Anti-Drink Driving Foundation chief thanks Thai health minister Anutin for opposing 4am pub opening

[webfact]

 

Siam Rath reported that the secretary of Thailand's Anti-Drink Driving foundation has thanked the country's health minister Anutin Charnvirakul for opposing 4am pub opening.

 

The move was advocated by tourism and sports minister Pipat Ratchakitprakan at a meeting of the Thai cabinet earlier in the week and would have been implemented in eight tourism areas in places like Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket and Hua Hin.

 

Medical professionals and accident prevention groups feared the move would exacerbate health problems and issues that make Thailand one of the most dangerous places in the world to drive, especially because of DUI.

 

Dr Thaejing Siriphanich noted that Thailand was now ranked the ninth worst in the world for road accidents and the worst in Asia. 

 

60% of cases involved driving under the influence of alcohol and of those 80% were between 11pm and 2 am.

 

Two am closing was appropriate, he said, but 4 am would just make the situation worse adding that other societal issues such as crime would further degrade the Thais' quality of life.

 

On behalf of his non-profit organisation he thanked the health minister and DPM for opposing Pipat's plan. 

 

Anutin is a very high profile figure in Thailand who rose to prominence in the pandemic and with his promotion as chief of the Bhumjaithai party for the legalization of marijuana, notes ASEAN NOW.

 

He is considered a front runner in the race to be the next Thai prime minister. 

 

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[Gottfrid]

Yeah, now they can go after hours and cheer together. ???? 

[ozfarang]

Anti-Drink Driving Foundation chief thanks Thai health minister Anutin for opposing 4am pub opening closing

That's fixed.

 

Must have been lost in translation ????

[lujanit]

If you cannot get a skinful and/or score some pussy by midnight let alone 0200 you are a sad person.

[smedly]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Anti-Drink Driving foundation has thanked the country's health minister Anutin Charnvirakul for opposing 4am pub opening.

what a joke, how about getting the police to do their job and actually catch drunk drivers "before" they crash, 12am onwards is a good start 

 

4am closing will have no effect on people getting into/onto a vehicle and driving while intoxicated - zero effect 

[smedly]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Anutin is a very high profile figure in Thailand who rose to prominence in the pandemic

mostly for failure

[outsider]

I thought Anutin was the only dumb one. Now there's more. People can be sloshed right up to 0200 hrs and start driving after that. Or, people can get wasted without going to the pubs. Get that doc? Thailand is still going to get its usual quota of accidents regardless of pubs' opening/closing hours. Blame enforcement and discipline.

 

[outsider]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Dr Thaejing Siriphanich

This Dr. Spinach looks like an over-the-hill git who can't stand other people having a bit of fun.

[still kicking]

But I guess it is OK if you are stoned on weed and then drive 

[Stocky]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Medical professionals and accident prevention groups feared the move would exacerbate health problems and issues that make Thailand one of the most dangerous places in the world to drive, especially because of DUI.

This is laughable.

 

Thailand already has one of the World's worst road fatality rates. Letting bars stay open later is hardly likely to contribute to that. Punters don't have infinite funds they'll still spend the same amount just at different times as has been shown in other countries that liberalise pub opening hours.

 

The bigger issue facing Thailand is the lack of law enforcement, have the police apply the laws that exist more vigorously and equitably. That's the route to solving many of Thailand's problems, not more, or more restrictive legislation.

[ronster]

Yeah because drunk drivers always take note of the time before getting in a car or on a bike blazing drunk ! ????
Most of the accidents I know of involving drunk drivers seem to happen in the afternoon or between 8pm-12am.

[Millcx]

5 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

Yeah, now they can go after hours and cheer together. ???? 

And they can get Drunk after 2am 

[Ralf001]

if they cannot sell alcohol after midnight what does it matter what time they stay open ?

[Mad mick]

Who cares if not in residential area , only night club or bar area WHO cares other than those worried you can't get skin full by 2am, then those who don't go until 12am , In Australia + US UK EU Plenty open all night some are for shift workers others a strip clubs close 6 or 7 am ! I personally l don't care either way ! However to use covid as reason what crock of <deleted>

[Derek B]

5 hours ago, smedly said:

what a joke, how about getting the police to do their job and actually catch drunk drivers "before" they crash, 12am onwards is a good start 

 

4am closing will have no effect on people getting into/onto a vehicle and driving while intoxicated - zero effect 

Exactly. 

