Is Bhutan the "Best" Country if You Want to Get Pissed ?

CEOCambodiaNews · Post by **CEOCambodiaNews** » Wed Jun 05, 2019 6:07 pm

One bar for every 177 Bhutanese | #AsiaNewsNetwork
Published 5 June 2019
Thimphu (Kuensel) - Easy access to cheap industrial drinks from the shops is found to be a major challenge in curtailing the supply of alcohol, according to the review report on the harmful use of alcohol in the country.

Despite various measures in place to control the availability of alcohol, it is freely sold in every retail shop and at relatively affordable prices, the report states.

The report, prepared by Good Governance Committee, was submitted for deliberation at the on-going 23rd session of the National Council (NC). It was reported that as of November 30, 2017 the number of bars had decreased to 4,118.

One of the committee members, Bumthang NC Nima, said that as of August 31 2018, there were 15 licensed alcohol industries (12 large scale and three medium scales), of which, 10 new licences were issued between 2009 and 2018.

He said that there was one outlet for every 177 Bhutanese and sale of alcohol through unlicensed outlets was increasing.

“Easy access and affordability have been the main source of problem triggering relapses cases, including temptation for drinking,” Nima said. “While ban on locally brewed alcohols is strictly enforced in the rural area, industrial alcohol is made freely available at cheaper rate in the market.”

Alcoholic liver disease continues to be the leading cause of death. A total of 514 people died between 2015 and 2017.

A total of 6,529 traffic offences were related to drink driving from 2016 to September 2018. “Zero tolerance” have had little effect.

Weak enforcement of laws, weak coordination among implementing agencies, and lack of clarity among local governments on their enforcement authority were some of the gaps and challenges observed in the report.
http://www.kuenselonline.com/one-bar-fo ... bhutanese/

Funflyer · Post by **Funflyer** » Wed Jun 05, 2019 6:32 pm

Is it becoming any easier/cheaper to visit Bhutan? Does Thai airways fly there?

John Bingham · Post by **John Bingham** » Wed Jun 05, 2019 6:37 pm

You can only visit Bhutan on a package tour that costs $200-300 per day.

hanno · Post by **hanno** » Wed Jun 05, 2019 7:15 pm

John Bingham wrote: ↑Wed Jun 05, 2019 6:37 pm You can only visit Bhutan on a package tour that costs $200-300 per day.

Not true, I visited Bhutan paying $180 a day. This included accommodation, food, driver, guide and did not include soap-dodgers or obnoxious Chinese. A bargain really.