Being Club, supported by ThaiHealth, mobilises 70 students and 9 academic staff from eight faculties to co-create health-promoting spaces in five surrounding communities, integrating alcohol-harm prevention into community-based projects on environment, mental health, and social well-being. University units such as Ongkharak Library and campus partners organise creative “No Alcohol” challenges and signature campaigns—e.g. “มศวหัวใจใสไร้แอลกอฮอล์”, “NoAlcoholChallenge”, and “งดเหล้าเข้าพรรษา 2568”—which use social media, pledges, and participatory activities to normalise alcohol-free lifestyles among students and staff. Student-led media initiatives like the “Party No L Contest 2025” further extend SWU’s influence by producing youth-driven content that portrays alcohol-free parties as modern, fun, and socially desirable. Together with the Alcohol Consumption Report, which provides evidence for targeted interventions, these activities show that SWU’s alcohol control strategy is not limited to restriction but proactively combines policy, innovation, student leadership, and community engagement to reduce alcohol-related harm.
Source: https://www.facebook.com/HealthComCOSCI/posts/1243374937636156/
Source: https://fofa.swu.ac.th/noalchohol-240827/
Source: https://www.facebook.com/p/swuwellbeingclub-61559139487187/