Following the cocktail of heady confusion brewed by the double whammy of a loosely worded government regulation coupled with a just-as-vague direct order by the National council for Peace and Order (NCPO), businessfolk who sold alcohol near “education institutions” have been left stumped over whether or not they can sell alcohol.
Central to the issue is whether the 300-metre “no alcohol zone” ordered by Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha is appropriate in all areas as well as the confusion over what exactly was the definition of an “education institution”.
Highlighting how confused even officials are over the issue was the latest development in which the Phuket Excise Office, which also acts as the local licensing authority, being sent back to the drawing board and ordered to literally redraw the map show where the proposed alcohol-free zones in Phuket are to be.
To this, Phuket Vice Governor Chokdee Amornrat said plainly that every “education institution” must have some booze-free perimeter. Apparently, the Phuket Excise Office misunderstood that by trying to rely on “appropriate distance”. (See story here.)
Yet, according to the latest online poll by The Phuket News, all the brouhaha over alcohol-free zones is unnecessary.
Asked, “How far should venues selling alcohol be from schools or other ‘education institutions’?”, a thumping 79% responded, “No zones are required, there are already laws prohibiting the sale of alcohol to minors.”
In second place, garnering only 8% of all votes cast was the response, “Allow flexibility, and allow zones of less than 300m where appropriate.”
Only 5% of respondents voted, “Strictly enforce the 300m zones as ordered by the NCPO.” A further 4% responded, “Enforce zones of more than 300m, which are needed to keep children safe.”
Of note, 4% of respondents voted, “Ban alcohol entirely.”
For the full poll results, click here.
If the best response for you was not listed, feel free to mention in the comments below.
To vote in our current poll, which asks, “How important is Christmas to you in Phuket?”, click here.
The poll will continue until December 29.