[StitlyDute]

Thai people do love getting hammered and any excuse to break out the whiskey will be used. In that sense restrictive alcohol laws make sense because to do otherwise would be to condone rampant alcohol consumption. It seems fairly pointless, but it is the law of the land and should be respected by foreigners.

Personally, the image of the habitual neon-lit barfly farang is a hateful one and I don't mind seeing booted out onto the street for a few nights a year.

[BuyCheapest]

You don't hear the Thai Muslims grumbling during Buddhist holidays that they cannot go and buy any alcohol.

Thai Muslims and Christians put up with "worse" things, like compulsory Buddhist chanting and religion class in state schools.
personally, I think the whole alcohol ban is stupid and hypocritical. if someone wants to drink, they will stock up or find a way. this is not going to reduce consumption, improve morals, or educate people about the dangers of drinking too much. if it helped, I wouldn't object.
the only possible positive outcome I can imagine is maybe slightly fewer accidents caused by drinking and driving. ok, so maybe it is worth having this restriction. but then, why only on holidays??

so, I cannot choose any of the options given, because I think if there is a regulation, it should apply to everyone. but this regulation shouldn1t be there in the first place.

I would love to see a survey on how many percent of Thais, especially young Thais, go to the temple during the holiday, and how many take the opportunity to get pissed. we may be surprised.

I am not Buddhist, or Muslim, or Christian, and I don't drink. (once every leap year or so.)

[ElisasAUG]

Why the heck did the government even had to say (in Nation report) that there were to be a two day ban on sales of alcohol - dumb if you ask me, as sale of booze has always been banned on these two major Buddha days!

Like Sved mentioned, on the Internet and in the bars it is the expats who are doing all the complaining, not really the tourists.

As the person who started the thread - i will agree with most folk here that the law shouldn't be adusted to accommodate foreigners. At the end of the day like Bucky said, if you get out of major areas and pop into your local mom and pop shop, youll have no problem buying alcohol. Here in Suphanburi Town, it's only 7-11 Tesco etc... that don't sell alcohol, normal shops and restaurants sell as normal.

On the last big Buddha holiday with the ban in place, a good police friend of mine came to see me in a local restaurant and brought along a big bottle of Scotch!

[StitlyDute]

Deknoi, believe me, I am more than good at interpreting the broken English used by Thais. I do it for a living. this was something different.

as for Ramadan, that is in the guidebooks and is clear for visitors, I would guess. also, it is not essential to eat in the street.

Not drinking on buddhist holidays is in the guidebooks and it is not essential to drink.

[Misespimb]

Not drinking on buddhist holidays is in the guidebooks and it is not essential to drink.

From where did you get these info? Of which guide book? Drinking in Buddhist holidays are allowed.

Sales of alcoholic drinks are not allowed,, well after 12:00am sale is permitted in some places.

Peace.

[Bejemoelemymn]

It has always been my assumption that "tourists" would be able to enjoy the lounges and restaurants at their hotels with plenty of drinking. The government, probably in response to the cries of "damage to tourism", made it official; sales of alcohol will continue as normal at lounges and restaurant on hotel premises.

Life goes on.....

[StitlyDute]

What happened to good plain English? Looks like someone needs to show off his mastery of English.

You talking to me?

-----

In Muslim nations, even progressive ones like Dubai or Bahrain, it is considered impolite for tourists to eat on the street during Ramadan. Surely eating is more fundamental than being able to booze it up for a night or two and they still do fine for tourism.

[Heliosprime]

the bars are shut in the towns.but tourist can still drink if they are careful.also the people who enforce the rules can drink in the small villages outside the bigger towns.even thou they know it is against the law they drink still in the bar.but this is thailand and many things happen

[Butiqueso]

What does Sen Yai mean?

"Big line/string". Local slang for knowing some important people or the correct person. Sometimes they use the word "puu yai" also for "big man". For example, recently Chuwit's son was arrested by the Thonglor police for creating troubles in a pub and when Chuwit asked the pub manager why did they allow his son who is underage (below 21) into the pub in the first place, and the manager replied they know "puu yai" and Chuwit replied "So what? Puu yai don't need to obey the laws?"

