Breathalyzer tests proposed for Thai nightlife venues

[webfact]

 

The Thai Ministry of Public Health is set to propose a policy where nightclubs and bars wishing to extend their operating hours would be required to administer alcohol breathalyzer tests to customers who may be too intoxicated to travel home safely.

 

The proposal also includes the responsibility of these establishments to arrange transportation services for such patrons.

 

The breathalyser tests initiative is part of a broader plan by the ministry, led by Public Health Minister Cholnan Srikaew, to balance the government’s ambition to stimulate the economy through extended nightlife hours and the need to safeguard public health.

 

This plan follows models used in some Western countries to guarantee the safety of patrons and the general public.

 

The extended operating hours are due to commence on December 15 in select zones within Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chon Buri, and Phuket. In these zones, alcohol sales will be allowed until 4am.

 

The proposal comes in the wake of public apprehensions about a potential increase in road accidents due to drunk driving.

 

by Mitch Connor

Photo: CBC

 

Full story: The Thaiger 2023-11-13

 

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[JoePai]

[jacko45k]

I seriously doubt it!

[JBChiangRai]

Nonsense, they can't be administered within 20 minutes of last drink or it's an instant failure from mouth alcohol.

[smedly]

omg

 

speechless 

 

what braincell come up with this totally ridiculous idea

 

I don't even understand what they are talking about, are the going to figure out who is driving and test them ?

 

stupid people, that is the job of police which is severely lacking

 

 

A big song and dance about 4am closures - places are alreay open to 4am and have been for months

[Bobthegimp]

It's fun to watch people react to every test balloon the Thai government sends up.  Proposals don't have to make sense or be a workable solution, it just has to appear that something is being done. 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdhmuOl5FHA

[MrPancake]

Too much gov.

[mikebell]

Is this instead of the two policemen working the night shift across the nation?

[Gottfrid]

So, what are they going to do then? Let them sleep over in the bar?

[VocalNeal]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

This plan follows models used in some Western countries

 

Such as...

[hellohello123]

They will probably forget to tell people the point of the machines is to prevent driving home...

 

And it will become the bar game "the person who can blow the highest wins a free drink!"

[kcpattaya]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Minister Cholnan Srikaew

I seriously hope, for the sake of Thailand, that this clown is not on the pay-roll.
 

[LudwigK]

Beer for free Promotion starts  .... at 3 per mille 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[cowellandrew]

Do you get a refund from bar, nightclub, if you fail the breathalyzer and cant travel home,

😁

[klauskunkel]

the laziness of Thai authorities is "breathtaking"

[Smokey and the Bandit]

I have never been in  bar in Thailand where they refused to serve a person, because he or she was drunk!

[10baht]

Will you be required to wear a mask while sharing an alcohol breathalyzer with every Tom , Dick , & Harry? Not to mention all the  Thai Thelma & Louises.

Good luck on limiting Chinese I mean covid-19 should the new Chinese police bring it with them.

[madmitch]

So many reaction icons now available to use on AseanNow but I'm still waiting for a "shaking head in disbelief" one. Could have been used multiple times today, not least for this story!

[Peabody]

31 minutes ago, hellohello123 said:

And it will become the bar game "the person who can blow the highest wins a free drink!"

That's EXACTLY what happened in bars on Long Island, in New York, when I was a bartender there.

 

[lordgrinz]

9 minutes ago, madmitch said:

So many reaction icons now available to use on AseanNow but I'm still waiting for a "shaking head in disbelief" one. Could have been used multiple times today, not least for this story!

 

I think a thumbs-down icon would be used more than any, but sadly missing.

[herfiehandbag]

If you fail the test, will a young lady from the bar take you home and take care of you until the morning?

[MrJ2U]

Breathalyzers cost money, it"LL never happen.

 

They need to be calibrated every few uses also.

 

Conservative think tank stupidity. 

 

 

 

 

Edited November 13, 2023 by MrJ2U

[DJ54]

Should be an attraction for those considering a Holiday …. 
- Go to bar for what? To get breath tested ? 
- Go go bar for a party get a breathalyzer jammed in you face … at very least will be the start of very heavy discussion. 

- Results Not Drunk… almost drunk… drunk.. <deleted> faced drunk 

- Think tourism is down…. You ain’t seen nothin if this idiotic idea is put in place…

[Jackbenimble]

23 minutes ago, cowellandrew said:

Do you get a refund from bar, nightclub, if you fail the breathalyzer and cant travel home,

😁

a refund? What for? because you decided to get p****d you think the bar owes you something back? 

[Jackbenimble]

I dont actually know any expats in Bangkok who drive when they know they're going out drinking - many don't drive anyway, they don't have a car. 

Maybe this is aimed at Thais......I know plenty who drink & drive. 

[ignore it]

No rush, they'll have to check with the Chinese first.

[wombat]

and one of the Poli's just happens to know a bloke thats got a few for sale🥷

[wombat]

6 minutes ago, Jackbenimble said:

a refund? What for? because you decided to get p****d you think the bar owes you something back? 

absolutely...its the bar persons job to police that you drink responsibly ...😱👣

[wombat]

28 minutes ago, madmitch said:

So many reaction icons now available to use on AseanNow but I'm still waiting for a "shaking head in disbelief" one. Could have been used multiple times today, not least for this story!

 

[SbuxPlease]

I've been in Thailand the better half of a decade and I'm starting to figure out the government playbook.

 

The playbook:

1. High level official has a random idea pop to mind while consuming (insert some banned substance) with his 2nd or 3rd mia.
2. He asks a lower level guy (in their super-secret LINE group) to float it to the public as an announcement
3. The announcement: "The ministry has decided to start (insert impractical idea). We don't know when we'll start, maybe next week or maybe never, update you soon. Also we don't have answers to the obvious questions. No, no further questions are permitted."
4. The high level guy lays low and watches to gauge the public reaction. He periodically sends lower level guys out to make random comments to see what happens.
5. If it starts looks like it would be a win, they assign it to the "do it next year team". If it looks like it would result in a lost election, or cost any money, they just stop talking about it.
6. Nobody in the public knows if the idea will ever come to fruition, and the public eventually forgets about it because the next night -> (go to step 1)

 

 

Edit to add: After step 4, if the low level guy is getting torn apart by the madness, the high level guy just cuts ties. "That announcement was incorrect and not approved, we don't even know that guy!" But if the public likes it, the high level guy claims the idea as his own.

Edited November 13, 2023 by SbuxPlease