CHIANG RAI – With New Year travel and parties about to hit full swing, Thailand’s Criminal Court has issued a blunt warning to those caught drunk driving. Anyone caught driving after drinking alcohol or using drugs over the holiday period should expect tough action, with penalties applied in full. Court officials said the aim is simple: reduce road deaths and injuries during one of the busiest weeks of the year.
The alert comes just before the annual “Seven Dangerous Days”, when traffic crashes often rise as people leave cities for hometowns and holiday resorts.
The Seven Dangerous Days Begin
The official New Year road safety watch runs from 30 December 2025 to 5 January 2026. During this stretch, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) and the Royal Thai Police track accidents closely. Heavy traffic, tired drivers, speeding, and drunk driving have long been linked to the spike in crashes.
In some years, the watch period has been widened to “10 Dangerous Days” to cover extra travel before and after the main holiday. During the 2024 to 2025 New Year period, authorities recorded 2,467 accidents, 2,376 injuries, and 436 deaths nationwide. Speeding and impaired driving were flagged as key causes. Motorcycles made up more than 80% of cases, underlining how exposed riders are during busy travel periods.
This year, officials have opened a national road safety command centre under the theme “Drive Safely, Slow Down, Reduce Accidents.” Plans include more checkpoints, free vehicle checks, and firm action on 10 major violations, with alcohol and drug use at the top of the list.
What the Law Says About Drunk Driving
Thailand treats drunk driving as a criminal offence, with penalties meant to discourage risky choices. For most drivers, the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit is 0.05% (50 mg%). The limit drops to 0.02% (20 mg%) for drivers under 20, provisional licence holders, and certain other groups.
For a basic drink-driving offence, penalties can include:
- Up to 1 year in prison
- A fine of 5,000 to 20,000 baht
- A driving licence suspension for at least 6 months, or revocation
Refusing a breath test is treated as accepting the charge, with the same punishment.
If a driver causes injury while impaired, the penalties increase to:
- 2 to 6 years in prison
- A fine of 40,000 to 120,000 baht
- Licence suspension for at least 2 years, or revocation
If a crash leads to death, the punishment rises again:
- 3 to 10 years in prison
- A fine of 60,000 to 200,000 baht
- Permanent licence revocation
Repeat offences for drunk driving can bring double penalties. Courts may also order community service or electronic monitoring. Updates in 2025 have strengthened testing rules, with urine and blood tests allowed alongside breath tests for vulnerable groups.
Checkpoints Step Up as Celebrations Start
Police have already increased roadside checks as the holiday begins. Full national arrest figures for the New Year 2025 are still being pulled together, but officials say large numbers of cases are usually sent through probation and the courts during this period. During last year’s extended holiday campaign, over 7,000 drink-driving cases were handled, and hundreds of offenders were fitted with electronic ankle tags.
In Bangkok, checkpoints have flagged hundreds of motorists. In provinces with heavy traffic, police have prioritised random breath tests, especially at night when parties run late. The Thai Foundation for Responsible Drinking is also working with venues to reduce over-serving, while reminding bars not to sell alcohol to minors or clearly intoxicated customers.
Chiang Rai Highlights the Risk on Rural Roads
Chiang Rai in northern Thailand remains a tough reminder of what can go wrong. During the 2024 to 2025 New Year period, local officials recorded several single-vehicle crashes, with five deaths during the Seven Dangerous Days. The province often sees a high number of single-vehicle incidents, linked to winding roads, low visibility, and impaired driving.
Across the country, motorcycles continue to account for most deaths, and alcohol makes already risky journeys even worse, especially on rural highways. Chiang Rai’s experience shows why safety efforts cannot focus only on big cities, where emergency help is usually closer.
Officials Push for Safer Choices
Government leaders have asked the public to help reduce casualties. Deputy Interior Minister Chaiwat Chuenkosum said the New Year should be a time for happiness, not loss, during the command centre launch. To ease pressure on the roads, more buses, trains, and flights have been added, and some expressways are offering toll waivers.
Road safety groups have repeated the basics that save lives: plan a sober driver, use ride-hailing after drinking, wear helmets and seatbelts, and avoid long night drives when tired. Social media campaigns are also running through the week, sharing real stories from past holidays to keep the risks front of mind.
As New Year’s Eve celebrations begin, the message from the Criminal Court is hard to miss. One reckless decision can change lives in seconds. With checkpoints increasing and penalties severe, drivers face a simple choice: celebrate responsibly, or face the consequences.
