Anti-drunk driving group urges no alcohol spending of 10,000-baht handout

Anti-drunk driving campaigners have called on recipients of the government’s 10,000-baht cash handout to avoid spending the money on alcohol to prevent accidents. Phattarabhandhu Krissana, chairman of the Network of Victims Against Drunk Driving, emphasised that the funds should be used for necessities or investments instead of alcoholic beverages, which could lead to accidents and disabilities.

The Network of Victims Against Drunk Driving and the Don’t Drive Drunk Foundation have advised their members to allocate part of the handout for vehicle taxes, which fund protection for accident victims. Phattarabhandhu noted that some members of the 15,000-strong network received the funds in the government’s first round of distribution this week, offering a lifeline during economic difficulties.

The government is distributing the 10,000-baht (US$310) payments to 12.4 million state welfare cardholders and 2.1 million disability cardholders. Vulnerable groups have been prioritised, with the final batch of recipients set to receive payments tomorrow.

Initially envisioned as a digital wallet stimulus programme covering 45 million Thais aged 16 and over, the scheme’s future remains uncertain due to funding concerns. It is unclear how many more people will receive money and how much they will get in subsequent rounds next year.

A government source indicated that the scheme would continue but that handouts might be reduced to 5,000 baht (US$155) per person in the second phase. This reduction is being considered because the government needs to allocate more funds for the rehabilitation of flood victims.

Approximately 152.7 billion baht (US$4.7 billion) from the 2025 fiscal budget has been earmarked for the handout scheme, with some likely to be transferred to the central fund to assist flood victims. Deputy Finance Minister Paopoom Rojanasakul noted that the sharp increase in cash withdrawals following the rollout indicates recipients are financially struggling, and their spending will stimulate economic activity.

Sirikanya Tansakun, an MP of the opposition People’s Party, expressed concerns about the reduced size of the cash handout, from 500 billion baht (US$15 billion) to 145 billion baht (US$4.5 billion), stating it will not be sufficient to raise GDP as initially planned, reported Bangkok Post.

“It’s unlikely that we’ll see a jump in economic activity, and many business operators are already complaining that business remains slow despite the handout,” she said.