Thai provinces ban alcohol sales ahead of New Year to curb coronavirus spread

[LawrenceN]

4 minutes ago, Skallywag said:

That is my primary goal - lol

Why couldn't they give us 24 hour notice - boo hoo

They did. I heard about it on the 8th, and thought, "Should I go out this evening?" I waited until Thursday the 9th. Got one bottle at the corner store. They didn't have any vodka, so got one of those at Tops. The girls in the liquor department laughed and said they were having a busy day. I'm not a huge drinker; two will last me ten days, easy. 

[lamyai3]

25 minutes ago, LawrenceN said:

5 hours ago, Chang_paarp said:

Can anyone offer a scientific reason for this decision?  I am struggling to understand the logic behind these bans. I know the "being seen to do something" reaction, but this does seem to be a little beyond the usual level of incomprehensible.

Yes, if you consider Sociology to be science.

If you consider psychology to be a science, you'd find a rich case study in dysfunctional grandstanding and one upmanship between lowly provincial governors, each eager to outstupid the rest in demonstrating their tough actions to their superiors. 

[lamyai3]

12 minutes ago, The Farang said:

Beer or Hong Thong is the first thing I ask about before getting together.

Kin lao yang? 

[Chassa]

I've been to many Thai social occasions that have been alcohol-free.

No farangs there though!

[jimbob123]

Good article here from the Guardian on why alcohol should be banned.

[baansgr]

52 minutes ago, thonglorjimmy said:

So basically you seem to be implying that the Government don't trust their citizens to act responsibly or the police to monitor or, heaven forbid, enforce any sort of responsible behaviour. 

Hardly a conspiracy theory, pretty indicitive of how the Government views the citizens they are supposed to represent.
Many people enjoy a tipple in the comfort of their own homes, I certainly do, it doesn't mean that after a glass or two of wine in the comfort of my own home I'm going to run riot,
It's bad enough that the leaders of this fair land wish to to ban the sale of alcohol for a couple of weeks, but for the life of me I can't see the reason to ban sales until the end of the month, other than to demonstrate how powerful they are.     

They don't trust them to act responsible when it comes to voting, they don't trust them to act responsible when it comes to going to the temple on Buddah days, and they dont trust them to be responsible when certain people pass away...so it's only natural they don't trust them to be responsible when the whole world is falling down around them.

[Wiggy]

Well, it seems to be working; down to 33 today. Hey mister, can we have our beer back, please? 

Edited April 12, 2020 by Wiggy

[loong]

Would have been nice to have a full list of the provinces.

The linked list in the first post shows 30 but the article states 47.

So I don't know if the ban is in force in Khon Kaen or not.

[Archie Baker]

They will take little pills or smoke something instead.

[Krataiboy]

6 hours ago, Chang_paarp said:

Can anyone offer a scientific reason for this decision?  I am struggling to understand the logic behind these bans. I know the "being seen to do something" reaction, but this does seem to be a little beyond the usual level of incomprehensible.

Crazy. Hospitals use alcohol to kill germs. Why not us, too?

[natway09]

It is to try & avoid social gatherings 

Those of you having a big bitch on here should have the brains to realize that it is not the alcohol as such that they are trying to ban. It is the ongoing effects of same.

Any of you that have been here a while will know what happens when a host has a carton of Lao Khao on hand. Never stop till it is finished & the results are not conducive to social distancing.

Unfortunately again it is "having to apply rules for the lowest common denominator"

if you know what that means, if not well, maybe it applies to you

[SymS]

6 hours ago, Chang_paarp said:

Can anyone offer a scientific reason for this decision?  I am struggling to understand the logic behind these bans. I know the "being seen to do something" reaction, but this does seem to be a little beyond the usual level of incomprehensible.

When people drink they socialize. No social distancing. When people drink too much, they tend to forget about the curfew...

[Baerboxer]

5 hours ago, baansgr said:

Alcohol brings on depression, imagine, you have lost your job, maybe your car, girlfriend or whatever. No end in sight to the situation, put two and two together...nothing to do with Songran...Philippines have had bans on in certain places for weeks already...another poor country full of guns and no real police force....

 

Rubbish.

 

Alcohol works by depressing the central nervous system. Therefore it's a dangerous drug if used irresponsibly but fine if used responsibly. Alcohol does impair judgement and the ability to make sensible decisions. People's tolerance to alcohol varies considerably; as do reactions to drinking large amounts.

 

However, at Songkran people like to party, which often involves drinking copious amounts of alcohol and close proximity to large numbers or others.

 

The authorities seem to think banning alcohol will help stop the flouting of curfew rules and the advise on social distancing. Whilst that's debatable it is understandable given the current situation.

 

Suggesting alcohol brings on depression is a nonsense generalization.

[gjoo888]

5 hours ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

The reason it has been banned to help remove the temptation for people to congregate during what would have been Songkran. 

 

 

 

 

On the small soi I live on, a few of my neighbors and their friends have been getting together almost every night for the last week or so for drinks. They don't wear masks, don't practice social distancing and act like the rules don't pertain to them. Hopefully this will put a stop to their partying. Btw, none of these neighbors and their friends are Thai. 

