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Proposed alcohol ban for Songkran


TroyinEwa/Perv

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Surprised they just didn't ban all motorcycles, pickup truck, cars and buses. Would have served the same purpose.

 

Motor vehicles don't kill people, drunk drivers do!

 

But easier to enfore (and make some money) if you ban all sales of Alcohol.

 

Just ban Sonkran. :content:

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Announced today, no ban. Link

 

Plan to ban alcohol sales for Songkran gets canned

 

By: BangkokPost.com

Published: 30/03/2009 at 04:08 PM

 

Plans to ban the sale of alcohol during next month's Songkran festival have been scrapped.

 

Authorities fear a ban will harm the already damaged tourism industry.

 

The National Committee for Alcohol Consumption Control yesterday said there would be no alcohol ban during the traditional new year from April 13 to 15.

 

Instead it had opted to launch an intensive campaign against drink-driving.

 

The committee, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Sanan Kachornprasart, decided a ban on alcohol sales during Songkran would further harm the tourism industry.

 

The resolution was reached after a two-hour meeting with relevant agencies. Attending the meeting were Tourism and Sports Minister Chumpol Silpa-archa, Justice Minister Pirapan Salirathavibhaga, Social Development and Human Security Minister Issara Somchai, Deputy Interior Minister Boonjong Wongtrairat, Deputy Public Health Minister Manit Nopamornbode and Deputy Education Minister Narisara Chawaltanpipat.

 

Maj Gen Sanan said the meeting agreed to issue a Prime Minister's Office regulation officially prohibiting the sale of alcohol on important Buddhist holidays. He said this was a gift to the Thai people.

 

The religious days include Makha Bucha, Visakha Bucha, Asalaha Bucha and Khao Pansa, or Buddhist Lent.

 

He said agencies would launch an anti-alcohol campaign over Songkran covering drinking while driving and drinking when celebrating Songkran on the back of pick-up trucks.

 

He said the sale of alcohol over the Songkran holiday would be in line with existing regulations, which limits sales to between 11am and 2pm and between 5pm and midnight.

 

"The meeting decided the ban would have more of an impact on tourism, particularly on Songkran day, which draws over 80,000 foreign tourists," Maj Gen Sanan said.

 

"An alcohol ban, if imposed, would drive away foreign tourists."

 

The deputy premier was also concerned about increased sales of illegal liquor if a ban was imposed.

 

He rejected the results of surveys which indicated people believed a decision not to impose a ban showed the government was under the thumb of breweries and distillers.

 

His committee was more concerned about the impact on tourism and problems regarding the sale of illegal liquor.

 

The panel's resolution will spark protests from people in some areas.

 

Deputy Public Health Minister Manit said his ministry - which proposed the alcohol ban - would not be discouraged by the committee's resolution.

 

Its efforts to campaign against alcohol would not go to waste, he said.

 

The ministry would push for the issue of a PM's Office regulation to prohibit the consumption of alcohol in public areas during the festival.

 

Kamron Choodecha, coordinator of the Alcohol Watch Network, lashed out at the Sanan panel for rejecting a ban.

 

He said the panel was being insensitive as it could easily impose measures to reduce deaths and injuries.

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Note the buried lead...

 

"Maj Gen Sanan said the meeting agreed to issue a Prime Minister's Office regulation officially prohibiting the sale of alcohol on important Buddhist holidays. He said this was a gift to the Thai people.

 

The religious days include Makha Bucha, Visakha Bucha, Asalaha Bucha and Khao Pansa, or Buddhist Lent."

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