Thailand bans sales of alcohol during Buddhist religious days

BANGKOK, July 21 (TNA) - Sales of alcoholic drink in Thailand are banned for 48 hours, starting from midnight today (Jul 21), to mark the two important Buddhist religious days -- Asarnha Bucha Day and the Buddhist Lent Day -- which fall on Monday (Jul 22) and Tuesday (Jul 23) respectively, said Pubic Health Minister Dr. Pradit Sintavanarong. Citing the B.E. 2552 law which bans the sale of alcoholic drink in the country, Dr. Pradit said his ministry officials will cooperate with police in inspecting bars and shops which violate and sell liquor during the ban. Violators will face a maximum imprisonment of six months, or a fine of 10,000 baht or both, he said. Dr. Pradit said selling and consuming liquor violate teachings of Buddhist religion while they also cause road accidents and crimes in the country. The International Agency for Research on Cancer under the U.N. World Health Organisation has warned that consuming alcoholic drink could cause cancer to eight spots on human body, Dr. Pradit added. Asarnha Bucha Day is the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, coinciding to July 22 this year. It commemorates the day on which the Lord Buddha preached his first sermon called “the Dhammachakapavattana Sutta” to his first five chief disciples more than 2,500 years ago. The Buddha’s first sermon contained four great truths which lead to Nirvana and are the foundational doctrines of Buddhism. Buddhist monks are refrain from spending the night outside their temples during the three-month Buddhist Lent period, or during the rainy season. (TNA)