Funny, normally its the "puu yai" or people with strings who're breaking these laws. You think they'll stop drinking alchohol or visit their minor wives during these Buddhist holidays?

[pprropeciaaa]

I think expats and tourists should abide by the laws of the country. I'm sure there are ways for Thais and non-Thais alike to skirt the law if they are so inclined.

[BuyCheapest]

> "It will disappoint foreign tourists visiting Thailand, as drinking alcohol, such as wine and beer, is part of their everyday routine."

I find this wording and the way the article is written extremely offensive to the scores of tourists whose "daily routine" does not include getting pissed. it sounds like all foreign visitors are drunkards and alcoholics who will cause mayhem if they cannot get their daily fix.

[DavidShreder]

Not that many decades ago certain counties in Wales were 'dry' every Sunday and this was largely a result of religious undertones. This has all changed.
It is not the Buddha days that I have a problem with but the ban on Thai election days, albeit they are none to frequent, as this is aimed primarily at Thais and social responsibility.
Although it easy to level a charge of hypocrisy as one of the pancha sila , that all lay Buddhists are supposed to follow, prohibits drinking/drug taking to excess, very much as the Christian bible says, 'excess' being where the senses become 'befuddled'.
I've been a practicing Buddist for over thirty years (although not Theravadism) and I find no overwhelming desire to run off to temple on every stated occasion, so why should the Thai?
I don't travel to any country and expect that land to respect the freedom of choice neo-liberal culture from which I hail (and detest). I encountered similar bigotry in the earliest days of 'foreign' holidays (for Brits) when they kicked of in Spain and the Balearics in the late sixties. "They don't do things here like we do back home!!!". Well there's a surprise!
As far as tourism is concerned, Thailand may be poorer financially without it but culturally a lot richer for remaining untainted. As most expats who live in Thailand because they love the place will likely attest to, the fact is that most tourists never see the 'true' Thailand that exists in moo ban.
Maybe if thr people who 'visit' Thailand found out a liitle bit more about the country before they travelled there, they might also have the wit to 'stock-up' for the dry days as has been suggested if they are so inclined, (Khun Don's comments also noted).
Me? I have no trouble relaxing in a hammock having a couple of cold ones whilst watching the shooting stars in the night sky, any day of the year. Mom and pop shops will sell you alcohol but stop allowing you to consume it on the premises on any Buddha days, its only election days they seem to really shut up shop until after the polls close.

[ElisasAUG]

Last night while in Bangkok came across a group of expats complaining about all bars closed and the ban on the sales of alcohol next Tuesday and Wednesday. Effect on tourism blah blah blah....

What's your opinion on this, should the authorities change the law and allow foreigners to attend bars and buy alcohol while Thais can not, as this is what (i think) most alcohol-drinking expats and tourists believe should happen.

[Aeaefee]

Not that many decades ago certain counties in Wales were 'dry' every Sunday and this was largely a result of religious undertones. This has all changed.

You don't have to go back decades, this was current up until 6 years ago this month when the law was changed. Dwyfor district in Gwynedd was the last dry area up until 2003.

David

[mnhloot]

By Suchat Sritama
Kwanchai Rungfapaisarn
The Nation
Published on July 1, 2009

The government was dealing another severe blow to the already-battered tourism and entertainment industry by suddenly banning booze during Buddhist holidays next week, business leaders complained yesterday.

"This is the same old issue - the government rising up to destroy tourism. This does not parallel its tourism policy of increasing the number of visitors coming into the country," said Thai Hotels Association (THA) president Prakit Chinamourphong.

Enforcement of the decree would hurt tourism venues, especially clubs and restaurants located in hotels, as well as general tourist attractions.

"How can tourists can enjoy their holiday in Thailand without drinking? Like Phuket or Pattaya, they're coming for beaches and fun. They like to have beers and some drinks on the beach. If we ask them not to do so, they won't be happy," Prakit said.

The government should have communicated the order well in advance to foreign tourists, so they could plan their activities and celebrations better while staying in the country.

"I think it's good for locals to stop drinking during that time, but tourists will be upset," Prakit said.

