City promises to get tough with public drinking during Buddhist Lent

Police and sanitation officials will soon be fining people caught drinking in public places.

Bangkok Metropolitan Administration deputy city clerk Sitthisat Chiemwong-phaet said that drinking was the major cause of road accidents in 2007, and is the main contributor to violence and crime, too.

The campaign is trying to get Bangkok residents to quit booze during Buddhist Lent.

Prohibitions

Since the Alcohol Control Act came into effect this year the sale of alcohol and drinking has been outlawed at temples, government offices, state-run health facilities, schools, universities and service stations. Violators face up to six months in jail and/or a Bt10,000 in fine.

The Buddhist Lent campaign offers those wanting to quit help from the city's 18 health stations, the BMA Medical College as well as  Vajira and Taksin hospitals, he says.

Theera Watcharapranee of the Stop Drink Network says some 16 million people have an alcohol problem.

Each year between 5 million and 6 million people join the campaign. About a million people refrain on their own.