SURVEY: Alcohol ban -- worth it or not?

[actonion]

1 hour ago, darksidedog said:

I can see the benefit in terms of reducing the potential social gathering through Songkran, but not beyond it.

It seemed to be a kind of knee jerk reaction, with provincial governors trying to outdo themselves in terms of strictness.

I had seen the writing on the wall, so well and truly stocked up in advance, and it still seems easily available out there for those who look, so all in all, a waste of time really.

The social gatherings  at street markets in east pattaya  especially the market on Soi Siam Country Club is a haven for   the virus literally hundreds of  people walking around there with / without masks 

[anchadian]

https://www.khaosodenglish.com/opinion/2020/04/19/opinion-coronavirus-shows-thai-govt-doesnt-trust-its-citizens/

 

OPINION: CORONAVIRUS SHOWS THAI GOV’T DOESN’T TRUST ITS CITIZENS

By

 Pravit Rojanaphruk, Senior Staff Writer

 -

April 19, 2020 8:30 am

 

In a bid to save Thais from themselves the government of Gen Prayut Chan-ocha last week decided to ban the sale of alcohol to prevent coronavirus infections. This makes Thailand almost unique in the world when it comes to such measures.

The government’s logic is that Thais tend to congregate (for a long period) to drink the night, and indeed the day away for that matter if left to their own devices.

To put it simply, the government doesn’t trust its own citizens to look after themselves. So they are saving Thais from themselves by banning booze that will likely last until the end of this month if not beyond.

 

 

 

 

 

[JESSVANPELT]

The Alcohol ban was put in place to improve social distancing. Prior to that people were asked not to gather in groups and numerous places were found to have gatherings of people, including the beach areas. Yes It was necessary, and should be kept in place longer. Tl many readers dont have a clue whats going win with this virus and unfortunately by letting society resume its activities to soon my create a bigger problem and a huge problem for the health care system.

Remember your not safe from this virus until, there is a Vaccine and that is still about 18 months away.

[SteveK]

I'm pretty sure that if I wanted a drink I could have one in my hand in 10 minutes or less. Lots of little shops around the village which seem to be stacked high with the green cardboard boxes of Chang. Hence what exactly is the ban achieving?

[anchadian]

Just now, SteveK said:

I'm pretty sure that if I wanted a drink I could have one in my hand in 10 minutes or less. Lots of little shops around the village which seem to be stacked high with the green cardboard boxes of Chang. Hence what exactly is the ban achieving?

Exactly.

Same applies to my village where I live, beer etc is readily available.

 

This is what should be controlled, free food handouts.  The Govt has already stopped this wat handing out free food.

 

 

 

[Geordie59]

The reason for the ban was supposedly to stop people gathering in groups. 

Given that Thais gather in groups to eat every day the alcohol ban seems a bit pointless. 

[transam]

12 minutes ago, anchadian said:

Exactly.

Same applies to my village where I live, beer etc is readily available.

 

This is what should be controlled, free food handouts.  The Govt has already stopped this wat handing out free food.

 

 

 

Those pics just show that those in control really don't think things out....????

[JusticeGB]

Stupid just like the ban on sales between 2pm and 5pm. I was in a restaurant  just before lockdown   they told me i had to stop drinking at 2pm halfway through eating my lunch!

[phantomfiddler]

Alcohol was invented by a higher being, to help people make merry and enjoy pleasant company ! It enlarges the mind, makes people capable of great wordly thoughts, solve insurmountable problems, and impart joy to persons they would normally, in the dreaded grip of sobriety, not give a toss for !  Many of these thinkle peep, incorrectly of course, that too much of the golden nectar can impair the brain ????

[rupert the bear]

perhaps over the songkran hols it is helpful it will certainly reduce road deaths and all the idiocy that accompanys songkran.once over though people have the right to drink in their own homes .simple as that really.we need to relax somewhat after all its govts that got us in this mess.the 10pm curfew can go too ,its serves little purpose and as we have been told the no of infections and deaths are amongst the lowest in the world so some relaxation can be made.how about int mail and parcels too thats easy and not an infection point.testing is the key and no movement on that .they are now making up their own rules logic and nonsense to justify that flying in the face of all reliable medical knowledge and results from other countries.expensive ...cheap kits are available now and theres plenty of money available but it needs to be made available.

[Finlaco]

It's strange reading this thread to see the most obvious being ignored. Alcohol = socialising for many, many Thai people.  

 

Someone the other day suggested that ice cream and som tam also encourages meet ups, but as a non drinker, he was struggling to fully understand the part alcohol plays on making many people barable enough to socialise with.

 

Somchai and his friends are less likely to meet up for a chat during songkhran if alcohol is not available.  Sure many will have pre-purchased before the ban, but it's also had an effect on reducing social gatherings.

 

Domestic abuse is best dealt with through education.  Look at your home country and see how not so long ago it was acceptable for a husband to chatise his wife, especially if you come from a Christian majority country (1980 and in many cases 1990, a husband counldn't be charged with raping his wife).  

[Kerryd]

The ban has been worth it, no doubt.

It's kept a lot of the expat booze hounds out of the bars just as it has cut down on the number of Thais that would have otherwise been getting together and getting hammered on a regular basis.

It has also done a good job (so far) of keeping people from getting liquored up and deciding that the rules don't apply to them. (I'll bet you know exactly what I mean - people get a few drinks into them and suddenly find a well of courage they never knew they had before, as well as losing their fear of authority.)

Without the ban there would have been large gatherings of people getting drunk and playing Songkran, regardless of the rules. Including a lot of foreigners.