Visitors understand the prohibition on election days but cannot accept it for occasions like this, he said.

Hotel operators are expected to suffer even more from the latest move after getting hit by the global economic crisis and type-A (H1N1) influenza, he said.

The industry is expected to be hurt even more by the suspension of alcohol sales.

A source from the Federation on Alcohol Control of Thailand said the order for alcohol-free religious holidays would be a great setback for local tourism and related businesses, such as hotels, pubs and restaurants.

"With the ban, all tourist destinations, including Koh Samui, Phuket and Pattaya, will be hurt. All pubs and beer bars will have to close, because they cannot sell any alcohol on those days," the source said.

"It will disappoint foreign tourists visiting Thailand, as drinking alcohol, such as wine and beer, is part of their everyday routine. They may switch to other countries next time. The government should take this sensitive issue seriously if they want to promote tourism as one of the key sectors bringing revenue into the country to stimulate the economy."

Chatchai Wiratyosin, marketing manager of Singha Corp, brewer and distributor of Singha and Leo beers, said his company could live with the government's decision to suspend alcohol sales on special religious holidays.

"We don't think the measure will make a significant impact on the sale of alcoholic beverages, because people normally drink less on religious holidays anyway," he said.

But he still wonders why the government must always issue immediate measures to ban the sale and drinking of alcohol instead of trying other means, such as educational campaigns to promote higher morals among local youths regarding responsible drinking.

[UltraSearchs]

It is true that in Pakistan non-muslims can queue a few hours a day at special outlets to buy alcohol. I spent a month there once and one day in Peshawar -- I place I wouldn't dream of visiting today -- we decided to quench our thirst for a beer and join one of these queues.

It was a long time ago but I remember you could only buy it in the window of one hour in the afternoon. There were about 30 people in front of us in the queue and what we eventually got was locally brewed, presumably by Christian Palistanis.

When we were in Kashgar, the Muslim region of China where the riots just broke out, one night we were eating in a square near the main mosque. The foodshop sold us beer but insisted that after we poured a beer, the bottle had to be kept on the ground under the table -- so the worshippers going to the mosque couldn't see it?!

In Dubai, although it's somewhat liberal, even the flash hotels where most of the guests are high-paying foreigners won't serve alcohol on the Muslim holidays.

So I voted to stock up in advance and invite a few friends round to your home -- like some Thais probably do.

[freddyujnf]

should the authorities change the law and allow foreigners to attend bars and buy alcohol while Thais can not, The problem with the discussion is that the question is not correct.

Thais and expats can and will buy alcohol, all mom and pop shops will sell whatever anybody wants to buy. Also plenty of bars/restaurants will sell (disguised) alcohol.

So IMO: keep the bars closed in order to prevent major abuse, but allow the shops, restaurants and hotels to sell.

I'm going home from work, and will buy a nice bottle of Archa on the way home.

[Aeaefee]

Can members please not resort to arguing on the fourums please, I have just had to remove 16 posts from here. Also perhaps I should remind members that it is a rule that you can groan at a post *or* reply to it but not both, as this seems to have been the cause of the argument.

David

[Acrogeokickic]

Just to note that I bought a shed load of alcohol yesterday and none of my (all Thai) guests had a problem drinking it today.

[propolo]

Last night while in Bangkok came across a group of expats complaining about all bars closed and the ban on the sales of alcohol next Tuesday and Wednesday. Effect on tourism blah blah blah....

What's your opinion on this, should the authorities change the law and allow foreigners to attend bars and buy alcohol while Thais can not, as this is what (i think) most alcohol-drinking expats and tourists believe should happen.

When In Thailand do as the Locals Do, Become Thai for a while. See ,Feel, and Touch, Smell. And taste. use all Your sences,after all if You dont like it. you can always leave Its Not far ,to The next BAR, In Cambodia Or other Places,Dont try To change There Way Of Life, Instead Respect it , And Smile , Be Polite. To all You meet, And your holiday, My friend Will Be Full Of Memorys to Cherish, Enjoy your self in Paradise, As time Moves Quickly. and before you Know It you will Be back in that Place You Call Home,?