Songkran Booze Ban Delay Riles Activists

Anti alcohol activists are demanding the removal of Deputy Prime Minister Sanan Kachornprasart as chairman of the National Committee for Alcohol Consumption Control, citing a conflict of interest.

Maj-Gen Sanan on Monday decided to seek a Council of State ruling on the legality of a ban on alcohol sales during next month's Songkran festival.

The move was seen by activists as a delaying tactic to prevent the ban from taking effect before the festival from April 13th to 15th.

The Alcohol Watch Network and its allies yesterday released a statement saying they wanted Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to take Maj-Gen Sanan's place on the committee.

"Since the issue is so important and affects a lot of people, the prime minister needs to look into it himself," said Khamron Chudecha, coordinator of the network.

"Moreover, under the United Nations' alcohol control guidelines, a person with a conflict of interest should not be allowed to take part in the policy making process."

Maj Gen Sanan owns a vineyard in Phichit province that produces wine for sale under the Shala One brand.

The cabinet yesterday decided to let the Council of State consider if the proposed ban, to be issued under the 2008 Alcoholic Beverage Control Act, was in conflict with the 253rd announcement of the 1972 coup leaders, which states that any regulation on alcohol sales must comply with this announcement.

Mr Abhisit said the cabinet was concerned the two laws could be in contradiction. The cabinet would again consider the ban proposed by the Public Health Ministry at its next weekly meeting on Tuesday, he said.

Deputy Interior Minister Thaworn Senneam said the Government was likely to ban liquor sales only on April 13, the first day of the Songkran holiday.

He said cabinet members had different views on calls to impose a complete ban on alcohol sales during Songkran in a bid to reduce road accidents caused by drink driving.

Imposing a one day ban was seen as a reasonable alternative as road accident casualties were always high during long holidays, he said. However, it was feared the ban could seriously hurt the country's tourism industry.

If that was not acceptable, the Interior Ministry could help minimise road accidents by asking disaster prevention volunteers and community leaders to set up road checkpoints to warn motorists against driving while under the influence of alcohol.

The government must do whatever possible to bring down the number of annual Songkran fatalities from three to four hundred killed to about two hundred, Mr Thaworn said.

Deputy Public Health Minister Manit Nopamornbodee yesterday denied the ban on alcohol sales was being delayed to favour liquor companies.

Mr Manit said his ministry was pushing for the ban because a study showed that 80% of road accidents during long holidays were caused by drink driving. The ministry believed banning alcohol sales during such periods would help reduce road accidents.

Source - The Bangkok Post