Thai bars to establish sobering-up zones to deter drink driving

A new mandate from the National Alcohol Beverage Policy Committee of Thailand stipulated that entertainment venues intending to remain open till 4am must establish sobering-up zones. This initiative aims to deter patrons from driving under the influence of alcohol. The directive, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, was declared on December 9.

Following the committee’s meeting, Deputy Minister of Public Health, Santi Promphat, relayed the announcement and emphasised that bars and nightclubs must adhere strictly to the rules and regulations when they are permitted to operate until 4am, starting from December 15. The objective is to ensure the safety of patrons and diminish the occurrence of alcohol-related incidents.

This privilege will be granted to entertainment venues situated in legal zones in Phuket, Chiang Mai, Chon Buri, Bangkok and Surat Thani (solely on Koh Samui). Moreover, this provision also extends to hotels across the nation.

Santi underscored that operators are expected to comply specifically with the Entertainment Place Act and Section 29 of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act. These regulations prohibit nighttime venues from selling alcoholic beverages to individuals below 20 years old.

Moreover, Santi added that venue operators will be obligated to administer breathalyser tests on patrons. If the alcohol level of customers exceeds the legal limit of 50 milligrams per decilitre, they will be required to recuperate in the areas provided by the venues until they are sober enough to safely drive home.

In situations where a customer declines to rest and their breath alcohol level surpasses the legal limit, the responsibility falls on the venue operators to reach out to the customer’s friends or relatives or arrange public transport at the customer’s expense, reported Bangkok Post.

Breathalysing equipment cost

Agencies concerned will gather data to evaluate the impact of the extended operating hours. However, TPN Media notes that the enforcement of this plan remains uncertain. Many owners of entertainment venue businesses have already raised several issues, including logistical ones. Questions have been posed about who would bear the cost of the breathalysing equipment, the practicality of breathalysing every customer exiting a venue, and the course of action if a customer refuses the test.

“It is unclear how this plan is expected to be enforced and many entertainment venue business owners have already brought up many issues, including logistical, with breathalysing every customer leaving a venue as well as to who would be responsible for paying for the equipment and what to do if a customer refuses the test.”