OPINION

Shopping tips

Re: "Ministry preps co‑pay scheme's 2nd phase", (BP, Nov 14).

The "Khon La Khrueng Plus" (Let's Go Halves Plus) co‑payment scheme is allocating a budget of 44 billion baht to cover 20 million eligible citizens.

After queuing for seven hours to register at a bank, my girlfriend had me drive to the nearest centre to begin shopping.

She was allocated 400 baht a day for five days. She was not allowed to blow it all on day one.

She could defer a day and get 800 the next day or wait until the final day and do a big shop.

Many needy families are thus forced to attend the nearest venue every day.

Why was this money drip‑fed to citizens in this way?

Surely 2,000 baht on day one would save travel and time costs?

Sales ban hurts

Re: "Minister explains trial lift of afternoon alcohol ban", (BP, Nov 15).

Bangkok is always busy, and it is easy to understand how Bangkokians -- and politicians in particular -- are not really in touch with the vagaries of the tourism industry, even though it accounts for around 20% of GDP.

In areas totally dependent on tourism like Phuket, Koh Samui and Pattaya, life is different.

This year we have suffered the impact of earthquakes, a state of emergency, kidnappings, border wars and more.

Some of these prompted governments to issue warnings about visiting Thailand, which in turn limited the availability of travel insurance.

The timely influx of Israelis fleeing the Gaza conflict has saved many businesses.

The recent mess of proposed legislation on alcohol sales will have another negative effect on tourism.

Tourists do not conform to regular eating times. Many want to eat and drink alcohol in the afternoon.

Digital nomads often work at unusual times because of international time differences.

No alcohol between 2pm and 5pm will cause huge problems for restaurants and bars and will affect the choice of holiday destinations.

Many visitors want to escape the afternoon heat on the beach, and a beach bar or restaurant is the ideal refuge -- but not if they can't enjoy a cold beer or a glass of wine with their meal.

Also, how does a waitress enforce a tourist to finish a drink by 2pm that they bought 15 minutes before?

Tourism employs millions of people. It needs to be assisted and encouraged; these proposed laws do neither.

Punish drunk drivers

Re: "Cheers for the absurd rules", (Editorial, Nov 12) & "Repeat drink drivers in campaign's sights", (BP, Sept 17).

I note with interest that the Ministry of Public Health opposes extending legal -- and I stress legal -- drinking hours until 4am, "citing statistics showing that the highest number of drunk‑driving fatalities occur between 2am and 3am."

Since most tourists do not drive, and there is more than adequate, cheap public transport available in tourist areas, I would suggest that trying to close bars early will not solve the problem, as we all know bars find creative ways to remain open even if some form of payment is required.

Even if they're not open, people will still consume alcohol at restaurants, hotels and licensed establishments.

The solution to illegal drunk driving is punishment as a deterrent.

Police do not operate at night, and even when they do have rare "crackdowns" on drunk driving, the number of people who attend police stations while clearly over the limit bears no relation to the number of people prosecuted for the offence -- and we all know why.

Let the police do random checkpoints and breath tests in the early hours and properly punish people who break the law.

It really isn't that difficult. Make drunk drivers fearful of the consequences and they won't do it.