Prayut: No alcohol ban during New Year

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said there would be no ban on alcohol consumption in public places during the upcoming New Year holiday.

"But people must learn to control themselves and never drive when drunk," he said after a cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

Gen Prayut also said at the meeting all rules had to be practical, according to Maj Gen Sansern Kaewkamnerd, a deputy PM spokesman.

"They must not affect our international commitments or be considered a form of trade barriers," he said.

"A measure should not go against the norms. It might be better if we enforce more strictly existing rules."

A unit under the the Disease Control Department on Dec 3 revealed it would propose a subordinate bill banning alcohol consumption in public places during the New Year and Songkran holidays of every year, possibly starting before the New Year holidays this month.

The proposed ban will take effect on Dec 31 and Jan 1 and from April 13-15 of every year.

The proposal is one of the five subordinate bills the ministry is proposing to further restrict alcohol consumption, Saman Footrakul, director of the Alcohol Control Committee Office under the Disease Control Department, said.

The others involve bans on alcohol sales and consumption at public-transport piers, transport terminals, places under the supervision of state agencies or enterprises and along rail tracks.