SONGKRAN

Ban on booze as emergency services brace for accidents

THE NATION

Authorities pledge raids on shops selling alchol beyond authorised hours

BANGKOK: -- In a bid to reduce deaths from road accidents, authorities yesterday vowed tough action against anyone found violating the ban on selling alcohol over the Songkran festival period.

"We will be more strict in enforcing the ban on alcohol sales. We will push for the prosecution of all violators,' Disease Control Department director general Pornthep Siriwanarangsan said.

Over the Songkran period last year, road accidents killed 271 people and injured 3,476 others. Alcohol consumption was found to be the most common cause of the accidents.

Pornthep said his department would dispatch teams to survey whether shops at petrol stations and public parks were ignoring the ban.

"We will also check whether shops in other areas are violating the ban on selling alcohol beyond authorised hours," he said.

Public Health Ministry permanent secretary Paijit Warachit says campaigns to reduce road accidents have proven effective during the past year. Road casualties during the Songkran festival have dropped since 2009, when accidents during the period killed 373 people and injured up to 4,332 others.

Road safety campaigns during Songkran include checkpoints to deter speeding and drunk driving and extra measures to enforce the ban on selling alcohol.

According to a recent Suan Dusit poll, nearly 90 per cent of people are worried about travelling in Songkran for fear of accidents.

Of the 696 residents of Bangkok and adjacent provinces polled, 61 per cent plan to celebrate Songkran upcountry.

"We have medical teams ready to assist people needing emergency medical services," said Public Health Minister Witthaya Buranasiri.

AMBULANCES ON STAND BY

Secretary-general of the Emergency Medical Institute, Chatree Charoencheewakul said a 122,945-strong workforce was on standby to provide emergency medical services during the Songkran period.

"We also have 14,189 ambulances, 1,128 boats, 101 helicopters, and seven planes for the purpose," he said.

Chatree said those needing emergency medical aid could call 1669 for help around the clock.

"We have already drawn up a plan to base our teams at crucial spots. We hope we will be able to reach patients needing medical help within 10 minutes for at least 80 in a hundred cases being reported to us," he said.

Chatree said timely treatment would minimise the risk of permanent disabilities and death.

-- The Nation 2012-04-05

I think a more appropriate headline would have been..."Authorities talk about enforcing existing laws on the sale of alcohol".

most of them would not know what the laws are

i,am sure it will work too.just like the years before they tried

Pretty hard to enforce this since those who do the enforces are the problem. Checkpoint with a tent on the side of the road with the guys sitting or standing doing nothing! Next year they will be talking about the same thing and doing the same nothing. But thanks for trying anyway.

61%going up country.

Should be a big boost in the arm t Mai Sai and Chiang Rai.

just like they banned blue plastic high powered watercannon . you still see people usingthem everywhere

Edited April 5, 201214 yr by metisdead

What's with that weird rule where they can't sell booze between 2 and 5 in the afternoon? What was the logic behind that?

you want to reduce death on roads ? easy ............. send the people to DRIVING SCHOOL , in those schools you learn how to respect other drivers, road safety , to read what road signs means etc .... unfortunately it seems the 15,000 dead per year in this country is not enough as nothing is really done to fight road accidents., ban on alcool ? pffffffffffffff a total joke as they did it how many time before and it doesnt work. ....

What's with that weird rule where they can't sell booze between 2 and 5 in the afternoon? What was the logic behind that?

where is the logic ? there is NO logic ...

Yeah .. good idea. They should ban alcohol not only on Songkran but all together. And tobacco as well. Since all better drugs are already banned why not ban the worst two? ...

What's with that weird rule where they can't sell booze between 2 and 5 in the afternoon? What was the logic behind that?

========================

They were trying to get the police and government officials to go back to work after lunch, instead of drinking all afternoon.

you want to reduce death on roads ? easy ............. send the people to DRIVING SCHOOL , in those schools you learn how to respect other drivers, road safety , to read what road signs means etc .... unfortunately it seems the 15,000 dead per year in this country is not enough as nothing is really done to fight road accidents., ban on alcool ? pffffffffffffff a total joke as they did it how many time before and it doesnt work. ....

Be careful what you wish for. Sent the tgf to driving school. She got in their car and started to adjust the mirrors. She was told she should not use them as she should only worry about what was in front of her, not behind or to the side. Needless to say, end of driving school.

I believe the thinking behind that rather porous law was to prevent alcohol being sold to minors during the hours they are returning from school. It was a blanket law that supposedly orders all liquor outlets to not sell alcohol between 1400hrs and 1700hrs.

All major stores such as Tesco, Big C, Tops, Makro, 7-11 etc comply. The small "mom & pop" stores in every soi usually do not, because they either know the buyer or need the sales.

Personally I have never been refused a beer purchase at several small shops in my area during those 'restricted' hours.

The law inconveniences tourists, and the adult population who may be shopping at that time of day. It causes a huge loss of revenue to these larger companies.

You mention "LOGIC" I assume you live in Thailand? If you do, you know the answer.

In most countries shops need a licence to sell both alcohol and tobacco products, here "mum and pop" shops sell both at any time of day and night.

you want to reduce death on roads ? easy ............. send the people to DRIVING SCHOOL , in those schools you learn how to respect other drivers, road safety , to read what road signs means etc .... unfortunately it seems the 15,000 dead per year in this country is not enough as nothing is really done to fight road accidents., ban on alcool ? pffffffffffffff a total joke as they did it how many time before and it doesnt work. ....

