Possible Drink Ban is Sobering News

Having a drink with family is an essential part of Songkran for many in the Northeast even though they are aware of the dangers.

Charoen Wienwan, 54, sits and watches as a relative lies in a hospital bed suffering the advanced stages of liver cancer.

He is not afraid. He still drinks heavily even though he knows this is a cause of many serious illnesses and road accidents.

"Of course, I know that drink driving leads to road accidents. But it's impossible not to drink during Songkran," Mr Charoen said.

"It's the culture here. This is how we celebrate our holidays with our families. Even the elderly females drink."

Mr Charoen, a second-hand car dealer in Roi Et, said drinking was considered unavoidable by most northeasterners, especially during the Songkran festival, because many travel a long way from Bangkok to visit their families and relatives to party.

But he said he would have to take it easy with the booze if accidents were to be avoided while driving.

Hundreds of thousands of Thai holidaymakers hit the road during the traditional new year.

Drink driving is the biggest cause of road accidents during the long holiday, followed by speeding.

Most road mishaps involve motorcycles and take place between 4pm and 8pm, according to the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation.

Road accidents during Songkran left 477 people dead or injured last year.

Bangkok recorded the highest number of casualties at 1,965, followed by Nakhon Ratchasima with 1,355, according to National Emergency Institute figures.

Teerasak Jonburom, who runs a small restaurant in Warin Chamrap district of Ubon Ratchathani, said he was willing to stop selling alcohol during Songkran even though it would cost him about 1,000 baht in earnings a day.

"If I can save some lives by doing this, I would certainly do so," he said. "But how will the ban work if drivers can't stop themselves from drinking?"

If shops and restaurants are banned from selling alcohol during Songkran, drinkers will stock up in advance, Mr Teerasak said.

Kamron Choodecha, coordinator of the Alcohol Watch Network, said it would have made more sense if a campaign calling for a ban had been promoted early.

With Songkran just two weeks away, the government has not decided whether to impose a booze ban.

Deputy Public Health Minister Manit Nopanornbodi has proposed two options: a complete ban on alcohol sales from midnight April 11 to midnight April 14, or a partial ban whereby hotels, pubs and restaurants would be able to sell drinks from 6pm to midnight on each of the three days.

The National Committee for Alcohol Consumption Control, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Sanan Kachornprasart, will meet again today to discuss the issue.

Maj-Gen Sanan's committee was afraid a ban would be in conflict with a National Executive Council (NEC) announcement made in 1972.

But the Council of State ruled last week the ban could be issued under the 2008 Alcohol Beverage Control Act as it did not contravene the 253rd announcement of the NEC.

The committee's resolution will be tabled before the cabinet tomorrow for a final decision.

Source - The Bangkok Post