And if that had of happened, and it turned out that thousands of people got infected as a result, what would we be hearing now ? 
We'd be hearing non-stop screaming about how the gov't should have enacted a ban and should have known that not doing so was going to cause problems.

You can't please all the people all the time, but you can p.i.s.s. them off quite often.

One just has to look at previous Songkran celebrations to realize what kind of potential disaster they faced if they didn't ban alcohol and people decided to ignore the rules, drink and try to drown each other in endless streams of (possibly contaminated) water.

(And we aren't even adding the current drought into the equation either.)

[Percy P]

4 hours ago, lujanit said:

There is no medical reason for the ban with regard to coronavirus.  In fact I know of no other country that has imposed such a ban.

 

If it’s not medical it can only be a show of power.  Maybe the temperance religious maniacs have got to uncle tu.

 

The government must be hurting through no excise income.

Ban where is this happening.

[alien365]

I can see it's good by helping reduce each households spend, but for us westerners I guess that doesn't really matter. For me, I'm good for another couple of months of this if need be (10boxes of beer, 3 bottles of Regency and 3 bottles of gin). I normally stock up at the start of the month anyway to avoid repeat trips to the supermarket. As we can't eat out and drink at restaurants anymore I bought more for home. Funnily enough I've not had anything over the last three days. I normally drink as a reward for working hard throughout the day. All I manage to do now is an hour or two on the exercise bike which hardly deserves a beer.

[Percy P]

1 hour ago, Geordie59 said:

The reason for the ban was supposedly to stop people gathering in groups. 

Given that Thais gather in groups to eat every day the alcohol ban seems a bit pointless. 

I thought the Government wanted to make the people happy and happiness is in the bottle.

[CGW]

9 minutes ago, Percy P said:

Ban where is this happening.

Certainly in full force where I am west of Udon! all these folks going to "Mom& Pop" stores for their beer? they must have had huge stocks? ours keep a few cases at most, then they have only the cheapest brews available.

[overherebc]

I thought there was an organisation that is responsible for stopping people having get togethers etc.

Confused I am Obe!!!

[KenKadz]

An extended alcohol ban (beyond Song Kran) on retail sales during non curfew hours seems counterproductive at a time when the government needs revenue (alcohol tax - import duties) to facilitate it's anti corona virus efforts.

Edited April 19, 2020 by KenKadz

[robertson468]

5 hours ago, uncleP said:

In my mind the extension of the ban is more about a display of power instead of  any benefit to public health in the current  situation.  

I Agree whole heartedly and can live with, or without alcohol, but it is nice to have a bottle of wine with a meal or a G&T while watching a film at home with Khunie on a Saturday night.

[Kurtf]

Ohh you poor poor babies. I can't imagine how you people will survive without having any alcohol drinks for a month or two. What torture. Y'all are truly pathetic.

[natway09]

As usual, the question is loaded but I agree fully over the Songkran week.

The poll results suggest more drinking problems here or lack of planning.

There would just have been to many "idiots" having parties outside 7/11 & mom & pa stores with little intervention from the BIB.

Next Monday I see no reason to extend the ban

 

 

[pantsonfire]

Its Thailand, people are still selling alochol illegal and drinking indoors

[lee b]

Its useless. Everyone I know went out and cleared the shelves before the ban kicked it. So what was the point, they are still able to drink at home even with the ban in place.

[erinsf]

I don't have any data to accurately know if the alcohol ban helped.  I hypothesize, it helped some during Songkran.  Less drinking means less togetherness.  I imagine the curfew has been helpful.  It keeps people off the roads (less accidents.) without drinking, there are less drunk driving accidents.  This is a good thing. People can't up and drive to their friends because, of the curfew.   Maybe we need to extend the curfew but, let us drink?  I still see people waiting in lines at immigration or, for food. So social distancing is still an issue.  I still read about the authorities breaking up parties.  I think the ban hopefully, kept some people home and away from their friends during the holiday.  And, that these persons realize that we have no right to buy alcohol.  And, because, of some foolish few the rest of us paid the price.  

[LordSomchai]

I understood it was to stop social gatherings, though driving around the moat in Chiang Mai today, plenty of Thai's sat around eating in large groups. People who are gonna break rules, will do it anyway. Now Songkran is over, it seems pointless.  The majority of people are able to drink pretty responsibly. 

[shackleton]

Agree with banning it over the Songkran period 

Enjoy a couple of beers myself in the evening

Look forward to the ban being lifted after the 20th depending in which Province you stay

Have to say its caused me  no inconvenience life goes on 

[JAG]

First batch of quick and easy cider should be ready by the end of the week - it is looking good - "Milk of Amnesia'!

[Thomas J]

14 hours ago, Scott said:

Thailand has instituted a wide-ranging ban on the sale of alcohol.   In your opinion, do you believe this ban is worth the effort.   Chose the option that best fits your opinion.  

Scott, 

 

I could not see what the purpose of the ban was suppose to be.  In the USA many states imposed a ban but deliberately left alcohol sales intact.  Were the Thai's worried that people would just stay home, get drunk and create problems? 

[SS1]

I don't drink alcohol and sleep usually from 10pm to 8am, so neither the booze ban or curfew have any effects on me. However, I think both are completely ridiculous. Does the coronavirus travel at night and attack drunk people? 

[Thailand]

1 hour ago, Kurtf said:

Ohh you poor poor babies. I can't imagine how you people will survive without having any alcohol drinks for a month or two. What torture. Y'all are truly pathetic.

I can take it or leave it like the majority, I would simply like the choice.

Nice to know what you think of your fellow members though.