The ban on the sales of alcoholic beverages during Buddhist holidays has sparked a heated debate between advocates and critics of the law -- including the Move Forward Party, which is campaigning for the end of the ban. According to Ms Amarat, banning the sale of alcoholic beverages on Buddhist holidays goes against the nation's constitution, which also guarantees the people's right to belong to religions other than Buddhism. Since many other religions do not frown upon the consumption of alcoholic beverages the way Buddhism does, the ban encroaches on their freedom to choose what's best for themselves, she said. There are five Buddhist holidays in every calendar year during which the sale of alcoholic beverages are prohibited, namely Makha Bucha Day, Visakha Bucha Day, Asarnha Bucha Day, as well as the start and end of Buddhist Lent. The party lambasted the rules for posing stiffer barriers to small makers of alcoholic beverages and attempting to protect the interests of large brewers.
