PHUKET: Authorities on Phuket are launching a campaign against drink-driving after statistics reveal the connection between road deaths and injuries and excessive alcohol consumption.

A large proportion of fatalities among expats, as among Phuket locals, appears to be directly a result of people drinking too much then being allowed to take the handlebars of motorcycles.

The Phuket road safety campaign announced yesterday will begin with a public meeting of bar and venue owners to ask them to refuse service to people who have had too much to drink.

Increased police attention to venues where excessive drinking is not discouraged and to drink-drivers on the roads is anticipated as part of the 2012 campaign.

Authorities said yesterday that alcohol was the number one factor in 82 percent of road deaths in the Kathu district - which includes Patong, Karon, Kamala and Kata - 40 percent of those in Thalang district and 65 percent of those in the Phuket City Amphur district.

The statistics simply confirm what expats have long suspected - that the freewheeling approach to drinking and driving by both riders and drivers and law enforcement officials results in needless deaths and injuries.

The recent 'Seven Days of Danger' campaign produced a new statistic: Along with six deaths, there were 475 injuries, and 84 percent of the incidents were related to motorcycles.

Police statistics reveal 21 deaths on Phuket roads between October and December, with 13 people ''very seriously'' injured and 28 others injured.

Phuket administrators, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation and Phuket's Deputy Police Commander joined yesterday's meeting at the Public Health offices.

Total Public Health statistics for 2011 are still being compiled but figures to the end of November show road deaths are likely to be reduced from the tolls of 2010 and 2009.

However, injuries and serious injuries continue to bring tragedy to thousands of individuals and their families, as well as placing an economic strain on Phuket's stressed health care system.

Officials acknowledge that the lack of a cheap, efficient public transport system not only causes unwanted deaths and grief because people are forced to use motorcycles, but also contributes heavily to traffic congestion in peak periods around Phuket.