About 70% of people killed in road accidents during the New Year and Songkran festivals in 2013 had consumed alcohol, according to the Health Promotion Policy Research Centre.
Researcher Sophit Nasueb said 60% of those who died had an average blood alcohol level of 189 milligrammes percent, almost four times the legal driving limit of 50 milligrammes percent.
The centre's study showed no significant differences in the blood alcohol levels of the people who were killed, whether they were drivers, passengers or pedestrians, or whether the accident involved motorcycles, bicycles or cars.
Ms Sophit said it was worrisome that 56% of the those killed were younger than 20, and that they had such a high blood alcohol level, averaging 139 milligrammes percent, even though they were too young to legally buy alcohol.
The research centre director, Thaksaphol Thamrangsee, said deaths and injuries from drink driving were preventable, but the government’s efforts to prevent it had not borne any fruit.