jimbo34

 I've just paid my rent on my condo off Naklua Road, but he's still charging 10 Baht per unit for electric, and 35 Baht per unit of water. As i understand it, the Law is now in place to prevent this kind of practice.

 Can i ask for members advice on where to complain, please?

"....called for local officials the new economic policy...."

And that would be what exactly??

Buffoons.

Hear no Evil, see no evil. Excellent work, carry on chaps!

Ridiculous.

Some very interesting posts, and some excellent ideas from Dr Dave.

Unfortunately, nobody, not even the military seem capable of addressing all the issues. So Patong will look less and less attractive to the prosperous westerners that used to proliferate. Sure, some of us will do ok ( i am a barowner on Soi Bangla) but the "easy" days are gone, and the town is becoming less and less attractive, even to me. I've been here 10 years and used to mingle with the large expat population. They all seem to have slowly disappeared, especially the aussies. I anticipate being here another couple of years, if my business can survive, and then i too will be gone.

It's just so frustrating to see the domination of the tuk-tuk mob, the lawless behaviour by the inhabitants, the rubbish, the over-development, the scams, and the ever-rising tide of budget tourists. The shine has gone off the place. Such a shame.

But is Patong dead? No, it's just in decay. The do-nothing, lets-form-a committee, line-my-pockets-through-procurement-of-useless-street-furniture, hapless and hopeless administrations get to you in the end. I shall be looking out for a better place to spend the autumn of my days.

You can't move in soi sansabai as it is, for all the motorbikes parked 5 deep, so it's pointless trying to extend the Bangla zone.

Does that just sound insane? Four in the morning....stumbling back to the hotel full of liquor, and an easy target for thugs....after twelve hours of drinking. If this actually happens, expect crime, deaths on scooters, and more domestic violence. These businesses will be sitting back, counting their cash. It seems they are looking for 24 hour alcohol sales.

Solution: Open later, but no alcohol after 2am. Give the guests a chance to wind down. Also, tax these guys heavily, as more police are going to be required to keep things safe. At the same time, ensure these bars don't pass on their taxes to the customer, by capping prices.

"Easy target for thugs" ? - oh come on, thuggery is far less prevalent here than on any other holiday destination i have ever been to. Try any UK town or city on a friday or saturday night!

"........crime, deaths on scooters, and more domestic violence."? - very little of this comes from tourists. And if there was a decent public transport system, the incidence of deaths on scooters would be dramatically reduced.

"....tax these guys heavily, as more police are required to keep things safe."? - most bars pay the so-called 'tea money' to the police anyway. Personally, i have no objection to my "levy" of 3,000 Bt per month, as a policemans pay is derisive. And as there is a fairly heavy police presence on Bangla at nighttime, it seems reasonable.

".....ensure these bars don't pass on their taxes to the customer, by capping prices."? - bars are asking high prices because of the high rents their landlords demand. Only when the bars have disappeared will greedy landlords finally accept that the party is over.

Sorry mate, but your response is ill-considered, ill-informed tosh !

As a barowner myself, in Soi Bangla, i could care less about the closing time being 2 a.m. or 4 a.m.. There are far more fundamental issues to fix on this island......and we all know what those are! Unfortunately after a half-hearted start by the military a year ago, things have gone back to how they were. Or worse!

Until Phuket makes itself, once again, attractive to the higher value tourist, we're all disappearing down the toilet. Just encouraging ever greater numbers of chinese package tours simply isn't going to work.

It won't make any difference closing at 4 a.m. - there's nobody around at 2 a.m. these days ! Whatever figures ToT produce about airport arrivals and so on aren't being translated into customer 'spend' anyway. Most bars and nightclubs are in pretty desperate trouble and just asking for later hours ain't gonna cure it.

Probably forgot to put water in the fire engine!

I don't know about anyone else but I am slightly confused,

" and is effective for December 5 (12.01am tonight untill 11.59 tomorrow tonight)."

