Guidelines for Muslim Community Participation in the Joint Issuance of Liquor Licensing

Abstract

This qualitative research aimed to: 1) develop a community participation model for liquor license issuance corresponding to the density of liquor retailers in each area; and 2) examine the feasibility of the model with Muslim communities in Bangkok as a prototype for community participation in liquor license issuance. The study was grounded in the theoretical framework of citizen participation, integrated with the Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) approach and the principles of the Community Health Charter. Data were collected through six focus group discussions with 30 key informants, comprising 15 government officials (Excise officers, police officers, public health officers, and city law enforcement officers) and 15 Muslim community representatives (religious leaders/Imams, community leaders, and community members), selected through purposive sampling. The research was conducted in three Bangkok districts—Watthana, Khlong Toei, and Nong Chok—representing high, medium, and low densities of liquor retailers, respectively. A semi-structured focus group guide, validated for content validity by experts, was used as the research instrument. Data were analyzed through structured content analysis, and credibility was established through triangulation.

The findings revealed that Muslim community participation in liquor license issuance can be implemented through both direct and indirect mechanisms. The direct approach comprises four forms: community consent letters, public hearings, the delegation of community representatives to licensing meetings, and on-site consultations by licensing officers—though these remain unsupported by current legal provisions. The indirect approach involves awareness campaigns, religious guidance for community members, and lease agreements prohibiting alcohol sales on rented premises. The developed model encompasses the interrelationships among three key actors—government officials, retailers, and local residents—driven by community strength, religious and cultural principles, mutual agreements, and spatial information systems. When piloted in three communities, all selected the indirect approach grounded in religious principles, as they were unable to enforce restrictions on transient populations and non-Muslim residents, and the state lacks formal procedures supporting community resolutions. The research team therefore recommends amending Clauses 4 and 6 of the Ministerial Regulation on Liquor Licensing (No. 2) B.E. 2565, requiring license applicants to submit community committee consent documentation and mandating that competent officials consult community opinions prior to issuing liquor licenses.