Junta Leader Advises Thais Not To Be 'Slaves of Alcohol'

By Khaosod Eng.

BANGKOK — The leader of Thailand’s military junta, Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha, has presented the public with a new slogan for this year's no-alcohol day.

"Develop Citizens to the Future, Stop Being Slaves of Alcohol," Gen. Prayuth has advised the public, according to official reports.

Thai authorities designated the first day of Buddhist Lent as the "national no-alcohol day" in an effort to educate citizens about the hazards of alcohol.

Alcoholic beverages also cause disputes and assaults, said Narong Sahamethawat, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Public Health.

"We would like to invite the public and Thai youths not to support the businesses of intoxicating beverages, and refrain from drinking any type of alcohol during important Buddhist holidays," Mr. Narong said.

Consumption of alcohol is banned under the Fifth Precept of Buddhism. To observe the religious dogma, Thai authorities ban sales of alcohol across the country on important Buddhist holidays, such as Asalha Puja Day and first day of Buddhist Lent, which fell on yesterday and today respectively.

However, alcohol is widely sold and consumed by Thais in the rest of the year.

Source: http://en.khaosod.co.th/detail.php?newsid=1405171420&section=11&typecate=06

-- Khaosod English 2014-07-12

He isn't even going to waste his breath trying to convince the farang population.

;-)

Seriously, though, its a great message to send to the population and especially kids.

I hope his message is met with support .

Prayuth could use good ole Chalerm as his poster boy for this campaign. Too much booze will turn you into a pathetic scumbag like this.

I wonder if a plan to have off-duty cops wearing balaclavas and driving round Thailand on motorbikes executing on sight anybody drinking or suspected to be drinking alcohol would have the Thaksinites crying Hallelujah as they did during his war on drugs? Double standards, much?

Just be slaves to a corrupt oligarch system.............

Prayuth could use good ole Chalerm as his poster boy for this campaign. Too much booze will turn you into a pathetic scumbag like this.

I wonder if a plan to have off-duty cops wearing balaclavas and driving round Thailand on motorbikes executing on sight anybody drinking or suspected to be drinking alcohol would have the Thaksinites crying Hallelujah as they did during his war on drugs? Double standards, much?

When I read garbage like the above its small wonder that General Prayuth declined the offer from Aliens to participate in the reform process. Its a Thai problem and only Thais can resolve it I believe he was quoted as saying.

Hopefully the NCPO does not read the TV news section, the topic & comments on Thaksin's birthday alone shows you what type of farangs we have over here.

Edited July 13, 201412 yr by phutoie2

I just hope they don't introduce any more silly 2-5pm no buying hours schemes or other regulations regarding alcohol consumption, anything can happen in this country. Let people decide by themselves what and when they want to drink.

I just hope they don't introduce any more silly 2-5pm no buying hours schemes or other regulations regarding alcohol consumption, anything can happen in this country. Let people decide by themselves what and when they want to drink.

With speeches like the one above...nothing would surprise me now here......

I'm going a month without. 1 week in and I feel great already. Can't wait for my memory to return.

Prayuth could use good ole Chalerm as his poster boy for this campaign. Too much booze will turn you into a pathetic scumbag like this.

I wonder if a plan to have off-duty cops wearing balaclavas and driving round Thailand on motorbikes executing on sight anybody drinking or suspected to be drinking alcohol would have the Thaksinites crying Hallelujah as they did during his war on drugs? Double standards, much?

When I read garbage like the above its small wonder that General Prayuth declined the offer from Aliens to participate in the reform process. Its a Thai problem and only Thais can resolve it I believe he was quoted as saying.

Hopefully the NCPO does not read the TV news section, the topic & comments on Thaksin's birthday alone shows you what type of farangs we have over here.

If only the Shinawatra cabal were still the entrenched establishment your comments might have some merit. Alas, Thaksin is not the eternal dear leader he so dearly wanted to be, he is just a criminal on the run. As such, and like other criminals on the run from justice, he attracts derision from neutral readers. I think the NCPO would be unsurprised to see 99% of the Thai visa posts scorning the serial liar, violent terrorist and convicted fraudster, but they might raise an eyebrow at posts like yours that display profound distress at losing the Shin amart.

As part of growing up, self esteem ought to increase. When this happens you might feel the urge to make a comment on a political forum. Don't be so timid, you opinion is just as valuable as anybody else.

Just be slaves to a corrupt oligarch system.............

