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Thai Liquor Laws Won't Deter Tourists, Minister Says

BANGKOK: -- Thailand's proposed liquor restrictions, aimed at reducing alcohol-related diseases, won't drive away tourists, Health Minister Mongkol Na Songkhla said.

Alcohol-linked illnesses and injuries cost Thailand 500 billion baht ($14.5 billion) a year in medical expenses, and banning alcohol advertising and restricting where it's sold will reduce excessive consumption, Mongkol said.

``Alcohol is one of the main causes of death, not only accidents, but so many related diseases,'' Mongkol said in an interview last week. ``It's a problem in Thailand, from car accidents to crime. We have to control it.''

Tourism revenue would drop by an estimated 10 percent to 720 billion baht this year once new laws are imposed, the Federation of Thai Tourism Associations said in April. Thailand had 13.8 million overseas visitors last year.

Hoteliers and retailers are concerned alcohol-free areas around temples and schools would encroach on popular tourist spots, including areas on Bangkok's Khao San Road, Patong Beach on Phuket island and in the northern city of Chiang Mai, driving tourists to less-regulated destinations outside Thailand.

Existing hotels, bars and shops selling alcohol in areas that face new restrictions will probably be ``allowed to stay where they are, but new shops won't be allowed,'' Mongkol said.

The proposal isn't likely to drive tourists away, he said.

``They can drink in the hotels, at the pool, on the beaches, we will not prohibit that,'' Mongkol said. ``We're only trying to limit drinking in some areas'' and encourage drinking in moderation, he said.

`Sensitive Issues'

Government officials are still discussing ``sensitive issues'' with the industry, Mongkol said. Cabinet approved a bill preventing advertising and further limiting the areas and time for the sale and consumption of alcohol in March.

More than two-thirds of men in Thailand aged between 25 and 49 regularly consume alcohol, compared with one 10t of women in the same age group, according to a 2001 survey of 78,363 households by the National Statistical Office. It found one in five men aged 15 to 19 were regular drinkers.

The National Legislative Assembly, appointed by the military-installed government, is reviewing the draft. Passing it into law has been ``a bit delayed'' by detailed negotiations, he said.

``We don't want new drinkers to get attracted by the advertising or product displays,'' Mongkol said. ``Alcohol should be sold in proper places. We are talking in detail now about the sale times and places.''

About 300,000 retail stores may close in restricted zones, Suwit Kingkaew, an adviser at the Thai Retailer Association, told reporters in April. Some diners and hotels may cut jobs to reflect a slump in sales, said Pavornwan Kulmongkol, chairman of the Thai Restaurant Association. The ban on advertising will hurt sales as brewers are their key business partners, she said.

--Bloomberg 2007-06-27

They can drink in the hotels, at the pool, on the beaches, we will not prohibit that,'' Mongkol said

But if i see one of them smile, just once, Thats it!

I wonder if that quote will go in the holiday mags back home!!

I visiting Thailand for 6 weeks and I am bringing my laptop. What type of adapter do I need to plug in my charger? Can I purchase the adapter in Thailand. Thanks.

as the other post says youll be fine no problems, those little travel adaptors for about a quid are fine, if ya gonna book a hotel there are some offer free wifi out here,just on that though, if you aint been here before, most bars (well a lot) offer free internet, so if ya just checking emails maybe leave laptop at home save lugging it around!

good luck.

About a week ago, I decided to take in another soi dog... I have two already, one big, and one small... the new one just won't get alone with the other small soi dog... they are 1/2 sisters. I thought it would work out, but it just won't. If anyone wants a really nice clean and healthy dog, female, who is very gentle, very affectionate, house-trained, please message me... it's in the Pattaya area.

I don't have a picture, but I can try to get one shortly.

She may get alone with another dog, she adores my BIG dog, but not her 1/2 sister, which is a small sized soi dog too.

In about a week, she got pretty healthy, she does need to gain some more weight, but all else seems fine. I knew she had some vaccination shots, the owners of our community took her to a vet, but i'm not sure if there is paperwork for her.

She seems to be a good guard dog too.

If I can't find a home for her, I think she'll do a little better than most soi dogs, as we can make sure she gets fed on the street, but it won't be the same, as she's had a week of real affection and lots of good healthy food. Please let me know by private message if interested.

weho, when you say "shes had lots of good healthy food" thats not quite up to your usual descriptive standard, please can you address this asap.

