Alcohol ban on Songkran?

[turok]

The Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control...has unofficially decided that alcohol sales, only to Thai consumers, would be banned from April 13th to 15th this year.

Meanwhile, sales to foreign consumers will be allowed as usual.

Does this mean we can't buy lady drinks for 2 days I may not be so "Hansum" after all!!!!!

[Super Joe]

Serving foreigners and not locals!?!? That will go down well !!!

SJ

[PeteC]

Serving foreigners and not locals!?!? That will go down well !!!SJ

It's really quite a milestone. What this means is that the Thai government has openly admitted that foreigners are more responsible when it comes to drinking than their own citizens are.

Of course, they may all think of us as tourists who walk or take taxis, but I'm sure they know how large the driving farang population is here.

A small victory!! Pete

[margaretcarnes]

Forgive me if I'm wrong, but I think we have yet to see any Thai Government statistics on the percentage road accidents involving drivers who were over the limit? Do they routinely do blood alcohol tests on drivers who are killed?
No doubt a lot more accidents at any holiday times are drink related, as they are in any country. But the problem can't be solved by these all too frequent 'last ditch' decisions to simply ban alcohol sales. It's always a quick fix knee jerk reaction. When the holiday looms someone digs out last years figures and thinks 'grief, better be seen to take action on this sharpish. It will look good to tourists and I might even get a promotion out of it'
Understudy speaks sense IMO. Education is key. But education also needs to be backed up by positive action and law enforcement on an ongoing basis, as it is elsewhere.
I'm afraid that I can't see that happening in LOS for a long time yet. They first need to accept the need for consistent policing, backed up by consistent laws. Mai Pen Rai. Its Songkran. People will die. It's Buddhas' will.

[sandman67]

Ive been reading a lot of material on the boards associated with the Post and Nation on this topic, and and starting to see this as a "cultural clash...."

In the west we are brought up with a defining sense of individuality and individual responsibility

In the east the central tenets are ones of group cohesion, mutual support and duty

Note the difference - responsibility vs duty

Responsibility requires a degree of obligation on which we choose to act. It requires us to think about the potential actions we can make, and choose one based on values, usually personal or societal.

Duty is mandated, requiring no forethought or informed decision making. It places responsibility in other hands.

In the west we mostly believe that fate is undetermined, random and dictated by our immediate actions in this life.

In the east the predominant belief is that your fate is predetermined by past lives or actions, and that your lifes path is already set.

In the west we see drink driving as an irresponsible and socially unacceptable thing that endangers others lives, a personal choice made by the inconsiderate and idiotic

In the east drink driving is seen as acceptable as the authorities do not take action to stop it, and hell, if you hit someone else thats just their karma...their fate.....not your fault at all.....

Mai Pen Rai....the three words that will always keep Thailand poor, unhealthy and stupid.

[Super Joe]

Good post SM and agree, although my three words for the main reason would be ..... lack of decent education (particularly mathematics as that was four words).

SJ

[buksida]

Songkran booze ban denied
The National Committee on Alcohol Consumption Control disapproved the proposal to prohibit the sales of alcoholic beverages during next month's Songkran festival, fearing that banning them may hurt the economy and tourism.

The committee meeting, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Sanan Kajornprasart on Monday, was moved to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports due to the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) protest around Government House.

The meeting lasted about two hours, and the committee agreed to allow alcoholic drinks to be sold during Songkran, or the Thai New Year.

However, they cannot be sold on national religious holidays, including Visakha Bucha, Makha Bucha, Asarnha Bucha and Buddhist Lent days.

Maj-Gen Sanan said the committee took the economy and tourism into consideration, and if the booze ban policy is approved, illicitly distilled liquor could be more prevalent.

However, he said the committee will call a meeting with provincial governors and police officials nationwide to carry out stricter campaigns against consumption of alcoholic drinks.