Boy, ain't that the truth.

Yeah, "just say no" it worked great in America.

Gawd whats next? Tips on religious devotion?

There is another country in the region that issues similar edicts and has an unelected government in power ; North Korea.

what are they going to try to control next? "don't love sex"? "don't have too many pets"? "don't be a Christian worshiper"? or just "you WILL be happy - and that's an order"

Edited July 13, 201412 yr by binjalin

No hope of changing that. They already are the biggest drinkers, in Asean!

Farang show overwhelming support for the clean-up efforts made by the Junta which have directly confronted 90% of the complaints made in this forum about Thailand--i.e. Moral and Social decay and corruption at all levels.

Then the Junta says, "Hey, Thailand, drink responsibly" and the TV Expat crowd explodes in derision and starts comparing LOS to North Korea.

Are the TV members saying that they do not think there are any negative alcohol issues in LOS or just that they themselves should be immune from any request to contribute?

First stage? Denial.

Second stage? Anger.

Edited July 13, 201412 yr by ClutchClark

He should try to read up on the topics when there is a Buddhist festivity day and they don't sell alcohol. My gawd, it is like there is a war coming.

Prayuth could use good ole Chalerm as his poster boy for this campaign. Too much booze will turn you into a pathetic scumbag like this.

I wonder if a plan to have off-duty cops wearing balaclavas and driving round Thailand on motorbikes executing on sight anybody drinking or suspected to be drinking alcohol would have the Thaksinites crying Hallelujah as they did during his war on drugs? Double standards, much?

Some circles cannot refrain from a political slant on any subject.

I just hope they don't introduce any more silly 2-5pm no buying hours schemes or other regulations regarding alcohol consumption, anything can happen in this country. Let people decide by themselves what and when they want to drink.

That's exactly the kind of thing I would expect them to do.

Gen Prayut is a man of very firm, even strict views, and if he deems that alcohol is Bad For Thailand, I am sure he will consider steps to curb its use.

One easy way might be to threaten the mom-and-pop shops which are the easiest way round the current bans. Another easy one would be extending the bans around major religious and royal occasions -- one day before and one day after.

what are they going to try to control next? "don't love sex"? "don't have too many pets"? "don't be a Christian worshiper"? or just "you WILL be happy - and that's an order"

Conjecture and sensationalism at best.

Prayuth could use good ole Chalerm as his poster boy for this campaign. Too much booze will turn you into a pathetic scumbag like this.

I wonder if a plan to have off-duty cops wearing balaclavas and driving round Thailand on motorbikes executing on sight anybody drinking or suspected to be drinking alcohol would have the Thaksinites crying Hallelujah as they did during his war on drugs? Double standards, much?

When I read garbage like the above its small wonder that General Prayuth declined the offer from Aliens to participate in the reform process. Its a Thai problem and only Thais can resolve it I believe he was quoted as saying.

Hopefully the NCPO does not read the TV news section, the topic & comments on Thaksin's birthday alone shows you what type of farangs we have over here.

If only the Shinawatra cabal were still the entrenched establishment your comments might have some merit. Alas, Thaksin is not the eternal dear leader he so dearly wanted to be, he is just a criminal on the run. As such, and like other criminals on the run from justice, he attracts derision from neutral readers. I think the NCPO would be unsurprised to see 99% of the Thai visa posts scorning the serial liar, violent terrorist and convicted fraudster, but they might raise an eyebrow at posts like yours that display profound distress at losing the Shin amart.

As part of growing up, self esteem ought to increase. When this happens you might feel the urge to make a comment on a political forum. Don't be so timid, you opinion is just as valuable as anybody else.

I prefer not to continue to to fuel the political rhetoric on a topic that is apolitical...alcolhol abuse.

Prayuth could use good ole Chalerm as his poster boy for this campaign. Too much booze will turn you into a pathetic scumbag like this.

I wonder if a plan to have off-duty cops wearing balaclavas and driving round Thailand on motorbikes executing on sight anybody drinking or suspected to be drinking alcohol would have the Thaksinites crying Hallelujah as they did during his war on drugs? Double standards, much?

When I read garbage like the above its small wonder that General Prayuth declined the offer from Aliens to participate in the reform process. Its a Thai problem and only Thais can resolve it I believe he was quoted as saying.

Hopefully the NCPO does not read the TV news section, the topic & comments on Thaksin's birthday alone shows you what type of farangs we have over here.

