Songkran & alcohol, or maybe not.....

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12-03-2009, 04:25 PM
Spin

Songkran & alcohol, or maybe not.....

Govt in two minds over alcohol sales during Songkran

The Public Health Ministry yesterday issued two options for alcohol consumption during the Songkran Festival from April 12 to 14.

Deputy public health minister Manit Nopamornbodi said the ministerial executives had come up with two ideas: ban all sale of alcohol during the entire period; or ban sale at stores but allow restaurants, pubs and hotels with an Excise Department permit to serve booze from 6pm to midnight.

The ministry will soon submit a report to the National Committee for Alcohol Consumption Control Policy for a final say, he added.

Disease Control Department chief Somchai Chakrabhand said the ministry came up with these options after listening to all sides, including anti-alcohol groups, academics, manufacturers and business operators. The idea was to control the impact of drinking rather than prohibit it altogether, he said, though allowing booze to be sold at convenience stores or supermarkets will only encourage drunk driving, he added.

Public Health Minister Witthaya Kaewparadai, who presided over the meeting, said the ministry wanted to save lives and reduce road accidents during the festival, and that it was not siding with manufacturers, traders or the anti-alcohol groups.

Stop Drink Network coordinator Khamron Chudecha said it was unacceptable for the Public Health Ministry to leave such loopholes in its guidelines, because the ministry's first duty is to protect the public, not favour businesses. He said the network would rally next week to call on Deputy PM Sanan Kachornprasart, chairman of the National Committee for Alcohol Consumption Control Policy, to clarify the issue.
source

What say you?
12-03-2009, 04:46 PM
FlyFree

Ahhh, a choice between two 'ideas'. At least they have ideas. Maybe not original ideas, but ideas nonetheless. Isn't it?
12-03-2009, 04:57 PM
Marmite the Dog

Maybe they should start with making sure that the on-duty police aren't as pissed as farts first?

Just a thought....
12-03-2009, 04:58 PM
The Fresh Prince

My idea is to just ban driving altogether for the 3 day period and give everyone an extra day either side of the holiday to get to and from where they want to be.
12-03-2009, 05:00 PM
filch

^
Will your place be serving if a ban is issued?
12-03-2009, 05:10 PM
The Fresh Prince

I'll give one guess. :mid:
12-03-2009, 05:11 PM
filch

You know where I will be :wink:

Good luck in Koh Chang!
12-03-2009, 05:20 PM
Loy Toy

I just think that Thai's should go back to treating Songkram exactly as it was intended. Sprinkle a little rainwater on the back of a person they respect hands or a small cup of cooling clean water on a friends shoulder and to give them cooling comfort.

The throwing of this poluted water randomly over especially strangers and the weeks of outrageous pissups and road deaths is a nightmare to say the least.

I hope that the economic downturn has the affect to keep the majority of the population at home celebrating the event with their families and friends.
12-03-2009, 05:23 PM
Travelmate

Should be an outright ban. At least then I don't have to cough up for the GF's family to drink all my money down the drain.:(
12-03-2009, 05:25 PM
blackgang

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loy Toy

The throwing of this poluted water randomly over especially strangers and the weeks of outrageous pissups and road deaths is a nightmare to say the least.

I will have to go along with this..
12-03-2009, 05:29 PM
filch

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loy Toy

I just think that Thai's should go back to treating Songkram exactly as it was intended. Sprinkle a little rainwater on the back of a person they respect hands or a small cup of cooling clean water on a friends shoulder and to give them cooling comfort.

The throwing of this poluted water randomly over especially strangers and the weeks of outrageous pissups and road deaths is a nightmare to say the least.

I hope that the economic downturn has the affect to keep the majority of the population at home celebrating the event with their families and friends.

Agreed, a light sprinkle, a dab of powder as it should be.

Trucks doing 'drive bys' with buckets of ice cold water (still with chunks of ice in!) being launched at you whilst travelling at 50kmps is not pleasant.

I remember trying to ride a motorcycle through Pattaya one Songkran - now that's fookin' deadly!
12-03-2009, 06:49 PM
Marmite the Dog

I had a wonderful Songkran last year in the countryside near P'Lok. It was very gentle and respectful.

This years will be even better as I'll be in Australia showing the Sheilas what foreplay is.
12-03-2009, 06:52 PM
Loy Toy

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marmite the Dog

showing the Sheilas what foreplay is.

What......?????? How to open a beer bottle with a cigarette lighter....???????? :)

Hope you enjoy your trip mate!
12-03-2009, 07:27 PM
melvbot

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spin

Govt in two minds over alcohol sales during Songkran

Out of all the politicians they managed 2 minds, theyre damn lucky to get one.