Source: Bangkok Post

[margaretcarnes]

Thanks for the update Buksi. Hardly a surprising decision, and one which probably won't make much difference anyway.
Sandmans' points about the difference between responsibility and duty really sum it all up. Responsibility would have involved starting an anti drink/drive campaign much earlier than 2 weeks before Songkran, and might even have meant facing up to the need for an ongoing campaign!
But I wonder if the 'ideals' of responsibility, as quoted by SM as being a Western thing, are in fact still so prevelant over here.
True, the Western way has been to choose courses of action which reflect our values. But I think this reponsible attitude is being eroded fast, with the increase in a claims culture as one example.
Fortunately the drink driving and seatbelt laws are two things which seem to now be well entrenched in our culture. Maybe more by habit than anything else. Despite that we do still need a high level of monitoring and police presence constantly on hand to enforce driving laws in our so called 'responsible' culture.

[HuntingTigers]

Songkran booze ban denied
The National Committee on Alcohol Consumption Control disapproved the proposal to prohibit the sales of alcoholic beverages during next month's Songkran festival, fearing that banning them may hurt the economy and tourism...

The meeting lasted about two hours, and the committee agreed to allow alcoholic drinks to be sold during Songkran, or the Thai New Year.

However, they cannot be sold on national religious holidays, including Visakha Bucha, Makha Bucha, Asarnha Bucha and Buddhist Lent days.

However, he said the committee will call a meeting with provincial governors and police officials nationwide to carry out stricter campaigns against consumption of alcoholic drinks.

Source: Bangkok Post

I came across this discussion when looking for information about next year's Hua Hin's Songran festival. In a nutshell, is this the status quo for the 2010 event? I would be bitterly dissapointed to fly half way around the world only to find the bars shut!

I am also intrigued as to know what effect the committee's injunction. "to carry out stricter campaigns against consumption of alcoholic drinks", has had.


HuntingTigers

[PeteC]

I came across this discussion when looking for information about next year's Hua Hin's Songran festival. In a nutshell, is this the status quo for the 2010 event? I would be bitterly dissapointed to fly half way around the world only to find the bars shut!

I am also intrigued as to know what effect the committee's injunction. "to carry out stricter campaigns against consumption of alcoholic drinks", has had.
HuntingTigers

My two cents: 1) Too early to tell. The 'committee' will probably try for a ban once again as we get closer but will fail, especially after the rough two years here concerning tourists.

2) Really none. They've succeeded in getting all booze out of the media and apparently away from schools and temples and that's about it. Allowable hours of sale between 1100 and 1400 and after 1700 is still in effect at major outlets, but they haven't tried enforcing it at small mom/pop shops. Don't worry, those serving hours do not include bars who seem to be able to sell anytime they want to. Pete

[HuntingTigers]

I would be bitterly dissapointed to fly half way around the world only to find the bars shut!

HuntingTigers

My two cents: ... Don't worry, those serving hours do not include bars who seem to be able to sell anytime they want to. Pete

Phew! That's a huge relief. I was seriously concerned about having too much blood in my alcohol system, especially over a holiday period.

Thank you very much prcscct for putting my mind at rest.

TuntingHigers

[sandman67]

again here I reverted to the SANDOMATIC 2000:

it says

UNENFORCABLE FACE SAVING GOVERNMENT BULL****. OUTLOOK: BAD FOR BAR OWNERS GOOD TO EXCELLENT FOR SMALL CORNER SHOPS. WEATHER FORCAST: A COLD DAY IN HELL

bugger me if Im going with the machine again

[Nereus]

I would be bitterly dissapointed to fly half way around the world only to find the bars shut!

HuntingTigers

My two cents: ... Don't worry, those serving hours do not include bars who seem to be able to sell anytime they want to. Pete

Phew! That's a huge relief. I was seriously concerned about having too much blood in my alcohol system, especially over a holiday period.

Thank you very much prcscct for putting my mind at rest.

TuntingHigers

You may be able to sequest a few extras under your Pith Helmet, old chap. I have found that trying to keep them cool is a bit of a bugger though.

[drdod]

just stumbled upon this thread ...whilst trying to make my 30 posts !

ive spent more than a couple of songran in patts bkk and one in hua hin.

i decided after 2008 that never again will i waste my time in a drunken country full of idiot falang.

the thais are mad in drink....but the brits make them look like school children.

my 2pence worth is i think this would be a great idea stop all booze during this period.

i do drink ..i am also a brit but hate the uncontrolable idiots....the girls are bloody lunatics

[nevets]

Well i would say the Brits could give the Thai a good run for their money any time of the year in the UK. A right load of piss heads.