I just called the embassy and was told the following:

1 -- Apply in the morning 9:15am - 11:15am

Receive passport the next day at 2:00pm

2 -- Embassy is closed on July 30 and July 31.

if ya not bothered about singapore and just wanna grab a visa, pennang is def worth a try.

same script as what you been told on phone, but cos malaysia, might not have same holidays.

singapore arnt the most helpfull embassy, check on here under visas and most people will prob say pennang is the hassle freeest option. (best of bad bunch)

there will be many people there so go early and prepare for a wait then youre not stressed!

I am looking to find ways to socialize and network with new friends in Pattaya. I am a 47 year old GWM with a Thai Boyfriend and although he is a sweetheart I feel isolated and miss good conversation with like minded Farangs and Thais. Anybody any good suggestions? Social Clubs, Chatrooms etc? I am currently spending half my time in my home country (Canada) and half in Pattaya.

When I'm in Canada I have a good social network but miss my Boyfriend. When I am in Pattaya I enjoy my boyfriend but miss having a social circle. Any suggestions anyone?

easy solved, take him to canada!

Man With Green Blood Shocks Surgeons POSTED BY Dr. Mercola View Dr. Mercola's ProfileAdd Dr. Mercola to FriendsReceive Updates from Dr. Mercola By News FeedJune 11, 2007 A group of Canadian surgeons were surprised to find that the 42 year old man they were operating on had dark-green blood.

Analysis revealed that the blood discoloration was caused by sulfhemoglobinaemia, which happens when a sulfur atom becomes attached the oxygen-carrying hemoglobin protein present in blood.

The condition was likely caused by the patient's migraine medication, sumatriptan, which contains a sulfonamide group.

After going off sumatriptan, his blood returned to normal within five weeks.

Sulfhemoglobinaemia usually goes away as red blood cells regenerate, but can necessitate a transfusion in extreme cases.

The Lancet June 9, 2007 (Registration Required)

New Scientist June 8, 2007

<a href="http://" target="_blank"></a>

Dr. Mercola's Comment:

Yet another side effect of modern medical "miracles" In this case green blood from taking an anti-migraine medication.

Headaches are so common that Americans dish out more than $1 billion every year to get relief from migraines. The pain associated with migraines can be so severe that some patients will actually consider suicide as a reasonable alternative. When you consider the options of suicide or a pill, the pill certainly seems to be the better solution, at least at first.

nothing to worry about, the guys english, it gets a bit cold, the blood is in fact Antifreeze!

How's it goin in the bar biz down in Pattaya?

Makin millions?

Hate to say I told you so.

ill bet youve got a lot of good mates and a very nice family that love you so mutch!

you sound like a guy who proboboly, maybe, had a bar in pattaya before, you might have bought it while you were here on holiday and maybe still left your brain back in euorpe and then realised that you hadnt got a clue how to run one! and probobly had no money left apart from your sick benifits you are claiming back home!

then another guy tells you well everyones going to cambodia, come on, lets all go!

we used to call them sheep, but hey i might have it all wrong, please tell me where you are and how busy is it and how you made just your first million!

now shinocksville (snooky) hasnt got any customers at all and will rain for the next 3 months, but you probobly know that having researched it before you bought there! (he he) (you didnt did ya/ what a muppet!)

if you dont reply ill take it your so busy counting money!

one thingis for sure, you might be jelous of bar owners in pattaya but whatever ill bet you come back!!!! Sure Sure

I have had a problem with caterpillars like the one in the photo eating my plants, these guys can destroy many large plants in one night ! I have looked everywhere on the internet to find out what type of butterfly or moth they turn into but cant find any quite like this one ? Thais say they are quite common, has anyone got any info ?

this might be helpful:

so theres two old farlangs in pattaya, best of mates for 40 years, anyway so one dies and the other one is gutted and no friends, so he thinks right ill get a dog.

so off he trots pattya klang pet shop, "how much for that dog', thailady '10,000 bhat mister''!

'never' cheap charlie replys, 'ok 8000 bhat mister', 'never' says pum pooy farang, 'how much that cat', thai lady '3,000', 'never' says falang 'how mutch that rabbit,' '1000' says poor thai lady, 'too mutch' speak farlang, so just as hes leaving the shop thai lady gets a calculater and a catapiller and says 'ok farlang this one for you is a real centipede and i give you free match box for condo for him and you can have for 500 bhat', 'ok' he says and off he trots back to view taly with his new friend.

sat at home he thinks my catapiller hasnt spoke to me so ill try be his fiend and take him out, so he taps on the matchbox and says catapiller im off for a drink do you want to join me? no reply, so he has a cig on balcony looking at the building works thats not happening and thinks ok ill try again so back inside, taps on matchbox and says, ok im going for a drink on soi 6 if you want to come, still no reply, so he sits on his washing machine in the front room and has a cig again, thinks right last time, taps on the matchbox and says im off out for a drink to soi 6, then on to walking street and maybe if ive got enough money left have some food now do you want to come with me, the matchbox opens and the little centipede says i heard you the first time im still putting my f@ckingg shoes on!

