The anti-alcohol campaigners, led by Alcohol Watch, called on the government to take precautionary measures to avoid and reduce the risks caused by drunk revellers.

More than 3,400 accidents occurred during the last Songkran holidays and claimed more than 400 lives, injuring more than 3,600 people, Kamron Chudecha, coordinator of Alcohol Watch, said.

Drunk driving and speeding were blamed for the tragedies.

The activists also called on the government and the National Council for Peace and Order to order a ban on the sale of alcoholic drinks at concert venues and temporarily revoke liquor sale licences during the Thai New Year holidays.

Entertainment events, including concerts and product marketing activities, are found to promote liquor consumption which lead to reckless driving and brawls, the group said.

They also asked the government to reduce the legal limit of alcohol level for drunk driving penalties from 50 milligrams per cent to 20 or 30 milligrams blood alcohol level.

The letter was submitted to the PM through the government’s complaint receiving centre.