RTP chief urges Thais to refrain from drinking at Songkran to lessen accidents

[webfact]

INN Thai Caption: Police urge Thais not to drink alcohol at Songkran to lessen accidents

 

INN reported that RTP chief Pol Gen Damrongsak Kittipraphat has asked his compatriots to not drink alcohol at the upcoming Songkran festival.

 

The chief accepted that Songkran was a celebration but pointed out that drinking carried risks and people were better off not to.

 

With Covid restrictions now largely a thing of the past INN said that many people were expected to return to their homes in the countryside to celebrate the holidays.

 

This media also mentioned that only four people will be allowed in the back of pick-ups, a story reported elsewhere on ASEAN NOW today.

 

-- © Copyright  ASEAN NOW 2023-03-30

 

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[keith101]

For locals in my area Songkran is all about getting drunk and extremely loud music/karaoke until very late and the same goes for when people die . The last party resulted in most people getting Covid with some going to hospital including my wifes mother .

[toofarnorth]

'.....................drinking carried risks and people were better off not to'.

 

Talk about stating the bleedin obvious. Well done Kitti.

[Tropicalevo]

27 minutes ago, webfact said:

Police urge Thais not to drink alcohol at Songkran

Ah ha. So it is OK for foreigners to drink!   ????????

Damm.

[nigelforbes]

9 minutes ago, toofarnorth said:

'.....................drinking carried risks and people were better off not to'.

 

Talk about stating the bleedin obvious. Well done Kitti.

Obvious to you perhaps, not so for many uneducated Thai's.

[spidermike007]

The RTP chief preaching correct and responsible bahavior. This is rich. Try setting an example for the people, and yakking less. 

[bkk6060]

Noone will listen this is the 3 year break out party.  Unfortunatley, it will probably produce the highest accident and death total ever.

[BestB]

yea good luck with that one, putting aside never worked before, highly unlikely to work after 3 years of not having one at all

[Pique Dard]

54 minutes ago, webfact said:

The chief accepted that Songkran was a celebration but pointed out that drinking carried risks and people were better off not to.

...what about "weeds"?

[bob smith]

nanny state.

[EVENKEEL]

May as well ask Thais to stop breathing.....

[ezzra]

Every year the chief of police utters the same words and every year they're ignored, In 2022, A total of 1,917 road accidents were reported and 278 people were killed during the “Seven Dangerous Days” of the Songkran Festival, so let's this year, i personally hope that everyone will be safe and enjoys the holiday and goes back home safely.

[Goat]

A lot of outraged replies to this sensible advice. Which is standard for other police forces around the world at xmas, New Years etc.

 

No big deal. 

[worgeordie]

The urge to drink ,will always be greater than urge of the Police chief to refrain ,

and this will lead to many deaths at this time , happens every year , affects many

families who may lose their breadwinners .young people.

 

regards worgeordie

[rabiedabruce]

'urges' and 'refrain' ????

[metisdead]

A post with a trolling image has been removed.

[stoner]

26 minutes ago, Goat said:

A lot of outraged replies to this sensible advice. Which is standard for other police forces around the world at xmas, New Years etc.

 

No big deal. 

good thing in canada hundreds of people are not slaughtered at new years etc. on the roads in a few days. 

 

no big deal. 

[sammieuk1]

Halfway up soi 88 HH last night a popup road block stop appeared in the middle of nowhere checking DD it was the first ever positive stop for me looking for drinking.

when we explained we only had a water at Sizzler that seemed to satisfice the officer there was no money to be made and was waved on our way so drivers beware don't drink and drive ????   

[Thingamabob]

2 hours ago, Pique Dard said:

...what about "weeds"?

If you mean cannabis it encourages peace and quiet as opposed to alcohol which encourages aggression and noise.

Edited March 30, 2023 by Thingamabob
One letter missing.

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

RTP chief Pol Gen Damrongsak Kittipraphat has asked his compatriots to not drink alcohol at the upcoming Songkran festival.

Yep, that'll work.

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, bob smith said:

nanny state.

Nanny knows best.

[ikke1959]

Why only urge people not to drink with Songkran or New Years holiday and why not during all the other days instead of stupid commercials and shows on TV??

[Pique Dard]

7 hours ago, Thingamabob said:

If you mean cannabis it encourages peace and quiet as opposed to alcohol which encourages aggression and noise.

yes i mean cannabis...yet driving under influence of cannabis is "wrong". why in case smoking it "encourages peace and quiet"?

[dinsdale]

21 hours ago, Goat said:

A lot of outraged replies to this sensible advice. Which is standard for other police forces around the world at xmas, New Years etc.

 

No big deal. 

Refrain from drinking alcohol and drink responsibally are two different things. The former being do not drink alcohol the latter is self explanatory. Of cource this is an uttery rediculous utterance. Think about how many Thais drink alcohol on Buddhist holidays where alcohol sales are 'banned'. Personally I have no problem buying alcohol on these days apart from I can't get it from 711 etc. Fine by me because the mom and pop shop 50 metres from my closet 711 sells beer cheeper.

[BestB]

23 hours ago, Goat said:

A lot of outraged replies to this sensible advice. Which is standard for other police forces around the world at xmas, New Years etc.

 

No big deal. 

Police around the world issue warning not to drink and drive, instead of not to drink at all

Police around the world also issue warning about stiff penalties for those who do, such as triple demerit points and triple the normal fine amounts, in addition to setting up triple the amount of checkpoints 

 

Thailand penalty, even if unable to pay off on the spot, is 3000-8000 baht fine in court and off to driving right after paying the fine. Mind you 8000 is for second or third offense, first is 3000-5000 depending on your reading

[dinsdale]

1 hour ago, BestB said:

Police around the world issue warning not to drink and drive, instead of not to drink at all

Police around the world also issue warning about stiff penalties for those who do, such as triple demerit points and triple the normal fine amounts, in addition to setting up triple the amount of checkpoints 

 

Thailand penalty, even if unable to pay off on the spot, is 3000-8000 baht fine in court and off to driving right after paying the fine. Mind you 8000 is for second or third offense, first is 3000-5000 depending on your reading

I know someone who got done on a Friday evening. Choices were wait in the lock up until monday go to court and the fine is Bt10k or pay us Bt20k and drive home.

[BestB]

19 hours ago, dinsdale said:

I know someone who got done on a Friday evening. Choices were wait in the lock up until monday go to court and the fine is Bt10k or pay us Bt20k and drive home.

I have no doubt you know someone , but I am certain you don not have a faintest clue what fine would be given in court by the judge 

[dinsdale]

15 minutes ago, BestB said:

I have no doubt you know someone , but I am certain you don not have a faintest clue what fine would be given in court by the judge 

Your right but we all know that going to court can be avoided as can going to jail or reducing jail time etc by handing over money.

[BangkokReady]

On 3/30/2023 at 10:25 AM, toofarnorth said:

'.....................drinking carried risks and people were better off not to'.

 

Talk about stating the bleedin obvious. Well done Kitti.

Thailand: Hub of doing things that carry risks that people are better off not doing...

[dingdongrb]

I think there's a better chance people will wear helmets rather than stop drinking.