Bangkok Designates Alcohol-Free Areas for Road and Family Safety during Songkran Festival

(CTN News) – To reduce the number of traffic accidents and guarantee public safety during Songkran, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) will implement safety measures and designate alcohol-free areas across the city.

Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said that the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) would take steps to decrease holiday-related drunk driving and violations. After Tuesday’s meeting with the BMA’s Alcohol Beverage Control Committee, the governor made the news. (4 Apr).

To ensure the public’s safety, particularly families with children, the BMA has approved the designation of alcohol-free events in 35 locations across 24 districts. Visitors to these areas will be strongly encouraged to leave their alcohol at home.

Meanwhile, the Traffy Fondue app is the place to go if you have any issues with alcohol vendors setting up shops in restricted locations or selling alcohol to minors.

As the capital city of Thailand returns to large-scale celebrations for the first time since the pandemic, the governor of Bangkok emphasized that BMA officials and related agencies will work to decrease accidents as much as possible.

ORIGINAl STORY: TAT to Host a Series of Events in Cities Across Thailand to Celebrate this Year’s Songkran Festival.

This year’s Songkran festival will be celebrated with several activities held in cities across Thailand by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and its partners.

Between April 13 and 16, 2023, TAT says they will host the “Water Festival 2023” in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Lamphun, Udon Thani, Khon Kaen, and Phuket.

With this celebration, organizers hope to increase awareness of Thailand’s Songkran festival and garner support for its nomination to the UNESCO list of intangible cultural assets.

The Chao Phraya River will host the festivities in several Bangkok venues. The celebration in Bangkok will feature a parade of Buddha images along the river, other entertainment options and traditional marketplaces.

Chiang Mai, located in the north of Thailand, will host a celebration where local Lanna artisans will set up booths to sell their wares to festivalgoers.

This gathering will occur at the Ancient Mansion Chiang Mai on Charoen Pratet Road. Visitors to Lamphun can watch a procession of Buddha images and enjoy musical acts at Phra That Hari Phun Chai.

Wat Sa Kaeo and Ban Chiang in Udon Thani, in the region’s northeast, will host the event displaying local customs for celebrating Songkran. Celebrations for the Thai New Year will also be held at Khon Kaen’s Wat Chaisi, making it a regional activity center.

Meanwhile, in Phuket, celebrations will occur at Wat Maikhao on the 13th and Phuket Old Town on the 15th and 16th.

Together with the Ministry of Culture, the Royal Thai Navy, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), Thai Beverage Public Co Ltd (ThaiBev), commercial and public networks, and local communities, TAT will organize the “Water Festival 2023.”