Buddhist Lent Day Designated as Thailand’s “No Alcohol Day”

July 17th, 2008 by admin

Buddhist Lent Day, known among Thais as Khao Phansa, has been designated as Thailand’s “No Alcohol Day.”

The decision was made by the Cabinet, during its meeting on July 8, following a proposal by the civic sector network, which submitted a letter to the Government on July 7.

The letter states that it is a traditional practice by many people in Thai society to declare their intention not to have alcoholic drinks in observance of the Buddhist Lent.

Buddhist Lent Day marks the start of the three-month Buddhist Rains Retreat, usually between July and October. The request by the network for the Government to declare a No Alcohol Day is to promote the good traditional practice, in the same manner as the observance of “No Tobacco Day.”

The beginning of the Buddhist Lent falls on the first day of the waning moon of the eighth lunar month. This year, it falls on July 18, when several religious activities are held to mark this holy day. Refraining from drinking alcohol is considered a worthy act, not only for keeping people in good health, but also in the observance of Buddhist principles. One of the five precepts in Buddhism is to abstain from intoxicating drinks, which are a primary cause of carelessness and anti-social behavior.

A campaign to encourage people to refrain from drinking alcohol during the Buddhist Lent has been carried out since 2003. A study indicates that the campaign, conducted between 2005 and 2007, was successful in raising public awareness of alcohol abuse. More and more people were found to join the campaign during the Buddhist Lent and they voiced their support for the proclamation of “National Anti-Alcohol Day.”

According to an ABAC Poll conducted in 2006, most people, 88.6 percent, were in favor of the designation of a No Alcohol Day, and 61.6 percent were of the opinion the first day of Buddhist Lent should be proclaimed No Alcohol Day. The anti-alcohol campaign has received a positive response from the general public.

The civic sector network quoted a survey that Thailand ranks fifth among the largest alcohol consuming countries in the world. Also, the number of alcohol drinkers among young people, aged 15 and 19, is on the rise in the country.

Heavy drinkers may suffer from serious health problems, such as heart disease, abnormal blood circulation, and paralysis. They may become emotionally unstable, affecting their ability to make decisions and observe moral conduct. More than 50 percent of road accidents are caused by drunk driving, and many cases of violence in the home and other crimes are also caused by intoxicating drinks.

Thailand’s Alcohol Control Act, which came into force in February 2008, seeks to ban liquor advertising and restrict the sale of alcohol in or near temples, public parks, government offices, and schools. The proclamation of No Alcohol Day is also in line with the alcohol control law.