Crackdown On Alcohol On Public Holidays
Chalerm takes on drinkers
Seeks to invoke legal article allowing more alcohol free days
Public Health Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung yesterday launched his campaign to ban alcohol sales on public holidays.
Drinking leads to crime and road accidents, resulting in death and injuries, Chalerm said, citing a 2006 report that 31 per cent, or 16 million, of the population were drinkers. Nine million of them drink alcohol on a regular basis.
He assigned the Disease Control Department to consider invoking Article 28 of the Alcohol Beverage Control Act of 2008, which prohibits the sale of alcohol on days designated by ministerial regulations.
The regulation should be issued in one month and include public holidays such as New Year’s Day, Songkran and religious holidays, Chalerm said.
Dr Saman Futrakul, head of the department’s tobacco and alcohol consumption control group, said the regulation had been drafted and submitted to deputy permanent secretary Paijit Warachit.
After getting the National Alcohol Consumption Control Committee’s approval, the regulation would need to get Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat’s sign off and then it would be published in the Royal Gazette for implementation.
Violators would face up to six months in jail and/or up to a Bt. 10,000 fine.
The regulation would also prohibit liquor sales from 11am – 2pm and 5pm – midnight every day, except by those with the authority’s permission.
Chalerm also put the permanent secretary and Medical Services Department chief in charge of two projects.
One plan would make Thailand an Asia Pacific medical hub by selecting high potential hospitals – one in Bangkok and one in each major tourist city – within one month.
The other plan would expand the successful model of the integration of medical and drug rehabilitation policies in Sa Kaew to other provinces.
Songkran booze ban ‘useless’
Mar 5, 2009
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has been asked to consider three options on the ban of sales of alcoholic drinks during next month’s Songkran festival.
Business operators question the practicality of such action with one saying it would be of no benefit in cutting the road toll.
The Public Health Ministry and relevant agencies Wednesday held talks with suppliers and hoteliers on ways to control alcohol sales during Songkran and other long holidays.
Delegates said excessive drinking was the main cause of a sharp rise in road accidents during those periods.
Mr Abhisit, as chairman of the government’s alcohol control committee, will be asked to decide whether to ban alcohol sales throughout the entire Songkran holiday period, for five days or for just three days.
Deputy Public Health Minister Manit Nop-amornbodi told a press conference Wednesday the ban should not apply to the start or the end of the holiday festival because road accidents usually peak between April 12 and 14, the middle of the Songkran festival.
Mr Manit said apart from limiting the hours alcohol could be sold during long holidays, his ministry also planned to limit the places where alcohol sales could take place.
Boon Rawd Brewery marketing manager Chutchai Wiratyosin said after the meeting that any restrictions on the hours and places alcohol could be sold would be useless.
He said consumers could still go to shops where alcohol was sold and stock up before the start of the ban.