Cambodia has significantly reduced alcohol advertising billboards in Phnom Penh, with the number falling by approximately 49% from 1,026 to 521, as the government strengthens controls over alcohol marketing in public spaces and on digital platforms.
Information Minister Neth Pheaktra announced the figures on October 28, 2026, during the launch of the second “Goodwill Campaign” at Sokha Phnom Penh Hotel. The campaign focuses on strengthening enforcement of regulations governing advertisements for alcoholic products and sugar-sweetened beverages, with particular attention to protecting public health, children and young people.
The government is also turning its attention to social media advertising, influencer marketing and promotional campaigns that use prizes or lucky draws to encourage alcohol purchases.
Key Facts
49% reduction: Alcohol advertising billboards in Phnom Penh declined from 1,026 to 521, according to figures presented by the Information Minister.
620 advertising structures: Approximately 620 beer advertising structures nationwide were converted to advertisements for drinking water.
Phnom Penh billboard data: At the beginning of 2026, the capital had 3,889 large billboards and posters, including 507 alcohol advertising structures, representing approximately 13%.
National billboard data: Cambodia had 6,207 large advertising structures, of which 1,028 promoted alcoholic products, representing approximately 17%.
Digital marketing scrutiny: Authorities are focusing on advertising through Facebook, TikTok, YouTube and social media influencers.
Regulatory framework: Prakas No. 084 sets out 17 principles governing alcohol advertising, according to the minister.
Campaign objective: Move beyond awareness of the rules towards practical compliance, accountability and measurable results.
Alcohol Advertising Billboards Decline in Phnom Penh
The reduction in alcohol advertising was highlighted by Neth Pheaktra, Minister of Information and head of the working group responsible for managing alcohol-product advertising.
According to data from the Cambodian Advertising Media Agency Association, which comprises 17 major companies and collects information across all 25 provinces and municipalities, efforts to reduce alcohol advertising began in July 2024.
Some advertising companies replaced alcohol-related advertisements with promotions for other products, while other advertising structures were left vacant.
The minister presented the reduction as evidence of policy implementation and private-sector participation. However, he cautioned that the number of billboards removed or converted is not the only measure of effective regulation.
Authorities must also consider where remaining advertisements are displayed, whether health warnings are clearly visible and whether advertising content uses imagery or language that could appeal to minors.
National Figures Show Alcohol Advertising Remains Widespread
Data presented during the campaign showed that Cambodia had 6,207 large billboards and posters nationwide at the beginning of 2026. Of these, 1,028 promoted alcoholic products, representing approximately 17% of the total.
In Phnom Penh, the reported figures were 3,889 large advertising structures, including 507 alcohol advertising structures, equivalent to approximately 13%.
The article also reported that approximately 620 advertising structures previously used to promote beer had been converted to advertisements for drinking water.
These figures suggest that the reduction effort involves changes in the use of advertising space as well as the removal of alcohol-related promotional content.
The figures require careful interpretation, however. The article separately reports a decline in Phnom Penh from 1,026 to 521 alcohol advertising billboards, while the capital's early-2026 inventory lists 507 alcohol advertising structures. The report does not fully explain the difference between the two sets of figures or their respective measurement dates.
Government Shifts Attention to Social Media Advertising
As outdoor alcohol advertising declines, the Ministry of Information is placing greater emphasis on digital marketing.
Neth Pheaktra identified Facebook, TikTok, YouTube and other social media platforms as channels through which alcohol promotions can reach consumers, including younger audiences. Influencers and content creators are a particular concern because their audiences may include large numbers of young people.
The minister argued that advertising standards should be applied consistently across traditional and digital media.
He said companies should not remove alcohol advertisements from locations near schools while using influencers with large youth audiences to deliver similar promotional messages online.
The campaign calls for greater responsibility from advertisers, brands, influencers and content producers to ensure that marketing content does not encourage inappropriate alcohol consumption or reach minors in ways that undermine public-health objectives.
For businesses, this places greater importance on reviewing digital campaigns before publication, assessing audience demographics and ensuring that promotional practices comply with applicable regulations.
Authorities Target Prize-Based Alcohol Promotions
The government is also focusing on promotional activities that use prizes and games of chance to encourage alcohol purchases.
The measures highlighted by the minister cover promotions involving:
Bottle caps and can rings offering prizes
Lucky draws and lottery-style campaigns
Scratch cards
Coupons
QR-code promotions
Digital reward programmes
The minister said businesses should compete through product quality rather than relying on chance-based incentives to encourage purchases.
Such promotions can form part of wider marketing strategies that connect product purchases with the possibility of winning prizes. The government's approach seeks to bring these practices within the scope of alcohol advertising controls.
The report does not provide details of individual enforcement cases, penalties imposed or the number of promotional campaigns investigated.
Prakas No. 084 Sets Out Alcohol Advertising Principles
According to Neth Pheaktra, Prakas No. 084 on the management of alcohol-product advertising establishes 17 principles governing advertising practices.
The provisions described in the report include restrictions on alcohol advertising or sales promotions on radio and television between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., subject to specified exceptions for displaying product logos, product names or reading product names under defined conditions.
The report also states that alcohol advertising is not permitted within 200 metres of educational institutions, hospitals, religious sites, historical and cultural tourism sites, and international airports.
