Alcohol free Songkran this year

[Johneisha]

The new Alcohol Control Act 2008 came into force on February 14 this year.

Those who enjoy a drunken water fight at Songkran (Thai New Year) will also be in for a shock this year: the Act also bans alcohol sales during a number of Thai festivals – Songkran included.

Good. Maybe I won't get knocked off my bike by some drunken twat of a farang this year.

 

[Boba Fett]

I made the mistake of thinking Songran started on Songkran day. Went out the day before Songkran, with camera, cell, passport, etc. Never made it down the first block. :

 

[Bad Man]

Last year Nels, it started about 3 days before the actual Songkran day, as you said the usual c0ck heads p1ssing everyone off. Seems every year the super soaker sales peeps are coming earlier.... however the police and TP's were calming it down when it cont into the evening

 

[YoungPiscean]

I can see the Police out in thier best Patrol Wellys enforcing it as well!

I always take my bike out at Songkran! Only time it gets a clean! :arf:

 

[airforcewife64]

So when can one actually expect to start getting saturated? Is there ANYWHERE you can go to escape this idiocy for a while and, you know, have a meal and a drink in peace?

 

[Kaitlyn]

Philippines will be a safe bet :intello:

 

[Smoked Ham]

Good point Denpah - no flies on you mate eh .......55555555

I will be going to the g/f house for Songkran up in Petchaboon as its also coincides with the '100 days' after her brother died, an important date in the Buddists religion apparently.
Will be taking our huge water cannons with us to knock over children and small Thais with the force of water - terrific buy I reckon .....555555555
Then will be back in Bangkok for 3 days and probably stay around the Khaosan Rd area for a change.

 

[berna]

Well thats just great....January's trip had 3 dry days imposed for Thais to go and vote now Songkran is dry as well for my April trip....not good

 

[Techno]

I can see that week being annoying. Think I'll stay in bed for a few days. :grrrrrr:

 

[King H]

Stay in your room, or just dress to get wet and enjoy it.

 

[alf the gardener]

We had already decided before other happening that we were staying away from Thailand this year for songkhran,some times it just gets to much.

 

[ricardo d]

I'd enjoy it for a day, three days is too much.

 

[PossiblyNotMaybe]

if the sale of alcohol is prohibited durin songkran then is their any hassel from the MIB if they find you drunk, lets say you have brought a bottle of whiskey a few days before and have a drink on songkran then are you open for law enforcement or do they target the people selling the alcohol.
I don't have any plans to walk around in a drunken state but if found to have a few drinks is trouble for me or not?

 

[Mary Anne]

Buy the booze a few days earlier, fill the water cannons with alcohol and let the fun begin!

 

[little.miss.shopaholic]

My first time for Songkran.....It should be fun at the beginning but 3 days of it might be much.... Looking forward to it

 

[Debbie]

same for me,
will be good for the start, but might have enough of it after a few days

 

[nani poo]

If the rule is truly enacted I cant see it being policed to any effective extent...the cardboard can go up on the 7/11 fridges, but the hotels always sell alcohol and Laos Kow ia moonshine and illegal anyway.
The fatalities on the roads spikes radically at this period and any responsible government should be at least perceived to be doing something, but noone quietly drunk will be arrested Howie...

 

[over the rainbow girl]

There will be a run on the stores on the last days they are selling before Songkran, and plenty of black market sales from people who have stocked up and are then supplying friends and their friends' friends. But it does seem to me to be a good idea to stop stores selling, when you consider the deaths from road accidents.

 

[Pompal 09.]

JB, as you well know, in the States they have very effectively reduced drunk driving incidents over the past several years. Not by curbing the sale of it, but by aggressively enforcing DUI laws. And by educating (TV ad campaigns, etc.) people as to the horrors and consequences of driving drunk.

Of course I know TIT, but they need to begin by getting the word out and enforcing the laws, not by prohibiting sales. At least IMO...

I had to laugh a couple years ago when I read in the Gazette that they had set a goal of 6 road deaths for that year's Songkran holiday. What's wrong with a 0 death goal??

 

[Big Yoda]

i think i am kind of confused over here.. is it going to be alcohol free during the day only or is it subjected during the night time also.. just want to clear it...


i was planning to visit phuket during songkran for a week. if during songran its gonna be alcohol free than my 3 days would be kinda wasted as me and my friends really wanna go all out for this trip