If only the Shinawatra cabal were still the entrenched establishment your comments might have some merit. Alas, Thaksin is not the eternal dear leader he so dearly wanted to be, he is just a criminal on the run. As such, and like other criminals on the run from justice, he attracts derision from neutral readers. I think the NCPO would be unsurprised to see 99% of the Thai visa posts scorning the serial liar, violent terrorist and convicted fraudster, but they might raise an eyebrow at posts like yours that display profound distress at losing the Shin amart.

As part of growing up, self esteem ought to increase. When this happens you might feel the urge to make a comment on a political forum. Don't be so timid, you opinion is just as valuable as anybody else.

I take it that you are not a fan of the Shinawatra family.

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

went to our local minimart yesterday, had signs on the door saying no booze sales and why. Came out with three bottles, the General has his work cut out on this one.

what are they going to try to control next? "don't love sex"? "don't have too many pets"? "don't be a Christian worshiper"? or just "you WILL be happy - and that's an order"

I heard they will start that today... but only for red shirts and farang red shirts so get ready get your ass handed over to you for the 2nd time by the junta.

No hope of changing that. They already are the biggest drinkers, in Asean!

Take a look at the World Health Organization (WHO) List of Countries by Alcohol Consumed...Thailand is way down the list....European countries dominate the top of the list.

To clarify I think this is reasonable advice, one should not be slave to any drug including Alcohol.

However I feel real strong about days without alcohol, forced by a government. I think its crazy and that religious people should adhere to their religion without force. Its just stupid to have alcohol free days. I am practically a non drinker so it does not affect me, but I am all for freedom to do with ones body what you please as long as you don't bother others.

I think it is a good message to be sending out. The politicos are often taking about drugs, but fail to recognise the damage that alcohol is doing to the health of the nation. Anything which encourages people to drink responsibly is a good start. Maybe some education in the schools to.

I'll drink to that? Cheers

To clarify I think this is reasonable advice, one should not be slave to any drug including Alcohol.

However I feel real strong about days without alcohol, forced by a government. I think its crazy and that religious people should adhere to their religion without force. Its just stupid to have alcohol free days. I am practically a non drinker so it does not affect me, but I am all for freedom to do with ones body what you please as long as you don't bother others.

Perhaps this is a classic example of a Western viewpoint which focuses on the Individual, the Me, the Self versus the Thai viewpoint which focuses on the Family, the Tribe, the community, the Nation and the Public good.

Ofcourse, you are only a guest here, as most of us, and so we are each free to move to a country that offers the freedoms to get polluted 24/7 if we so choose.

Cheers

To clarify I think this is reasonable advice, one should not be slave to any drug including Alcohol.

However I feel real strong about days without alcohol, forced by a government. I think its crazy and that religious people should adhere to their religion without force. Its just stupid to have alcohol free days. I am practically a non drinker so it does not affect me, but I am all for freedom to do with ones body what you please as long as you don't bother others.

Perhaps this is a classic example of a Western viewpoint which focuses on the Individual, the Me, the Self versus the Thai viewpoint which focuses on the Family, the Tribe, the community, the Nation and the Public good.

Ofcourse, you are only a guest here, as most of us, and so we are each free to move to a country that offers the freedoms to get polluted 24/7 if we so choose.

Cheers

I love it here, that does not mean I am not blind to things I dont like. There is no perfect country.

To clarify I think this is reasonable advice, one should not be slave to any drug including Alcohol.

However I feel real strong about days without alcohol, forced by a government. I think its crazy and that religious people should adhere to their religion without force. Its just stupid to have alcohol free days. I am practically a non drinker so it does not affect me, but I am all for freedom to do with ones body what you please as long as you don't bother others.

Perhaps this is a classic example of a Western viewpoint which focuses on the Individual, the Me, the Self versus the Thai viewpoint which focuses on the Family, the Tribe, the community, the Nation and the Public good.

Ofcourse, you are only a guest here, as most of us, and so we are each free to move to a country that offers the freedoms to get polluted 24/7 if we so choose.

Cheers

I love it here, that does not mean I am not blind to things I dont like. There is no perfect country.

How BIG was that glass, Rob? Which way is Sukhumvit? (I'm never going to let you forget that.)

I don't see anything wrong in Prayuth's message - it's pretty much stock standard and will mostly be ignored unless he decides to enforce his wowserism on the rest of us - rest of you, actually, as I'm now forced to be a teetotaller for the rest of my life.