BANGKOK — Thailand’s prime minister has some advice for his country’s young women: Don’t dress too revealingly, or you will be shunned like a piece of toffee without its wrapper.

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha offered the observation Tuesday to reporters as Thais prepared to kick off their traditional New Year celebration, known as Songkran. The holiday comes at the hottest time of the year and is best known for the enthusiastic splashing of water upon friends and strangers alike, a practice that sometimes takes on a sexual edge.

Thailand’s military government already had announced that it would try to discourage lewd behavior and dress as inappropriate for the country’s culture.

Prayuth qualified his own advice, saying that some nicely wrapped candy will stay on the shelf for years no matter what. TVJ