Phuket Poll: Readers Split On 'White Hotel' Project

Phuket poll: Readers split on 'White Hotel' project

The word's 'ya bah' spelled out in Thai using methamphetamine pills

seized in a drug arrest. File photo.

PHUKET: -- Gazette readers are somewhat dubious that a new “White Hotel” project being set up by Phuket City Police and local hotel operators will have the desired affect of reducing illegal drug use.

One of the key elements to the initiative, still in its preliminary stages, would be mandatory, random drug testing of all staff at hotels, guest houses and other accommodation establishments.

For more information about the project click here.

Of all readers who took part in the one-week poll, 45.2% overall said they didn’t think random drug testing would reduce illegal drug use.

This was compared to 41.2% who thought that it would. The remainder, 13.5%, said they didn’t know.

In a breakdown by demographic, people who identified themselves as foreign residents were the most pessimistic, with 56% saying drug testing wouldn’t help compared to 39% who said that it would.

Both Thais and foreign tourists were more likely to think drug testing would be a success, however.

Among Thais, 44% thought testing would decrease drug use compared to 37% who said that it would not.

Among tourists, 43% thought testing would decrease drug use compared to 33% who said that it would not.

A total of 347 people took part: 178 local foreign residents, 126 tourists and 43 Thais.

For full poll results click here.

If you have an interesting idea for a poll send it to: polls [at ]phuketgazette.net

-- Phuket Gazette 2010-11-01