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Campaigners Urge Handout Recipients to Avoid Alcohol Amid Payout Uncertainty


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Anti-drunk driving advocates are calling on recipients of the government’s 10,000-baht cash handout to avoid spending the funds on alcohol, warning that such purchases could lead to accidents and serious injuries.

 

Phattarabhandhu Krissana, chairman of the Network of Victims Against Drunk Driving, emphasized the importance of using the handout for essential needs or investments. He noted that spending the money on alcohol could result in accidents, potentially causing disabilities for both recipients and others.

 

The network, along with the Don’t Drive Drunk Foundation, is urging its members who receive the handout to allocate part of the funds for paying vehicle taxes, which help finance victim protection programs. Phattarabhandhu shared that some of the network’s 15,000 members had already received the handout during the first distribution phase, providing much-needed support during tough economic times.


Thailand's government is currently disbursing the 10,000-baht payments to 12.4 million state welfare cardholders and 2.1 million people with disabilities. Priority has been given to vulnerable groups, with the final wave of payments expected on Monday.

 

Originally conceived as part of a broader “digital wallet” stimulus program, the cash handout was intended to cover 45 million Thais aged 16 and over. However, concerns over funding have cast uncertainty on how many more people will receive the money and how much will be distributed in future rounds.

 

A government source revealed that while the program is expected to continue, the second phase of handouts may see a reduction to 5,000 baht per person. This decrease is being considered to free up resources for flood victim relief, which has become a growing priority.

 

The 2025 fiscal budget earmarked 152.7 billion baht for the handout scheme, but a portion of that may be redirected to the central fund to assist with flood recovery efforts.

 

Deputy Finance Minister Paopoom Rojanasakul noted that the spike in cash withdrawals following the program’s launch highlights the financial struggles of many recipients. He expressed optimism that their spending would help stimulate the economy.

 

However, opposition MP Sirikanya Tansakun of the People’s Party criticized the reduced scale of the program, arguing that slashing the total budget from 500 billion baht to 145 billion baht would fall short of significantly boosting GDP

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“Economic activity has not picked up as expected, and many business owners report that business remains slow despite the handout,” she added, reported Bangkok Post.

 

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-- 2024-09-30

 

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