Provincial governors are being instructed to ban sales of alcohol in areas where the Loy Krathong festival is celebrated next week, in the interests of public safety.
Chatchai Promlert, chief of the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department, said governors could ban the sale of beer, wine and spirits in designated Loy Krathong areas under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act 2008.
Volunteers would patrol festival events to make sure they remain free of alcohol. This would help prevent undesirable incidents and foster the spirit of the traditional festival, which falls on Nov 25 this year.
The department will also strictly control the use of fireworks, to ensure it remans within the law, and educate the public about the dangers of fireworks.
Mr Chatchai said the use of floating and smoke lanterns, balloons, laser lighting and drones must stay within declared hours in stipulated areas. People who violated the law would face punishment, especially if they caused harm to other people's health or property.
Restrictions are in force in areas near airports.