Thai Cabinet approves 'no alcohol drinking' campaign during Buddhist Lent

[webfact]

Cabinet approves 'no alcohol drinking' campaign during Buddhist Lent

BANGKOK, 10 July 2013 (NNT) – The cabinet has approved the proposal of the Office of the Alcohol Beverage to make Buddhist Lent a no alcohol period.

According to Government Spokesperson Teerat Ratanasevi, the cabinet has given a green light to the move to promote the auspicious occasion of Buddhist Lent as alcohol-free days.

Alcohol is a threat to the society as it leads to violence and crimes in the society; in addition, drinkers risk developing up to 60 different of diseases, added the spokesperson.

He said the statistics show that 23.6 percent of all crimes have been linked to alcohol consumption. Promoting a no-drinking campaign during the Buddhist Lent will help reduce alcohol-related crimes and violence in the society.

The campaign is also launched in honor of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej and the Supreme Patriarch of Thailand, who is celebrating his 100th birthday anniversary this year.

Retail sales of alcoholic drinks will be permitted only in hotels, as stipulated by the laws governing the sales og alcoholic beverages.

-- NNT 2013-07-10

[Redhawk]

What is an birthday anniversary? He is getting 86 when I am not completely wrong!

[soi41]

What a relief, now we know it is safe to drive on the roads during the lent!

Being good Buddhists and good members of society ofcourse Somchai and Somkid will refrain from their lao kao??

[soi41]

What is an birthday anniversary? He is getting 86 when I am not completely wrong!

Yes you are completely wrong. Try to READ to OP again.

[MacWalen]

But I'm not Buddhist. Politics and religion. Never a good mix.

[Redhawk]

No alcohol ban will ever change these problems if they are not changing the people's attitude, behaviour, knowledge, education and ethics but the gov is still so clever not to enlighten the population otherwise the days of these mp's would be counted!

[Aachen]

"He said the statistics show that 23.6 percent of all crimes have been linked to alcohol consumption."

and 100% of all crime is linked to living people. So get rid of them!

Edited July 10, 2013 by Aachen

[OzMick]

Office of the Alcohol Beverage - Chalerm is looking for extra work, and you can't say he hasn't got experience.

Restriction of alcohol sales during Buddhist Lent (is that marked in the calendar?) will be as successful as prohibition in the USA, IMHO.

[LuckyLew]

guess there will be a run on ear medicine

[lee b]

Alcohol will only be stopped in large supermarkets 7/11s etc. You will still be able to get it everywhere else. And if not its just stocked up in the house !!

[Soi Sauce]

Do they mean the whole 3 month period? If so, good bye to the tourist trade and a large slice of a lot of busuinesses profits, therefore existence. Welcome to the dry crappyoke bars and nightclub, let alone all of Pattaya Phuket and Samuii. Malaysia anyone?.

I know there's a guy living in a Muslim country who influences decisions here. Is this mad idea in exchange for ongoing residence?

[WhizBang]

Buddhist Lent???

When is this? When does it start and how long does it last? Start/end dates?

This should be good for the tourist trade. Has TAT approved this?

It would also go a LONG way to controlling the Thai alcohol problem if they would restrict the white spirit so many of them love. At a minimum TAX it properly.

[DocN]

blah blah blah Buddhist blah blah blah no alcohol blah blah blah road safety blah blah blah diseases from alcohol- consumption blah blah blah rest of the year ? mai pen rai! blah blah

[Bluespunk]

BANGKOK, 10 July 2013 (NNT) The cabinet has approved the proposal of the Office of the Alcohol Beverage to make Buddhist Lent a no alcohol period.

Really, that is the name of a govt office?

[Tatsujin]

If its as successful as the no alcohol during Songkran campaign was then the death toll will rise.

[Markaew]

This is not fair! They keep interrupting my scheduled time of drinking until unconscious.

Edited July 10, 2013 by Markaew

[Bluespunk]

So they are banning alcohol sales until October 20th or just campaigning against alcohol sales?

[Payboy]

Office of the Alcohol Beverage

Isn't that the bar on Sukh 33 in Bangkok?

[eddie61]

Plonker nattawut saikuar's little song and dance show obviously didnt work to promote sales at mom and pop stores. This will definately work!

[sprq]

What is an birthday anniversary? He is getting 86 when I am not completely wrong!

It is a Thai invention, unknown in native speaker English, which attempts to make the birthdays of certain people sound more important than those of the rest of us, who just have birthdays.

[rubin]

Is this some kind of a joke?

[klauskunkel]

Cabinet approves 'no alcohol drinking' campaign during Buddhist Lent

So...lead by example, and I mean you, Chalerm!

[bigbamboo]

Unless they ban drinking alcohol what's the point?

Give the muslims their due, at least they respect their religious bans.

[Sydebolle]

Another proof that this country is moving back to yesteryear's medieval days. Guess that a lot of booze goes over the counter the days before the holy days then.
Ah, and yes, my little grocery store around the corner will have bristling sales again as they clearly could not give a d...m about the "Office of Alcoholic Beverage" as proven each and every ban.
Well done, government, well done indeed. Business is down everywhere and now taxpayers bashing continues as most bars/restaurants will simply close for the holy days!

[Thereisnoif]

Religion is also a threat to society, and has killed more people than alcohol ever will .

[DeeMaiDee]

Available at your local Mom & Pop stores Nationwide...365...

[newermonkey]

Does the ban include the monks?

[Robby nz]

Just another silly announcement to try to divert attention from....................................................

[samjaidee]

What is an birthday anniversary? He is getting 86 when I am not completely wrong!

All animals born on Earth only have one birthday. My birthday was 30th March 1962. Every year I have an anniversary of my birth day; that is the day I was born on.

We usually associate anniversaries with other events in our lives such as weddings but strictly speaking every time we celebrate our birthday it is a celebration of the anniversary of our birth day.

The Supreme Patriarch of Thailand is celebrating his 100th birthday this year not the king.

It is not as spr&q said, a "Thai invention". It is simply a non-native speaker using the correct terminology.

[bigbamboo]

Unless they ban drinking alcohol what's the point?

Give the muslims their due, at least they respect their religious bans.

You cannot be serious . Jut go to Dubai and see for yourself hordes of Saudis getting drunk and getting laid.

True.... but I was referring to religious holidays.

Edited July 10, 2013 by bigbamboo