Govt Rejects Calls To Relax Noise Limits

[george]

Govt rejects calls to relax noise limits at entertainment venues

SAMUT SAKHON: -- The Thai government has rejected calls from entertainment-venue operators to relax the 91-decibel sound limit.

“The legal limits are appropriate and music played at that level is healthy for both customers and workers at these night spots,” the deputy health minister, Suchai Charoenratanakul told TNA on Thursday.

Dr. Suchai said that he was more concerned about the health of the workers at night entertainment venues. However a recent survey had found no loss of hearing among the workers, but some did have hearing difficulties.

The government was working at discouraging people from smoking, especially among youngsters, said the deputy minister.

Thailand has more than ten million smokers, 600,000 of them are youngsters.

A more worrying trend though was that the number of new female smokers had doubled in the recent years.

Dr. Suchai said that in addition to the anti-smoking campaigns, it was necessary to strictly enforce the laws to curb smoking.

Provincial governors have been instructed in writing to rigorously enforced the government ban on cigarette and alcohol sales to teenagers under the age of 18, he said.

--TNA 2004-12-17

[Tornado]

That is good news.

[NedKelly]

Pardon.......??!!

[Insight]

First they intoduce entertainment zones, which they say will can stay open later than areas outside the zones.

Then they shut everywhere down at 1am, including areas inside the zones.

Now they tell everybody to turn the volume down in all areas. Bit on the silly side, this govt.

[davidjohn]

First they intoduce entertainment zones, which they say will can stay open later than areas outside the zones.

Then they shut everywhere down at 1am, including areas inside the zones.

Now they tell everybody to turn the volume down in all areas. Bit on the silly side, this govt.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Noise is a very dangerous hazard to a persons hearing, every increase of 3 dB(A) is a doubling of damaging noise in the ear. Tinnitus, the ringing in the ears, is not curable and does not fade the hearer has to suffer this effect for the rest of their lives. All hearing damage is non reversable. British health and safety in industry, ie working with noisy machinery, is limited to 85dB(A) before the operator is provided on request with ear defenders and it is compulsory to provide and wear ear defenders at 90dB(A). I therefore do not agree that this government is being a 'Bit on the silly side'

[Pattayaguy1999]

The less noise, the better. Now if they would do something to curtail those sound trucks that blast noise all day long as they drive around the town. That would help the noise pollution tremendously.

[Insight]

Noise is a very dangerous hazard to a persons hearing, every increase of 3 dB(A) is a doubling of damaging noise in the ear.  Tinnitus, the ringing in the ears, is not curable and does not fade the hearer has to suffer this effect for the rest of their lives.  All hearing damage is non reversable.  British health and safety in industry, ie working with noisy machinery, is limited to 85dB(A) before the operator is provided on request with ear defenders and it is compulsory to provide and wear ear defenders at 90dB(A).  I therefore do not agree that this government is being a 'Bit on the silly side'

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Fair enough, but in the following week after this one was introduced, the local cops were ensuring all bar owners had the volume at a much lower level. Thankfully the bar I go to has now returned to its regular levels, which was hardly painful on the ears.

I can appreciate why many people are satisfied to see this introduced - bluring out random noise at all levels in all areas is a headache at the best of times.

Edited December 23, 2004 by Insight