[patman30]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

80% were between 11pm and 2 am.

 

Two am closing was appropriate

So 80% happen prior to closing time
implying closing time is not the cause
and 3 hours is a long period
how many of these happen before 1am ?

[Orinoco]

55 minutes ago, still kicking said:

But I guess it is OK if you are stoned on weed and then drive 

You can usually spot them, they are doing 20mph on the hard shoulder. 

[Foghorn]

And when caught DUI small fine and on your way , drive away , the most stupid thing ever , 

who would of thought Thailand had a DUI chief, he ain’t very good at his job is he?

[paulikens]

Anutin opposed it before the meeting but i still haven't actually heard any news to what decision was made at  the meeting.         

[Purdey]

In certain countries, the police sit in their car outside the pub. When they see someone exiting the bar they walk over before the guy starts the engine and breathalyse him. 

It stops a lot of drunks from driving. The time doesn't matter.

[Geordieabroad]

3 hours ago, Orinoco said:

You can usually spot them, they are doing 20mph on the hard shoulder. 

A few people on here had a go at me a while ago when i suggested mixing dope with drink driving wasn't the greatest idea....oh well, we'll see

[Lemsta69]

4 hours ago, Ralf001 said:

if they cannot sell alcohol after midnight what does it matter what time they stay open ?

Is this a serious question or a wind-up?

[NoshowJones]

4 hours ago, Derek B said:

Exactly. 

If the police would spend more time chasing drunk drivers instead of hounding prostitutes who are doing nobody any harm, that would be a start.

[vangrop]

5 hours ago, outsider said:

This Dr. Spinach looks like an over-the-hill git who can't stand other people having a bit of fun.

It id definitly dr Spock

[vangrop]

I don't understand, in my local beerbar here in Pats the boss told me I can stay and drink alcohol after 2am (what we do), the only restriction is that she is not allowed to let play the music. So what is dr. Spot fantasizing?

[PingRoundTheWorld]

Yes, because so many tourists - especially on Khao San road - actually drive. Right. This has nothing to do with drunk driving, probably more to do with the fact raising the time limit will make brown envelopes thinner.

99% of tourists don't drive, and for those who do it's quite easy to set up roadblocks right outside tourist areas and prevent them from driving drunk. 

[Thumbs]

Simply make it easier to get a taxi n the provinces

[Mickeymaus]

1 hour ago, vangrop said:

I don't understand, in my local beerbar here in Pats the boss told me I can stay and drink alcohol after 2am (what we do), the only restriction is that she is not allowed to let play the music. So what is dr. Spot fantasizing?

This is exactly the problem with these bars. They don't care or don't understand the most basic laws and regulations. They should not have a licence. Often they don't have one anyway. Closing time is 2 am with or without music (I have no bar and know this...). But 2 am is only for the designated entertainment zones otherwise earlier. 

[LALes]

6 hours ago, Stocky said:

This is laughable.

 

Thailand already has one of the World's worst road fatality rates. Letting bars stay open later is hardly likely to contribute to that. Punters don't have infinite funds they'll still spend the same amount just at different times as has been shown in other countries that liberalise pub opening hours.

 

The bigger issue facing Thailand is the lack of law enforcement, have the police apply the laws that exist more vigorously and equitably. That's the route to solving many of Thailand's problems, not more, or more restrictive legislation.

It is precisely the lack of law enforcement why I am against the 4am closing.  It has nothing to do with drunks on the road and everything to do with drunks in the neighborhood keeping everyone awake with their obnoxious howling and lack of concern for anyone but themselves.  The proposed 4am law limited to "entertainment districts" is all right in theory but will never be enforced by Thai authorities.  Every 2-bit neighborhood bar will be riding the coattails of the big clubs and residents will have no recourse.

[Elkski]

Maybe some men thinks it's healthier for a tourist based society if it has some downtime.   Time to sleep, clean up, a 24 hour shift change if you like.    I think society as a whole may be more productive.  What are the rules for pot clubs sellng pot, lounge,  hours?   If they change bars closings to 4am, nut will want it the same for his ganga industry buddies.