The Ministry of Public Health is contemplating an innovative approach which calls for nightspots interested in extending their business hours to administer alcohol breathalyzer tests to their clientele. The motive behind this, is to ensure the patrons don’t wander off inebriated and end up jeopardizing their safety, or potentially needing transportation services. This fresh initiative is a brainchild of a dedicated working committee set up to harmonize the government’s economic strategy, which is aiding and endorsing extended operating hours of local pubs and bars, with the concurrent objective of ensuring public health and safety.
In the words of the Public Health Minister, Cholnan Srikaew, the key target is to strike a harmonious equilibrium. They yearned for an inventive solution that involved nightspots taking a proactive role in ensuring the safety of their patrons before they embark on their journey home. Such measures have seen the light of day in some Western countries, and it has proven beneficial to the safety of everyone involved; it ultimately limits any potential hazards the public might face.
As the extended operating hours are set to pilot in cities like Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chon Buri, and Phuket starting December 15th, establishments will be permitted to vend alcohol till as late as 4 am, granted they fall in the specially designated zones.
Ensuring road safety and mitigating the probabilities of accidents caused due to drunk driving has understandably raised public concerns. In response to which, the minister assured that the Ministry will roll out appropriate measures to tackle the issue. The working committee is preparing to present their proposal for approval.
Upon approval, the Ministry will subsequently exercise its power under the Alcoholic Beverages Control Act, 2008 to issue regulations. These official regulations will include a mandate for establishments to administer alcohol breathalyser tests on patrons who appear intoxicated. If the tests reveal a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) exceeding the legal limit of 0.05%, the establishment must deny the patrons the permission to drive. Furthermore, the law also dictates a prohibition on sales of alcohol to heavily intoxicated individuals.
As per the minister, selling alcohol to excessively drunk patrons is a punishable offence. It is within the rights and due authority of the Ministry to enforce the law for protecting the health and safety of those who drink and even those who abstain. This is precisely why the Ministry is mulling over encouraging all establishments in the zone to provide convenient transportation services for patrons, to reduce the risk of drunken driving. No further details have been provided regarding the potential penalties that might be imposed on establishments that fail to comply with these measures.
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