Punishment on violators selling alcoholic drinks during Songkran

BANGKOK, April 12 (TNA) - In an attempt to reduce road accidents and casualties during festivities in Thailand, especially during the ongoing Songkran or traditional Thai New Year festival, Somchai Pulsawas , Director-General of the Excise Department, has urged that legal penalty against violators selling alcoholic beverages and excise duty on the drinks should become heavier. Somchai made the call when presiding over a ceremony on Saturday morning to release a caravan of cars assigned to patrol and inspect shops and street vendors whether any of them violate in selling alcoholic drinks without receiving prior legal permission, aimed at preventing car drivers from drinking alcohol while they are behind the wheels to cut road accidents during the Songkran festival. Acknowledging that present penalty imposed upon the violators remains light, Somchai said his department charges only 110 baht for traders of alcoholic beverages selling drinks not more than 10 days, while in municipal areas it is charged only at 55 baht. According to the senior official, violators selling alcoholic beverages without receiving permission now face a maximum fine of only 500 baht, while sellers who sell drinks without excise stamps face a maximum six-month imprisonment and a fine of four times of excise stamp value. The Excise Department chief insisted that laws related to sale of alcoholic beverages should be amended and penalty imposed should be heavier, especially during festivities in Thailand. (TNA)