Suppose when you sell View Talay Villas & View Talay Residences at such extortionate prices you can own 24 mil cars !!! and people want to buy into his latest venture ocean 1 and load his pockets even more.Maybe thats to buy his plane !! Jealous....No, amazed at his ability to rip people of so easy...yes.

EPG.

I am surprized more haven't posted similar statements to this one!

if i order anything here in thailand theres quite a good chance of it coming wrong!

most people dont speak english, cos its not england or germany!

my accent is broad yorkshire so people in england cant understand me!

so when i order somthing most thais cant understand what i want so i check what i get, and if it arrives wrong i do my best to correct it, cos im in a forign country!

what makes me think though, is a successfull buisness man with a very nice car, whos been in thailand for some time, lets an 4,000 bhat a month pump attendant lose with his car, while he not looking!

well lets hope the attendant dosent lose his job over this comunication problem!

And further evidence - if it was ever needed - of the utter garbage of western society that washes up on these shores. You can just see it, can't you? Some hopeless fathead with a waist measurement larger than his IQ, with hairy shoulders protruding from his unwashed vest, and yet - in spite of all that - with an innate and massive self-confidence brought about by the fact that he's white in a brown country.

And now, he will be crapping himself inwardly but externally keeping up the bravado cos he's a white man, innit?

---------------------------

We've got tons of utter garbage of eastern society washing. We can see it.

Fortunately most of them are young hot whores who do what they do best.

The ones that are'nt whores just need a little whining and dining to put out...

Now Now you two, stop it!

"He without sin" theres a few on here!!

I really dont know how people can get to the age of 40+ without ever making a mistake at all!

i heard thai nationals without a passport can just use thai ID card.

well they can but you must apply for it!

as you get to the border there is a little shop on your left for thai people he will type out a letter for the thai and then they take it get it stamped with a photo everything done 200 bhat.

now an earlier post says 5 days, we were issued 3 days, dont know why but 3 was enough anyway!

good luck and hey try that laos beer (beer laos) its very nice and does the job!

I've just recently found out that my husband got to know this thai lady a yr ago from his last trip to Phuket.. since then they have been communicating via email. Althought they have not met since then but this girl had been very initiative expressive in her mails till now, expressing her love for him, Anyone can advise me how can I stop this without having confrontation?

Or if someone happen to know girl by the name of jeab <edit>, please advise her to wake up from her unrealistic dream...

As the moderators slowly but surely close each post, there is finally hope for an end to weho's carpet-bombing of the Pattaya forum.

why did you even bother reading this thread knowing it was from wheo he/ she or whatever????

i bet its fun in your house!!!!

Go on admit it, i bet you had a bit of a grin looking at them picys!!!

I thought thats what this forum bit was all about, discusing things we are not used to etc!!!

Leave it with ya!

You used a tourist visa from Singapore to enter Thailand for 60 days. You extended the sixty day stay another 30 days. Now you want to return to Thailand. You do not mention using any 30 day visa exempt entries prior to your Singapore tourist visa so yes you can cross into Laos and return to obtain a 30 day permitted to stay stamp. You should have 10,000 baht with you in case it is asked to be shown and you should also have a ticket out of Thailand within the next 30 days for the same reason (both are requirements but not often checked). If you take the time to obtain a visa the required money would increase to 20,000 baht but there would not be any ticket requirement. Am quite sure Embassy is not open on Saturday. But you could go tonight, cross in morning and return Friday afternoon.

sorry cant do anything till i collect my pport at bitish em tom morn, then was gonna catch the 16.15 airasia to udon land 17.15 stay over next morn (fri) go to border and if poss go to vientiene or if they mon/fri just get border 30 days, if whichever is possible?

some websites suggest that weekends you can pay extra but not sure if this is just border, be better if i could get propper touris if poss!

hi just a quicky,

im english and got a torist single entry visa in singapore on 22 march 2007, so went to pattaya img (jontiem) on 21 may, so i need to collect my new passport ready tommorow british embassy bangkok, but my visa finishes on 22 june.

some people say i must go get new tourist some say i can extend again at a border so was gonna go to udon and over to vientiene in loas and get a tourist but can i just go and come back from border there as will be a friday and dont want to spend 4 days there or is the embassy open on sats?

any speedy replies app, cheers chris.

It is not wise / safe / legal to simply put a bigger wire and breaker.

The reason is that, because we don't use UK style fused plugs any potential fault current from an internal appliance fault must pass down the appliance flex which may have too high a resistance to pull the breaker, result = overheating flex and possibly fire!