Thais learn nothing. They go through the motions to get their licenses and pass the test, then it's back to wreckless driving, and get out of my way, I'm coming thru. Half the village bkes are not registered, and many of the drivers don't have valid licences and insurance.

The ban on alcohol means nothing. They stock up ahead or have made their own moonshine to drink. Does the helmet law work./...NO. Does the use of cell phones in cars and bikes work...NO. The other day I had to follow down a soi where a girl was driving her bike with one hand, using her phone with the other hand, and trying to balance a very small child on her lap. Normal for her kind.

Edited April 5, 201214 yr by Lifer

Traffic accidents? .. Has anybody ever seen a highway police stopping and giving somebody a ticket for:

not using an indicator when turning or using indicator when not turning?

driving and parking on wrong side of the road?

parking near/on intersections and other clearings?

not having lights at night?

overtaking when not safe?

crossing the continuous line?

not wearing seat-belts?

talking on mobile phone when driving?

Hmmm .. maybe they could start from "trying" to enforce some of the existing rules before adding the new ones? But of course .. talk is cheap.

........another HUB surely.....Thailand HUB of absolute stupidity during Songkran......well some of it anyway....... but what does occur qualifies for the HUB label......

If you want that nonsense go to USA/GB or Germany.

i,am sure it will work too.just like the years before they tried

maybe start implementing the highway rules and laws I believe drinking and driving is against the law in Thailand...

but that would mean the police would have to work!! maybe even STOP drinking themselves and well thats as likely as them stop taking bribes LOL gee how they gonne get their new mercedez and big house and send their kids to university??

that will be the day LOL

Why specifically only on that period?

Why not doing those things at the nights as well?

Few are the places known that clubs and other establishments are paying the police to look the other way.

Do everybody thinks that this once will change?

Anyway it's the way of living and surely there are flaws in the Thai system but we may not forget that these flaws are in all countries around the world.

So to my opinion: Do what you consider as best

Everybody is free to choose.

Well, hang on, things are on the move here in Chiang mai, they are really enforcing helmet and lenience checks ,even at night now, so they are moving in the right direction,it's just gonna take time,just like every thing else,the laws are already there,the weak link in the chain is the enforcement! happy sonkran everybody...

I believe the thinking behind that rather porous law was to prevent alcohol being sold to minors during the hours they are returning from school. It was a blanket law that supposedly orders all liquor outlets to not sell alcohol between 1400hrs and 1700hrs.

All major stores such as Tesco, Big C, Tops, Makro, 7-11 etc comply. The small "mom & pop" stores in every soi usually do not, because they either know the buyer or need the sales.

Personally I have never been refused a beer purchase at several small shops in my area during those 'restricted' hours.

The law inconveniences tourists, and the adult population who may be shopping at that time of day. It causes a huge loss of revenue to these larger companies.

You mention "LOGIC" I assume you live in Thailand? If you do, you know the answer.

That does make sense. In terms of intention, it's unenforceability is a different issue. It just means if we're shopping at Tesco and want beer and it's 4 o'clock we have to go somewhere else to get it.

We live in Port Moresby, where I work. But we have a residence in Thailand and spend an increasing amount of time living there. Not upset at "missing" Songkran.

What's with that weird rule where they can't sell booze between 2 and 5 in the afternoon? What was the logic behind that?

========================

They were trying to get the police and government officials to go back to work after lunch, instead of drinking all afternoon.

Ha ha. I think you are the winner. Very good.

Hey , the 2 and 5 thing has to do with the King Rama,so cool out fellas!...

Traffic accidents? .. Has anybody ever seen a highway police stopping and giving somebody a ticket for:

not using an indicator when turning or using indicator when not turning?

driving and parking on wrong side of the road?

parking near/on intersections and other clearings?

not having lights at night?

overtaking when not safe?

crossing the continuous line?

not wearing seat-belts?

talking on mobile phone when driving?

Hmmm .. maybe they could start from "trying" to enforce some of the existing rules before adding the new ones? But of course .. talk is cheap.

In a WORD! NO! never in forty yeaars have I seen a Thai Policeman do this, I HAVE seen them on the bridges just before payday stopping the Motor Cycle people for not wearing their helmets and no drivers license.

In most countries shops need a licence to sell both alcohol and tobacco products, here "mum and pop" shops sell both at any time of day and night.

That is why you is Farang...silly

Well, hang on, things are on the move here in Chiang mai, they are really enforcing helmet and lenience checks ,even at night now, so they are moving in the right direction,it's just gonna take time,just like every thing else,the laws are already there,the weak link in the chain is the enforcement! happy sonkran everybody...

Enforcing for the driver or the passengers too? It seems totally ridiculous that the driver of the motorbike is made to wear a helmet, but the two kids riding pillion, do not. Go figure.

They are pretty serious about it in the south. I've seen a few signs of fines handed out at the 711s.

We can only hope for a total alcohol ban from Apr6-16 in Pattaya!

Well, hang on, things are on the move here in Chiang mai, they are really enforcing helmet and lenience checks ,even at night now, so they are moving in the right direction,it's just gonna take time,just like every thing else,the laws are already there,the weak link in the chain is the enforcement! happy sonkran everybody...

Enforcing for the driver or the passengers too? It seems totally ridiculous that the driver of the motorbike is made to wear a helmet, but the two kids riding pillion, do not. Go figure.

Not true, every one cops a fine,depending on the leniency of the officer involved or how much you pay on the side, i think we may be surprised this sonkran,with lot's of alcohol stops and tests..