ไทย
Phuket – On April 13, 2025, at Dibuk Road in front of Limelight Phuket, Mr. Sophon Suwannarat, Governor of Phuket Province, presided over the opening ceremony of the “Songkran No Alcohol Festival Phuket 2025.” He was joined by Mrs. Busadee Suwannarat, President of the Phuket Red Cross Chapter. Key supporters of the event included Mr. Anupap Vechwanichsanong, Deputy Chief Executive of the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organization, Mr. Thanet Tantipiriyakit, President of the Phuket Tourist Association, and other supporting figures such as Mr. Jaruchet Ruangsuwan, Deputy Director of the Southern Region, Tourism Authority of Thailand, Mr. Wisanut Srithawong, Manager of Public Policy Program, Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth), and the Office of the Alcohol Control Network.
Facilitators of the event also included Mr. Chalermphon Piyanarongroj, Permanent Secretary of Phuket City Municipality; Pol. Maj. Gen. Sinlert Sukhum, Commander of Phuket Provincial Police; and Ms. Panee Koysomboon, Managing Director of Limelight Phuket, who initiated the event. The event also received support from the private sector, notably Haad Thip Public Company Limited.
The “Songkran No Alcohol Phuket” festival is a Thai cultural preservation event held for the 11th consecutive year. It is considered a ‘Soft Power’ initiative in line with government policy. Both the Thai Songkran festival and the traditional women’s kebaya attire have been listed as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, prompting the incorporation of the kebaya’s beautiful designs into the event’s vibrant decor. Attendees were encouraged to wear traditional Thai or local fabrics and kebaya outfits, participate in religious water blessings, elder water-pouring rituals, and enjoy a water tunnel splash zone.
The event also featured food and ‘non-alcoholic’ beverage booths and was ‘free to attend’, running for six hours from 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM along Dibuk Road in front of Limelight Phuket and at Chalermprakiat 72nd Anniversary Queen’s Park (Lan Mangkon). Entertainment highlights included performances by Siam Niramit, DJ Man, and Maeying (the host), along with live music from top youth bands such as The Octobye, Leapree, The Mood, Hungry Children, Single Band, and guest performers ANT Band from Bangkok. DJ Husky and MC TMO kept the energy high, and the night concluded with a full-band live performance by Aof Pongsak.
The “Songkran No Alcohol Phuket 2025” festival welcomed a large number of locals and tourists, both domestic and international, and is expected to break attendance records with over 50,000 participants forming a massive alcohol-free crowd. The event aimed to uphold Thai traditions in a fun and safe environment, raising awareness about avoiding alcohol consumption during the festival, reducing the number of intoxicated individuals on the roads, and decreasing accidents and fatalities caused by drunk driving during Songkran. Phuket Province hopes that in 2025, it will not rank among the provinces with high accident or fatality rates.