Is the ban request from 1 minute past midnight this morning to 1 minute to midnight tonight,

or have I got it wrong?? (again)

The bars will be closed today (friday), but open tomorrow saturday 6th as usual

I have a business to run but have felt the BiB's wrath in the past, so will comply as "requested".

The Phuket Gazette is telling a different story (barowners called to honor father's day booze ban), but the site is not working at the moment so can't link.

The site's up now and, as expected, bars will be closed on Bangla on friday night.

@ Jock

underneath Bangla House Hotel, opposite the old Tiger Complex

Beer: 110 Bt

Short with mixer 160

Ladydrink 150

Barfine 500

I strongly suspect most bars will close on the 5th, as in previous years.

And I strongly suspect that the bar stewards of Bangla would not give up any opportunity

to make a fast buck or two from unsuspecting tourists and expats alike.

I am a Bangla Road "bar steward" jock, and although closing for a day represents a serious loss of revenue during High Season, I am prepared to show some respect if that's what is expected.

Incidentally, not all of us "make a fast buck from unsuspecting tourists..." !

Unfortunately jimbo imo the vast majority of the Bangla bars are out "to make a fast buck from unsuspecting

tourists "

So you are " prepared to show some respect if that's what is expected " so you would show respect because

you think that is what is expected of you not because you genuinely feel respect, how sincere are you?

Oh, don't get me wrong Jock, i'd much rather open if i can. I've lost too many days this year due to curfew restrictions, Big Buddha days, Mother's Day etc etc to really afford to close. But if the general consensus is that Bangla should close up, i'm not going to fly in the face of popular custom. Its not my country, after all.

Incidentally, i agree with your comment about "the vast majority of Bangla Bars" out to make a rip-off baht. I pride myself in offering genuine entertainment and value for money. Nothing pleases me more than seeing a bar full of happy people enjoying a good night out. And it pisses me off mightily at the touts and ping-pong bars ripping off the tourists.

It may not be law but the bars will be "expected" to close, as in every year of the previous 8 that i've been here.

From the OP: "there would be no booze ban on December 5, nor even any “request” to shops, bars, restaurants and wholesalers not to sell alcohol on the day."

I hope you're right, stevenl, but we'll see.....

I strongly suspect most bars will close on the 5th, as in previous years.

And I strongly suspect that the bar stewards of Bangla would not give up any opportunity

to make a fast buck or two from unsuspecting tourists and expats alike.

I am a Bangla Road "bar steward" jock, and although closing for a day represents a serious loss of revenue during High Season, I am prepared to show some respect if that's what is expected.

Incidentally, not all of us "make a fast buck from unsuspecting tourists..." !

I strongly suspect most bars will close on the 5th, as in previous years.

It may not be law but the bars will be "expected" to close, as in every year of the previous 8 that i've been here.

These asians need to put their phones in their pockets rather than walk around the whole time holding them in the air or bent over texting. They'd experience a bit more from their holiday. And would see trouble coming.

No sympathy from me.

rain, rain, rain everywhere, yet "reservoirs only 34% full" ! How does that work?

so how is it going?any news?

Patong functioning as normal. All night if you want.

he is at it again......... I have reminded him of it, but the comment wasn't published

He just can't help himself.

I like his online publication, i just wish he would shut the <removed> up !

If you offer a thai a loan/credit he/she will always accept, regardless of ability or intention to repay.

Yes, but if I (a farang) apply for a credit card, I am rejected because as a retired person, I have no regular income. My savings are good for a couple more years of peaceful life but banks in Thailand don't trust me. So, no credit card for me, at least not from a Thai bank.

TMB actually even told me that they would not accept farangs as clients, no mater how wealthy. (TMB branch in Central World).

Probably because I would not venture into costly loans and pay my credit card every months in full, so not much to profit from a farang, with (still) some marbles in his head.

I got a credit card from Kasikhornbank just because you need one to book flights, hotels etc online, but had to deposit the same amount with them beforehand, as i wanted to "borrow". That way they're always assured of getting their money. I went ahead with it anyway, seeing as being without a credit card is such a hassle, for the things i mentioned.