All my friends hate Songkran, I love it. The worlds biggest wet t-shirt comp.
12-03-2009, 08:08 PM
November Rain

Quote:

Originally Posted by melvbot

All my friends hate Songkran, I love it.

I'm with you, melvbot. I love it too (though I don't really care about the wet t-shirt comp part)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spin

though allowing booze to be sold at convenience stores or supermarkets will only encourage drunk driving, he added.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spin

What say you? __________________

As usual, the Thai authorities are either displaying an appalling lack of knowledge about their own country or they are just paying lip service to the do-gooders. So, 7-11's and Tesco won't sell alcohol during Songkran. Hands up all of you that live here that would be stopped buying booze by that measure. Anyone? Nope. Because all of us know the corner shop (or even supermarket) that doesn't give a damn about the regs. Never mind the ones that sell shots of lao khao in Red Bull bottles. So, I think I'm safe in assuming the Thais know these places, too?:rolleyes:

Even if they ban alcohol, it won't stop the Thais drinking & it won't stop the accidents. It might put another nail in the coffin of a tourist industry which is doing pretty badly at the mo, though. Well done Thai authorities. Excellent planning yet again!
12-03-2009, 09:49 PM
pickel

Quote:

Originally Posted by filch

You know where I will be Good luck in Koh Chang!

Will you be on Koh Chang for Songkran Filch? Or are you saying FP will? PM me if either of you are coming here.
13-03-2009, 07:06 AM
filch

Quote:

Originally Posted by pickel

Quote:

Originally Posted by filch

You know where I will be Good luck in Koh Chang!

Will you be on Koh Chang for Songkran Filch? Or are you saying FP will? PM me if either of you are coming here.

FP and a few others will be going. I declined the invitation. I much prefer the 'tranquility' of Bangkok after everyone else has fooked off somewhere else for Songkran.
13-03-2009, 08:23 AM
lingmau

I'm so very very tired of this...... Songkran and idiot politicians both.

In previous years I might have been outraged, amused or possibly both. I've now come to expect this sort of lunacy as par for the course. The entire country, collectively, doesn't have the brains of fried chicken.

I'll be in Vietnam for Songkran.
13-03-2009, 09:37 AM
Rural Surin

This won't work. Certainly away from the large poulation centres. Shopkeepers will sale regadless of such draconian doctrine and buyers will buy.
13-03-2009, 09:54 AM
Loy Toy

Songkran goes on for 2 weeks in Pattaya and all the main roads are like car parks.

My wife was coming back from the hospital (nothing serious) last songkran and it took her over 3 hours. For those that have been to my house when you stand on the top balcony you can almost look into the windows of the wards at Bangkok Pattaya Hospital.

I now suffer from virus infections in my eyes and I can attribute that to the filthy water they throw in your face (warning for all) and the number of people who come down with other ailments during Songkran is massive.

Then you get the idiot drunken fooking farang who really take Songkran to a new level of stupidity.

Really this formerly very proper and cultural Thai festival has turned into nothing more than a calamity and god knows how many people are still going to die even if they ban alcohol.

I will be staying in-doors and having a cultural event at home with my family and friends (with heaps of booze).
13-03-2009, 10:18 AM
Rural Surin

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loy Toy

Songkran goes on for 2 weeks in Pattaya and all the main roads are like car parks.

My wife was coming back from the hospital (nothing serious) last songkran and it took her over 3 hours. For those that have been to my house when you stand on the top balcony you can almost look into the windows of the wards at Bangkok Pattaya Hospital.

I now suffer from virus infections in my eyes and I can attribute that to the filthy water they throw in your face (warning for all) and the number of people who come down with other ailments during Songkran is massive.

Then you get the idiot drunken fooking farang who really take Songkran to a new level of stupidity.

Really this formerly very proper and cultural Thai festival has turned into nothing more than a calamity and god knows how many people are still going to die even if they ban alcohol.

I will be staying in-doors and having a cultural event at home with my family and friends (with heaps of booze).

Farang Kill-Joy.
13-03-2009, 02:16 PM
filch

^
Just curious, are you Thai RS? Or just a farang who's been here for many many years and considers himself to be a Thai?
13-03-2009, 02:18 PM
Mr Pot

Ban it, the pub here will make more money
13-03-2009, 04:06 PM
filch

Thanks for the green RS, however I don't need to 'get over myself'. I am fairly secure within myself and know who I am.

You, however, still haven't answered my question, are you a Thai national? If so, then I guess I can understand your nationalistic standpoint on most topics.

If not, they you're a sad coont who thinks because he's been here for years and adopted a Thai way of life this somehow constitutes you to be Thai. Got your Thai passport yet, or still hanging onto that farang one? You know, just in case :wink: