Prime Minister Prayut likes a drink
A ban on the sale of alcohol on New Year's Eve and during Songkran is not well received by Prime Minister Prayut: "Alcohol can be sold as usual." So we can assume that the proposal of the Alcohol Control Committee will not pass, because currently: Mother's will is law - or rather: Father's.
The office launched the proposal because during the so-called 'seven dangerous days' of the New Year's holidays and Songkran, nearly three hundred people died in traffic every year and several thousand were injured. Main cause: alcohol consumption. Most victims are motorcyclists. The ban should apply on December 31 and January 1 and from April 13 to 15.
The prime minister says that drinkers themselves should be so wise not to drive if they believe it is dangerous. If they do get behind the wheel or on the motorcycle with a sip, they will have to deal with the law, he threatens.
According to government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd, an alcohol ban is harmful to trade and to the country. "Such a measure is impractical." Tour operators and alcohol sellers immediately climbed the highest tree when the proposal became known.
On Dec. 19, the Department of Health's Alcoholic Beverage Control Committee will meet to discuss the proposal. Given the statements Prayut made yesterday, the meeting should not be long.
(Source: Bangkok Post, Dec. 10, 2014)
HA! Totally agree with him of course. Even more fun is that mister stuffs himself a huge bunch of feathers in his bottom by making this decision that makes him more popular. You would almost think.......
Alcohol consumption is undoubtedly the primary cause of all these accidents, however the government would do well to change the training for a driver's license in such a way that it comes closer to our Dutch standard. With very routine drivers (think taxi drivers) you see a vehicle control that makes you tear up, let alone think for a moment about the fine print of your health insurance (you must exhibit risk aversion). And then I haven't even mentioned the technical condition of the vehicles. Ergo…the politics…see David's response.
Dear David, the fact remains that Gen. Prayut is right that it is the responsibility of anyone who drinks to never drive while drinking. Unfortunately, it is the control and method of fining that causes people to flout the traffic rules. No one here is trying to take an action to look better, so to speak. I find your response very inappropriate. Incidentally, it is not only the Thai who drive a car or moped with a gulp, but also a lot of foreigners. And not just on or around special occasions. In that respect, I think anyone who drives, even if only after 1 beer, should first look at themselves. Drinking and driving just don't mix.
Dear Sadanava,
It is a pity that you find my response (even very) inappropriate, given that the game of "card through" is played quite often in politics. It is nice that someone who has seized power in a reasonably undemocratic way because there is no longer any possibility of governance in a normal way, just lets us buy alcohol on New Year's Eve, a person who thinks along. I wish you a happy New Year's Eve and a drink? Let yourself be driven, check the alcohol content of the taxi driver.
Prime Minister/General Prayut “would also like a cup of coffee”:
Let's not call each other sissy; the alcohol will always flow freely around these holidays [knowing the Thai a bit]! This time, however, I have to agree with David. I once lost a good friend during this holiday season and the police were nowhere when the driver [farang] drove on!
William Schevenin…