The correct solution is to add more 20A breakers with 2.5mm cables and feed say, two double outlets off each. This will have the additional benefit (if you do it right) of isolating your freezer from the possibility of nuisance trips.

Since you're going to have to pull a new cable anyway, why not do it properly

here here, now youve listed all the appliaces you will need, dont forget to ask her or him or whoever else will use the kitchen what THEY will use, maybe a tv or rice warmer cooker music (hi fi), phone chargers (they dont take a lot but they plug in) maybe light outside kitchen door or soket for garden etc and add an extra socket or 2 on for good mesure.

as the post above says, if youre gonna do it, do it right, then its only once!

good luck.

I keep my assets offshore to avoid problems

same same, my yorkshire bank account of 1 pounds 19 and a halfe are safe as houses!

Best thing to do is, well, your not with her anymore on a daily basis, and, she aint thai, and, shes got visa problems, and, shes not getting any younger, and, niether you, .......go get another girl (about 18 be ok) and keep ya own money!

only joking, hope ya sort it out and let us know the outcome!

Airbus approved for on-board cellphones

Paris (dpa) - European aircraft manufacturer Airbus announced Tuesday that it had become the first company to receive airworthiness certification for a cell-phone system aboard an aeroplane.

The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) approved Airbus' GSM on-board system on Monday, Airbus said.

The Post Publishing Public Co

there is a very good chance that I will be found guilty of manslaughter if this flies ...........................

Mobile phones what can be used as a switch for a bomb?, did they say anything about my granmas nail clippers???

I spent quite s bit of time trying to explain this to my Thai teacher today and failed miserably - canot find it anywhere - any thoughts??

Get a New Teacher!

Jai Dee/Admin, i think you will find that all four of naytums posts seem to be spam linked to a blog....

Actully if you read it again, its whats printed on the back of a Manchester City ticket, underneath Thaskinsos Tours of Smiles!!!!

A lot of Colov-bashers here I see. Bet you're all English.

The English are known for knocking anyone who has even a little success. No matter that the success has been gained by hard work and endeavour, the English (well, the type who've criticised Niels Colov in this topic) will show their black hearts and knock, knock, knock.

Didn't you understand the question? The poster wants to know what you think of the Expats CLUB.

Give it a rest.

Try being magnanimous for a change. Credit where credit's due.

hey sherlock, why have a go at the english??????? Im english and i made an earlier comment which i thought is a fair answer, if 90% of this thread dont like this person who runs this club havent they a right to express that cos that was the question!

Quote

Didn't you understand the question? The poster wants to know what you think of the Expats

instead of having a go why dont YOU READ the the poster and say what YOU THINK about it, and for what reasons that you know off that he is a good guy! CREDIT Where CREDITS Due is a good start!

I hope you read this with the outcome that maybe this forum is what its all about mate!

Dont forget the english are known, remembered and thanked for a lot more!

to you!

Comedy star Bernard Manning dies

Manning was a singer and compere before entering comedy

Manning obituary

Controversial comedian Bernard Manning has died aged 76 after being treated in hospital for a kidney condition.

He shot to fame in the 1970s on ITV programme The Comedians, having already developed a career in music as a vocalist and a compere.

His website branded him "one of the most outrageous and successful comedians of our time".

Manchester-based Manning denied being racist, once remarking: "I tell jokes. You never take a joke seriously."

However, in 2002, he was banned from performing in the Dorset seaside town of Weymouth, where councillors were worried that his act would breach laws on race.

Until his dying day, he didn't understand what all the fuss was about

Biographer Jonathan Margolis on Bernard Manning

He died in North Manchester General Hospital at 1510 BST on Monday.

Last month a tribute to him was paid at the recording of a proposed TV show entitled This Was Your Life, in front of an audience of 600 friends and fans.

He told them: "I'm going to be with you for a long time yet!"

BBC website

Alcohol to be banned at temples,schools

BANGKOK: -- An ad-hoc committee in the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) yesterday approved the Alcohol Control Bill's clause to outlaw the promotion of alcohol sales.

The committee was assigned to vet the bill before it goes for a second reading by the NLA.

Spokesman Tuang Antachai said the committee agreed the bill should ban manufacturers from offering discounts, freebies, samples and the right to join a lucky draw.

"We have also added another clause that alcohol must not be sold as a bundle of various products," Tuang said.

He said the committee approved a clause in the bill banning alcohol being drunk in temples, hospitals, medical-service facilities and pharmacies - except in places designated as "personal areas".

The clause will prohibit alcohol being drunk in government and educational compounds too, with limited exceptions such as for parties or cocktail-making classes.

