Proposed alcohol ban for New Year and Songkran

[Bristolian]

As we all suspected
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakin ... 49444.html

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said Tuesday that he disagreed with the proposal of the Public Health Ministry to ban alcohol sale during the long New Year holidays.

He said the sale can proceed normally but the people must be responsible for their own welfare

[PeteC]

.....sale can proceed normally but the people must be responsible for their own welfare

That's a biggie. It means taking responsibility for actions and accepting shame when shame is due rather than mai pen rai'ing everything away that may happen.

[GLCQuantum]

He said sale can proceed normally but people must be responsible for their own welfare.

Another ridiculous comment straight from the top.

How about the people responsible for running the country (aka you Mr Prayut) take responsibility in enforcing drink drive laws!

Always someone else's fault in this country.

[Bristolian]

.....sale can proceed normally but the people must be responsible for their own welfare

That's a biggie. It means taking responsibility for actions and accepting shame when shame is due rather than mai pen rai'ing everything away that may happen.

Minor correction

.....sale can proceed normally but the people must be responsible for their own welfare

[PeteC]

Nope, you're on the hook now Bristolian. It's already been picked up by AP, Reuters and BBC.

[europtimiste]

Any minister in any country can say a stupidity or make a ridiculous proposal.

[HHTel]

Happens all over the world although Thailand has the most amusing.

Never get excited about a proposal because that's all it is.

[buksida]

Alcohol beverages ban triggers outcry
A proposal by the director of the Office of the Alcoholic Beverages Committee Dr Samarn Futrakul to ban all alcohol beverages sales during the New Year holiday and Songkran festival is stiring up outcry with many business operators voicing strong opposition saying that it will severely affect their business and affect tourism.

But Public Health Minister Dr Ratchata Ratchata-nawin assured that the ban is still a tentative proposal which can be changed when it is to be debated by the Alcoholic Beverages Committee which he is chairman on December 19.

It is an undeniable fact that New Year and Songkran festival holidays are a time for celebration and rejoicing and alcohol consumption is the norm. But it is also argued that the major cause of road mishaps that claimed high casualties during festive season is drunk driving.

This led Dr Samarn, director of Office of the Alcoholic Beverages Committee to propose banning alcoholic sales during the two festivals.

However Dr Samarn assured, however, he proposed only banning of sales but did not prohibit drinking.

Customers still can buy before the banned time goes into effect, and then take them out for drinking during the festive time, he said.

But operators of entertainment venues located on Khao Sarn road are entirely against the proposed banning of alcohol sales from December 31 to January 1 as it will directly affect their businesses.

As they said their clients are almost exclusively foreign tourists and should the proposal be passed they intend to muster to rally against it.

“It will seriously affect us because foreign tourists drink a lot of beer. This proposal will mean that we won’t be able to sell beer at all! A lot of businesses here are against it and we will certainly be protesting it,” an entertainment venue operator at Khao Sarn road said.

What is peculiar about the proposal is that although sales of alcohol is banned, private individuals are permitted to bring in their own alcohol onto the premises of restaurants or entertainment venues for consumption. This seems preposterous as few, if any, restaurant owners will allow such an act, she said.

More: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/alcoho ... ers-outcry

[HHTel]

This has already been done to death and thrown out by the cabinet.

Strange that Thai Pbs published the cabinet's decision on the 9th then reproduced the proposal on the 12th!!

[migrant]

Scrapped officially

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general ... -year-axed

The Committee for National Alcohol Beverage Control on Friday scrapped a proposal to ban all alcohol sales during New Year and Songkran holidays. Speaking after a committee meeting, Public Health Minister...

[buksida]

Booze ban ideas go to PM

The Committee for National Alcohol Beverage Policy is sending six proposed regulations to the government for curtailing the sale of alcohol during the New Year holidays, said Public Health Minister Rajata Rajatanavin.

Four measures would ban the sale and consumption of alcohol in four types of locations: on trains and at train stations; at bus terminals; on public piers and in public transport vehicles; and at properties managed by state enterprises or government agencies, except inside stores, club houses, private areas or at traditional feasts.

Two other regulations would ban alcohol sales on pavements and roadsides, and at the end of Buddhist Lent.

Dr Rajata said the proposals would go to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha for approval.

They are expected to be announced in the Royal Gazette before New Year.

The draft regulations were approved last Friday by the Committee for National Alcohol Beverage Control, chaired by Dr Rajata.

The committee rejected another proposal to ban completely the sales and consumption of alcohol during the New Year and Songkran holidays, saying the plan required more study.

Gen Prayut had also said he would not support such a measure.

The panel also approved a draft of new standards for alcoholic beverage labels aimed at cracking down on exaggerated marketing, Dr Rajata said.

Under that proposal, alcohol companies would be prohibited from putting messages on labels that could lead consumers to believe drinking alcohol is a social achievement, improves sexual or physical performance, or is an activity for making merit.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general ... s-go-to-pm

[NOKYAI]

People probably not commenting because they don't believe it will happen......just hot air!