The present govt. actually wants to ban alcohol

**fiddler** · 30th December 2006 23:21

Sorry, I can't be bothered to find and copy and paste the article in the Nation, but I am sure I read this morning that the aim of the government is to completely abolish alcohol use in Thailand.

They cited road accidents involing drinking as a reason.

I suppose if you have a police force which is totally incapable of enforcing any rules on the roads, the only way to reduce the accidents is to rid the country of alcohol!

It seems to be like using a sledge hammer to crack a peanut.

Don't they realise that a huge number of people drink in moderation and it enhances their lives?

**Unwell** · 30th December 2006 23:24

Originally Posted by fiddler

the aim of the government is to completely abolish alcohol use in Thailand.

bless 'em, let them.

i guarantee i'll still be able to get a drink here...

**esoteric1** · 30th December 2006 23:24

Tell em to see:

Prohibition 1920 - 1933 United States

for a forecast of how that will work out!

**fiddler** · 30th December 2006 23:32

yeah... Unbelieveable

**LDMA** · 30th December 2006 23:35

Heh...yeah and they'll get legitmately voted in on that ticket...lol...

Can't see the good ol' boys in power giving up the right to their Black Label and Soda top-ups.

**Umbuku** · 30th December 2006 23:36

Originally Posted by fiddler

I suppose if you have a police force which is totally incapable of enforcing any rules on the roads

Bingo, in a nutshell.
Fix the police, fix many problems.

**fiddler** · 30th December 2006 23:38

Originally Posted by Umbuku

Fix the police, fix many problems.

Yeah, and to be fair, they have said that they are going to try to reform the police force.

That's not going to be easy...

**Hamster** · 30th December 2006 23:50

I got stopped at a checkpoint coming back from isaan yesterday on the highway passing through some no-name city. I concealed the usual 200 bt under my driver's license and handed it to the police guy. He smiled, handed me the 200 bt back, and said "i'm not like that - no pay - have good day". So I offered him a bottle of M150 energy drink, which he gratefully accepted, and I continued on my merry way.

**dongintheklong** · 30th December 2006 23:52

Thailand--one laugh after another...

**DunceCap** · 31st December 2006 06:21

What about other muslim places. Aren't they alcohol free?
Isn't Thailand's macho military man of the hour a muslim?

Where is the opposing voice? ahhhh freedom of speech

**jimbo** · 31st December 2006 09:32

Ban it! Create more black market jobs.

Hell, it is banned in Saudi. I've never seen more people with their heads in a bottle, than there.

Besides making beer and wine is a piece of piss. 'Shine takes a little more effort.

**Unwell** · 31st December 2006 09:41

Originally Posted by DunceCap

What about other muslim places. Aren't they alcohol free?

you are joking right?

**jonny danger** · 31st December 2006 09:41

I don't care if they do ban it. It doesn't mean that much to me.

(Prohibition) There's about a .0001% chance a Thai official would look at the results of such an act from another nation before a final decision.

**Gipkik** · 31st December 2006 09:49

Originally Posted by jonny danger

There's about a .0001% chance a Thai official would look at the results of such an act from another nation before a final decision.

Too true. It's called reverse colonialism, isn't it?

**Asper** · 31st December 2006 10:03

Originally Posted by fiddler

Sorry, I can't be bothered to find and copy and paste the article in the Nation, but I am sure I read this morning that the aim of the government is to completely abolish alcohol use in Thailand.

If you had been bothered, you would have discovered that is not actually what was said.

Public Health minister seek tax hikes on whisky and beer

In a bid to control alcohol consumption, Public Health Minister Mongkol na Songkhla will propose nine national measures - including a tax hike on rice whiskey and beer - for Cabinet approval next week.

Following the third meeting of the Alcohol Consumption Control Committee Thursday, Mongkol said the ministry would also launch internal regulations to have its offices alcohol free nationwide and set up regional centres to gather complaints and train some officials to act as a "mini FBI" to ensure regulation enforcement.

The nine national measures included a push to hike the tax on rice whiskey and beer, a prohibition on duty-free alcohol drinks and a separation of alcohol drink products from the Free Trade Agreement list, according to Mongkol.

The Nation