However, Tuang said the committee was divided about a clause that comprehensively bans alcohol advertising, including brand displays.

"We have established a panel to look into this issue and explore some alternatives," he said.

In a related development, the Excise Department was preparing a plan to raise the cigarette-tax ceiling from 80 per cent to 99 per cent. Cigarettes are currently subject to 79-per-cent rate of tax.

"Within the next one or two weeks, we should be able to conclude the plan in detail.

"After that, we will forward it to the Cabinet," Deputy Finance Minister Sommai Phasee said.

The plan drew complaints from cigarette selle

--The Nation 2007-06-19

I strongly feel its the ban on advertising that will do more harm if this is rushed through, not only to bars hotels clubs etc, but to the thai people in general that work in the advertising trade etc the thailand wine industry thats in its infancy that will be the hardest hit and probobly go down with a few farmers etc!

the pretty girls in hieniken green dress's will go and a bar getting caught with a chang pen can be fined 100,000 bhat and 1 year monkey house which they say is fitting, will leave many open to pay even more under the table and not solve the one thing it was supposed to do and that is stopping underage thai lads from getting mow in gangs!

The best ever post here in TV, thanks

Gerd

The best ever post on TV is one that has nothing whatsoever to do with Thailand? Please, if we're going to turn this forum into a 'young folk don't know their born' type bullshit, perhaps we should all just pack up and go home.

Mods . . do your jobs.

hey bendix, seems like a popular thread thats goingon here and you want it stopped or someone to intervine in whats been said and could be?????

i thought the whole of thailand was trying to get out of that idea!!!

look at your post mate and think if you were enjoying a thread someone wrote that to ya!!

I do hope ya think!!

cha cha!

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE KIDS WHO WERE BORN IN THE

1920's, 30's 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's !!

First, we survived being born to mothers who smoked and/or drank while they carried us and lived in houses made of asbestos.

They took aspirin, ate blue cheese, tuna from a can, and didn't get tested for diabetes or cervical cancer.

Then after that trauma, our baby cribs were covered with bright colored lead-based paints.

We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors or cabinets and when we rode our bikes, we had no helmets or shoes, not to mention, the risks we took hitchhiking.

As children, we would ride in cars with no seat belts or air bags.

Riding in the back of a Ute on a warm day was always a special treat.

We drank water from the garden hose and NOT from a bottle.

Take away food was limited to fish and chips, no pizza shops, McDonalds, KFC, Subway or Red Rooster.

Even though all the shops closed at 6.00pm and didn't open on the weekends, somehow we didn't starve to death!

We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle and NO ONE actually died from this.

We could collect old drink bottles and cash them in at the corner store and buy fruit tingles and some crackers to blow up frogs with.

We ate cupcakes, white bread and real butter and drank soft drinks with sugar in it, but we weren't overweight because......

WE WERE ALWAYS OUTSIDE PLAYING!!

We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on.

No one was able to reach us all day. And we were O.K.

We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps and then ride down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. We built tree houses and cubby houses and played in creek beds with matchbox cars.

We did not have Playstations, Nintendo's, X-boxes, no video games at all, no 99 channels on cable, no video tape movies, nosurround sound, no mobile phones, no personal computers, no Internet or Internet chat rooms..........WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them!

We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and there were no

Lawsuits from these accidents.

Only girls had pierced ears!

We ate worms and mud pies made from dirt, and the worms did not live in us forever.

You could only buy Easter Eggs and Hot Cross buns at Easter time.......no really!

We were given BB guns and sling shots for our 10th birthdays,

We drank milk laced with Strontium 90 from cows that had eaten grass covered in nuclear fallout from the atomic testing at Maralinga in 1956.

We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just yelled for them!

Mum didn't have to go to work to help dad make ends meet!

Footy had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment. Imagine that!!

Our teachers used to belt us with big sticks and leather staps and bully's always ruled the playground at school.

The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law!

Our parents got married before they had children and didn't invent stupid names for their kids like "Kiora" and "Blade" (Ed. Nothing wrong with Blade (named in honour of champion ruckman Brendan Lade))

This generation has produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers and inventors ever!

The past 70 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas.

We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned

HOW TO DEAL WITH IT ALL!

And if YOU are one of them! CONGRATULATIONS!

You might want to share this with others who have had the luck to grow up as kids, before the lawyers and the government regulated our lives for our own good.

Eh, and try telling that to kids these days, nope never listen, theyd rather be at home feet up on coffe table playing one of them computor thinggys or that tinternet with mam and dad running around and feeding em pies and drinks! i dont know where they get it from!