Officials launch drink driving campaign, no “4am closing” decision

[snoop1130]

Wikimedia Commons

 

The low down on this year’s celebrations – don’t drink and drive, and expect (officially) nightspots to close at 2am.

 

The Thai authorities have launched a campaign against drink driving ahead of the end of year holiday period, while Cabinet delays (again) making a decision on extended opening hours for nightlife. According to a Bangkok Post report, the National Alcoholic Beverage Policy Committee has pledged to reduce the number of drink-driving accidents through a nationwide campaign.

 

Meanwhile, Deputy Public Health Minister Sathit Pitutecha has confirmed that a proposal to extend closing time for nightlife from 2am to 4am has not been given Cabinet backing. The proposal was put forward by the Tourism Ministry in an attempt to boost the local economy in tourist destinations. A similar proposal requested extending alcohol sales from midnight to 2am and getting rid of the law that bans the sale of alcohol between the hours of 2pm and 5pm.

 

“Many researchers have found that extended alcohol selling hours can lead to higher consumption of alcohol, which potentially results in a higher risk of violent crimes. Therefore, the National Alcoholic Beverage Policy Committee agreed to maintain the existing measures.”

 

According to Dr Tares Krassanairawiwong from the Department of Disease Control, there were 2,707 road traffic accidents around the country between December 29 last year and January 4 this year. These resulted in 2,672 casualties and 333 deaths. Over 29% of the accidents were caused by drunk drivers.

 

Source: https://phuket-go.com/phuket-news/national-news/officials-launch-drink-driving-campaign-no-4am-closing-decision/

 

-- © Copyright Phuket GO 2022-12-23

 

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[James105]

Brought to you by the same great minds that thought that closing pubs early and a curfew would ensure that punters would be home and safe before covid came out to play after 9 or 10pm.    Lesser minds would think that a better approach to tackling the scourge of drink driving would be to make the punishments a lot more severe and actually serve as a deterrent, but thankfully this kind of foolish thinking doesn't get anywhere near the levers of power here.

 

Perhaps we can very easily tackle obesity next by reducing the amount of time available to purchase unhealthy foods like chocolate and cakes or fast food.   There is simply no way that the fatties would stock up and will simply not eat bad food during the hours it is unavailable to purchase.

[jaiyen]

Do these kind of articles ever get printed in Thai newspapers or only Bangkok Post ? Cos it never makes any difference to road fatalities. 

[mikebell]

14 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The Thai authorities have launched a campaign against drink driving ahead of the end of year holiday period,

Do the police know about this?  Have the Seven Dangerous Days started?  I ask as I'm off to Bangkok today and I want to spot the single cop during 150 kms of driving.

[Foghorn]

By drinking all the alcohol themselves

[Cake Monster]

Every Year we hear the same old, same old

And every Year the number of Deaths keeps on rising

[daveAustin]

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

don’t drink and drive, and expect (officially) nightspots to close at 2a

As says the deputy chief as he takes a swig from his can while doing 100mph lol

[brucegoniners]

“Drink driving campaign”? 
 

Sounds like they want you to do it, lol

[In the jungle]

The campaign failed last year so let's do exactly the same this year.

 

Sure to work.

[hotchilli]

17 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The low down on this year’s celebrations – don’t drink and drive, and expect (officially) nightspots to close at 2am

Makes a lot of sense.

[lujanit]

The ban on alcohol sales between 1400 and 1700 is crazy, madness made up by stupid people wielding power.  Does any other country have such a stupid ban?

 

About no decision made on 4 am closing time it was recently reported here that the decision had been put off indefinitely.

 

4 AM Closing Time for Nightspots in Tourism Areas Postponed Indefinitely

Edited December 24, 2022 by lujanit

[Photoguy21]

Why do they need a "campaign" for drink driving? This should be an every day 24 hour clamp down.

[Aussieroaming]

Don't drink and drive, unless you've got a good excuse like being an RTP officer or military officer.