[DPKANKAN]

6 hours ago, Matzzon said:

Seems like the possibilities to get alcohol is the most important thing to focus on this forum. Already 3 news articles about it today. Hilarious!

Yeah and it is obviously getting to some of the TV bar stool keyboard tappers as some of my comments or replies lead to weird, self-generated, unrelated replies coming at me as they  obviously cannot keep it real!!!! Strange!! ???????????????????????????????? ( P.S. Kanchanaburi stopped alcohol 2 days ago unannounced... Yes I have stocked up before, yes I don't use my laptop for reading TV so no ads problems etc. etc.)

[jimn]

17 minutes ago, gjoo888 said:

On the small soi I live on, a few of my neighbors and their friends have been getting together almost every night for the last week or so for drinks. They don't wear masks, don't practice social distancing and act like the rules don't pertain to them. Hopefully this will put a stop to their partying. Btw, none of these neighbors and their friends are Thai. 

Then you are morally bound to report them then. I would.

[Matzzon]

20 minutes ago, DPKANKAN said:

Yeah and it is obviously getting to some of the TV bar stool keyboard tappers as some of my comments or replies lead to weird, self-generated, unrelated replies coming at me as they  obviously cannot keep it real!!!! Strange!! ???????????????????????????????? ( P.S. Kanchanaburi stopped alcohol 2 days ago unannounced... Yes I have stocked up before, yes I don't use my laptop for reading TV so no ads problems etc. etc.)

Excuse me, but can I help you with something?

[Canuck1966]

Strange sign! It translates to say something like "sale of beer has been halted but you can borrow them"!

 

[ftpjtm]

1 hour ago, thonglorjimmy said:

but for the life of me I can't see the reason to ban sales until the end of the month, other than to demonstrate how powerful they are.     

And there it is.

 

One can only hope it backfires on them.

Edited April 12, 2020 by ftpjtm

[cmrichsw]

6 hours ago, petermik said:

You are not compelled to read any of them....just ignore 

yes why are you here????

[Chongalulu]

5 hours ago, Matzzon said:

Same like you ignore ridiculous things that is in your face every single day for a week. Right, never seen that happen.

Thanks for confirming that reading is not your strongpoint- neither writing,using this as an example.

[Matzzon]

3 minutes ago, nchuckle said:

Thanks for confirming that reading is not your strongpoint- neither writing,using this as an example.

Seems to me by looking above that I am not alone with the writing problem. How does it feel to shoot yourself in the foot?

[sambum]

7 hours ago, Canuck1966 said:

It's your typical use a grenade to kill a cockroach junta approach

 

Remember they banned all alcohol on trains forever, when a crazed drug addled scumbag employee of the Thai rail network raped and killed a young girl.

Rather than address their incompetence for hiring such a nefarious POS they decided to ruin a lot of people's enjoyment permanently

I used to really enjoy the night trains, have a few beers and a bit of food, then drift off into the land of nod

 

Agree 100% - it's almost as if they were looking for a reason to ban alcohol on trains?

 

And, yes it was always a bit of fun in the buffet car - at times they even had a disco of sorts (well, a few flashing lights and a tape recorder/CD player.) I think you were even allowed to smoke in there as well, but presumably after everybody had stopped eating.

Edited April 12, 2020 by sambum

[phantomfiddler]

7 hours ago, baansgr said:

Alcohol brings on depression, imagine, you have lost your job, maybe your car, girlfriend or whatever. No end in sight to the situation, put two and two together...nothing to do with Songran...Philippines have had bans on in certain places for weeks already...another poor country full of guns and no real police force....

That,s funny ? alcohol always makes me feel happy, sometimes deliriously so ????

[Zenwind]

5 hours ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

The reason it has been banned to help remove the temptation for people to congregate during what would have been Songkran. 

 

 

 

 

.

Point taken.  Discourage partying that significantly violates social-distancing.  It does make sense.  However, my own practice is much more akin to the asceticism of Saint George of Thorogood, who famously chanted (in measured Blues vocal): 

 

“I drink alone ...

  With nobody else ... ...

  And you know when I drink alone ...

  I prefer to be by myself.” 

 

So, maybe I’m an outlier here in Thailand, suffering as collateral damage from the broad strokes of the almighty State.  I’m gonna have to take stock and go into serious rationing for the duration.  Thank the gods for the consolation of the Blues.

[Cranky]

Covid v Songkran. 

[Cranky]

Covid v Songkran

[ChipButty]

No songkran will save about 400 lives, if like most people you stocked up already with beers I dont see the point in banning it until the end of the month.

[Cranky]

Gives Covid an unfair advantage but my money is for Songkran to edge it. 

[Sheryl]

8 hours ago, Chang_paarp said:

Can anyone offer a scientific reason for this decision?  I am struggling to understand the logic behind these bans. I know the "being seen to do something" reaction, but this does seem to be a little beyond the usual level of incomprehensible.

 

 Link between alcohol consumption and reckless behavior.