However, some people brought their own alcohol and that led to drunkenness, fights breaking out and women being molested, he said.

Many people did not want alcohol manufacturers in the festival parade because they were advertising, Wallop said. So it has been decided they will be excluded next year, he said. The Chiang Mai Cultural Council will also ask stage organisers to ban shows featuring young women in skimpy clothes dancing, as were seen this year and broadcast to the nation, because they gave the city a bad image, Wallop said.

Next year the city will promote activities in temples with people wearing traditional dress, and continue its campaign against the sale of alcohol, he said. Muang Chiang Mai deputy mayor Pornchai Jitnawasathien said this year's festivities raised between Bt500million and Bt600 million, compared to last year's Bt1 billion.

He attributed this to a 40-per-cent drop in tourism, due to many foreigners choosing to avoid Thailand's political turmoil and local people preferring to save their money. The festival also left giant piles of rubbish, which took officials 32 hours to remove, Pornchai said.

The city usually produces about 300 tonnes of refuse a day but that increased by 70 per cent last Tuesday and Wednesday and by 120 to 150 per cent on Thursday and Friday.

As for road accidents, the Chiang Mai Probation Office said 694 drivers, bailed after they were arrested for drink-driving, would be asked to volunteer to help people suffering mental problems caused by alcoholism. This would allow them to serve society and learn the dangers of alcohol abuse, said office director Rommanee Klanbida yesterday.

As most of road accidents involved motorcycles, Deputy Interior Minister Sermsak Pongpanit yesterday said research on preventive measures for reckless riding were also planned.

The Nation

Chiang Mai