Health and safety messages must also be clearly visible, according to the minister's explanation of the rules.
Businesses operating in Cambodia's advertising, hospitality, retail and beverage sectors should review the applicable requirements before launching campaigns. The precise application of individual provisions should be checked against the official regulatory text rather than inferred solely from summaries of the rules.
Businesses Urged to Strengthen Internal Compliance
The Information Minister called on alcohol manufacturers, importers, distributors, advertising agencies and content producers to establish internal review systems.
Under the approach outlined during the campaign, marketing campaigns, advertising messages and sales-promotion activities should be checked before publication or implementation.
This places responsibility not only on the companies selling alcoholic products but also on the agencies and individuals involved in producing and distributing advertising.
For businesses, a structured compliance process could include reviewing creative content, verifying placement locations, checking audience targeting, confirming the visibility of health warnings and assessing whether promotions fall within restricted categories.
The minister also urged artists and social media influencers to consider the potential effects of sponsored content, particularly when it could reach minors or encourage inappropriate alcohol consumption.
The report does not specify a new compliance deadline or announce a detailed enforcement schedule for companies and influencers.
Second Goodwill Campaign Expands Focus to Sugary Drinks
The second Goodwill Campaign also addresses advertising for sugar-sweetened beverages, encouraging companies to provide transparent product information and take responsibility for consumer health.
According to Neth Pheaktra, the first campaign, held in 2024, focused on increasing awareness of relevant laws and principles. The second campaign aims to turn awareness into practical implementation and measurable results.
The event was organised by the Ministry of Information in cooperation with MSA Marketing Solution Asia and the Cambodian Advertising Media Agency Association. Participants included government representatives, private-sector companies, beverage producers, advertisers, artists and content creators.
Two discussion sessions focused on strengthening implementation of alcohol advertising controls and moving from regulatory compliance towards broader social responsibility.
Angkor Times Analysis: Digital Enforcement Will Be the Next Major Test
Cambodia's reduction in outdoor alcohol advertising represents a visible change in the marketing environment. However, the government's expanded focus on digital advertising reflects a broader challenge: promotional content can move between billboards, television, social media, influencers and digital reward systems.
The effectiveness of the policy will depend on consistent enforcement across these channels, not simply a reduction in the number of outdoor advertisements.
For businesses, the campaign signals that alcohol marketing compliance should be treated as an organisation-wide responsibility. Brands, distributors, agencies and influencers may all need to consider how advertising content is produced, placed and delivered to audiences.
Three areas will be important in assessing progress:
Digital compliance: Whether alcohol promotions on social media are reviewed and monitored consistently, including influencer partnerships and paid content.
Protection of minors: Whether advertising placement, audience targeting and creative content reduce young people's exposure to alcohol marketing.
Measurable enforcement: Whether authorities publish data on violations, corrective actions, penalties and compliance outcomes.
The minister's emphasis on the quality of compliance is particularly relevant. Removing an advertisement does not necessarily demonstrate that the remaining marketing practices are appropriate, just as publishing a health warning does not by itself establish that an advertisement meets every applicable requirement.
For the private sector, transparent rules and consistent implementation can help businesses understand their obligations and reduce uncertainty. For the public, the central objective is to ensure that commercial promotion operates within a framework that protects health and limits inappropriate exposure among children and young people.
The next phase of Cambodia's campaign will therefore be judged by whether it produces sustained compliance and measurable public-health protections across both physical and digital advertising environments.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How much has alcohol advertising declined in Phnom Penh?
The figures presented by the Information Minister show a decline from 1,026 alcohol advertising billboards to 521, a reduction of approximately 49%. The report also gives a separate early-2026 inventory of 507 alcohol advertising structures in Phnom Penh.
2. How many alcohol advertising structures remain nationwide?
The national inventory cited in the report lists 1,028 alcohol advertising structures out of 6,207 large billboards and posters, representing approximately 17%.
3. What happened to the 620 beer advertising structures?
The report states that approximately 620 structures previously used to advertise beer were converted to advertisements for drinking water.
4. Which digital platforms are being targeted for closer scrutiny?
The minister highlighted Facebook, TikTok, YouTube and other social media platforms, particularly where alcohol promotions are distributed through influencers and content creators.
5. What does Prakas No. 084 cover?
According to the minister, Prakas No. 084 establishes 17 principles governing alcohol advertising. The provisions described include certain broadcast-time restrictions, restrictions on advertising within 200 metres of specified locations and requirements for visible health and safety messages.
6. Are prize-based alcohol promotions included in the controls?
The report identifies promotions involving bottle caps, can rings, lucky draws, scratch cards, coupons, QR codes and digital rewards as practices subject to government controls.
7. What is the purpose of the second Goodwill Campaign?
The campaign aims to strengthen the practical implementation of advertising controls, improve accountability and measure compliance outcomes. It also addresses advertising for sugar-sweetened beverages.
8. Does the government intend to prohibit all alcohol advertising?
According to the minister, the objective is not to close the market or stop all alcohol advertising. It is to establish a more orderly market, promote fair competition and strengthen social responsibility.
Sources and Further Reading
Ministry of Information, Cambodia: Statements by Minister Neth Pheaktra during the launch of the second Goodwill Campaign, October 28, 2026.