Phuket officials prepare for Songkran with alcohol-free play zones

[webfact]

Phuket officials prepare for Songkran with alcohol-free play zones
Phuket Gazette


Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut today announced the designated alcohol-free water-play zones for Songkran. Photo: Gazette File

PHUKET: -- Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut today announced the designated water-play zones for this year's Songkran celebrations. Now, Phuket water-players may start making a plan for the party.

The announcement made it clear that the sale, purchase and consumption of alcohol will be banned within the Phuket water play zones and there will be no exception for any famous area, this includes, of course, Patong’s Soi Bangla on April 13. The alcohol-free water-play zones are part of a slew of new precautions to make the 2014 Thai New Year festivities safer.

Scenes from 2013's Songkran celebrations in Phuket. Video: PGTV

“The selected ‘water-play zones’ are Saphan Hin Park, Kata-Karon beachfront, Soi Bangla and Patong beach road, Kamala Park, Surin Beach and Sirinath National Park,” Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut announced.

The water play areas are been chosen and set up at the provincial governor’s discretion.
“Alcohol may not be conveyed into the areas, sold in the areas, or consumed there,” he added.

Police warn that those breaking Songkran alcohol rules will face imprisonment of up to six months, a fine 10,000 baht, or both.

“Please be informed that drinking in cars will result in charges for both the driver and passengers, as well as those found drinking beside public roads. This is according to the Alcohol Act B.E. 2551,” said Phuket City Police Superintendent Sermphan Sirikong.

“The sale, purchase and consumption of alcohol will be banned in the Phuket water play zones. The ban will be effective from 8am on April 13 to 6am on April 14,” he stated.

“Police will also charge people for throwing water ‘impolitely’, for using colored water and for touching women inappropriately when applying powder,” Col Sermphan announced.

“Whoever is caught breaking the safety regulations will be charged with causing a public nuisance or endangering public safety,” he warned.

The selected ‘water-play zones’ will be Saphan Hin Park, Kata-Karon beachfront, Soi Bangla and Patong beach road, Kamala Park, Surin Beach and Sirinath National Park. Photo: Gazette file

Col Sermphan also warned water-players in the back of pickup trucks to be take care and play safely.

“Water-playing on trucks is dangerous. You may do it, but you must take precautions. If anybody is found ignoring safety, they will be charged by police for causing a public nuisance or endangering public safety,” he added.

In addition, police will be manning 10 main checkpoints throughout Phuket during the “Seven Days of Danger” which runs from April 11 to 17.

“Ten main checkpoints will be set up throughout the island to maintain the road-safety plan as the number of road accidents during Songkran is much higher than normal,” Col Sermphan said.

The 10 police road-safety checkpoints in Phuket will be found at the following locations:

Muang District
Isuzu dealership on Thepkrasattri Road’s northbound lane, near Koh Kaew Soi 33
Wichit Municipality Office on Chao Fa West Road
Ake Anda village on Chao Fa West Road
Ramada Hotel on Patak Road in Karon


The selected ‘water-play zones’ will be Saphan Hin Park, Kata-Karon beachfront, Soi Bangla and Patong beach road, Kamala Park, Surin Beach and Sirinath National Park. Photo: Gazette file

Kathu
Patong Hill Hotel intersection on Sirirat Road
Prabaramee Road, near Thung Thong Police Station
In front of Big C Supercenter in Kamala

Thalang
Tah Chat Chai checkpoint
Cherng Talay Municipality Office on Srisoonthorn Road
Tah Reua Police Box on Thepkrasattri Road southbound, near the Heroines’ Monument

“There will be 14 other small checkpoints on minor roads throughout the three district of Phuket, as well as 12 checkpoints which can be moved around to keep an eye on drinking and driving, and motorists who do not wear helmets, in order to support road safety campaign,” Col Sermphan added.

— Chutharat Plerin

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket-news/-Phuket-officials-prepare-Songkran-alcoholfree-play/29094#ad-image-0

-- Phuket Gazette 2014-04-09

[LivinginKata]

Thanks, a good reminder for me to stay at home over Songkran.

[samjaidee]

I thought it was illegal to carry passengers in the rear of a pick up truck.

"Col Sermphan also warned water-players in the back of pickup trucks to be take care and play safely." Here's the chief of Phuket city police telling people to be careful when breaking the law.

Can you imagine the head of a police department in Europe advising people to break the law with care?

[LivinginKata]

I thought it was illegal to carry passengers in the rear of a pick up truck.

"Col Sermphan also warned water-players in the back of pickup trucks to be take care and play safely." Here's the chief of Phuket city police telling people to be careful when breaking the law.

Can you imagine the head of a police department in Europe advising people to break the law with care?

Don't think it's illegal to carry pax in the rear of a pick up. Even in regulated USA it's not illegal, although in US pax must be sitting down in the back.

[samjaidee]

I thought it was illegal to carry passengers in the rear of a pick up truck.

"Col Sermphan also warned water-players in the back of pickup trucks to be take care and play safely." Here's the chief of Phuket city police telling people to be careful when breaking the law.

Can you imagine the head of a police department in Europe advising people to break the law with care?

Don't think it's illegal to carry pax in the rear of a pick up. Even in regulated USA it's not illegal, although in US pax must be sitting down in the back.

I've been under the impression from reading threads here in the past that it was illegal. Maybe it was trucks I read about, not pick-ups. Now I've just seen a thread in the lawyer section that confirms I was wrong.

Everybody please ignore my post.

[Lokie]

Used to enjoy and get involved but after last year Never Again, spolied by Dick-Head people attempting to cause as much mayhem as possible on roads which are dangerous to begin with, without some ThroBBer jumping out and throwing a bucket over you.

Nope, Happy Songkran... in my loom

[Somtamnication]

These alcohol bans are so so ridiculous. Worthless regulations.