Khao San Road – home to drunks of all nationalities
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is inviting all Thais to stop drinking during the Buddhist Lent holiday, which will begin on July 23 and last for three months thereafter.
Both overly ambitious in terms of goal and regional scope (what is the BMA doing dictating terms to Isaan?) the campaign at least has its heart in the right place.
The BMA’s clumsily named “No Drinking During Buddhist Lent” campaign is intended as a tribute to His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej and seeks to reduce the number of alcohol-related crimes plaguing the Kingdom.
According to Bangkok Deputy Governor Pusadee Tamthai, the number of male drinkers in Thailand is five-times higher than the number of female drinkers. This holds especially true for young adults aged 15 to 24. This demographic accounts for 15% of all drinkers in the country.
The average age that men start drinking is 19-years-old, whereas the majority of women start drinking at 24. The deputy governor went on to say that the number of drinkers rises every year, with the northern region having the highest drinking rate at 39%, followed by the northeast at 37%, and the central and southern regions at 28% and 19%, respectively.
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