Covid-19: Keep the "dangerous" pubs and bars shut say the majority of Thais in poll

 

Picture: Sanook

 

A Nida Poll strongly suggested that Thais, fearing a second wave of cases due to the coronavirus pandemic, are strongly in favor or keeping bars and pubs shut.

 

In fact more than three quarters said keep them closed with less than a fifth in favor of opening.

 

The poll asked 1,259 people nationwide their opinions under a banner of "Freedom vs Health". The poll was conducted from 11th to 13th May before some changes were enacted.

 

Some 78.87% chose health over freedom when it came to bars, pubs, clubs and discos. 

 

They cited such places as dangerous dens where close proximity would lead to a resurgence of the virus with potential health problems for non-drinkers.

 

Only 18.03% said open the bars again.

 

Asked about ending the emergency decree 35.98% agreed strongly with ending it citing freedom of movement.

 

But 15.17% thought it should remain in place.

 

Regarding the curfew 41.22 thought it should stay in place but timings should be changed.

 

They wanted to see the pandemic 100% over first.

 

Some 33.68% - many of them night workers - wanted it stopped.

 

Just over 40% were in favor of keeping the 10pm to 4am timing (it has now changed to 11-4am).

 

Source: Sanook

 

 

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5 minutes ago, webfact said:

Some 78.87% chose health over freedom when it came to bars, pubs, clubs and discos.

All hope is lost..but then I saw who did the polling  and reminisce  how that "democratic soldier" got 98% approval rating and

No Curfew in the part of Kanchanaburi that i reside. Started off great and got a good nights sleep but now its hell. People flying past our house all hours. My suggestion would be not having compotent police is far more dangerous but what do i know....?

Most Thais dont want these places shut. Maybe muslims or misfits...?

19 minutes ago, webfact said:

The poll asked 1,259 people nationwide their opinions under a banner of "Freedom vs Health"

Hardly a large poll and one wonders how representative the selection was, then there's the loaded phrasing of the question which posses it as an either or, when of course it isn't. Seems they got the answers they were fishing for.

Disco's and clubs yes I would agree if there is still virus about 

 

open air bars are entirely different and pose less risk than a restaurant 

16 minutes ago, johng said:

All hope is lost..but then I saw who did the polling  and reminisce  how that "democratic soldier" got 98% approval rating and

American school is not good to get a degree of polling. 

University of Nigeria will be more excellent. 

They must have had a degree from University of Kansas.

Give it a whirl, open them all up....if there is a second sudden spike of infections, shut them down for good, if not let them stay open

It seems there are extreme few infected people in Thailand. So who is going to infect whom?

As long a no "outsiders" arrive who bring the virus the risk is minimal.

So it seems the most important issue is: Keep the borders closed. And/or anybody who comes to Thailand must be tested and/or quarantined.

That is obviously inconvenient for the people who want to come to Thailand. But the best way to make sure there are no new infections.

Thailand can survive without foreign tourists for a year or two.

 

Now do you remember the TV soap opera which was so popular a couple of years ago - the one set three hundred or so years ago, in which everybody lived comfortably happy self sufficient lives, the rich in their fine palaces, sumptious banquets and splendid clothes., the poor scurrying around half naked and living in huts, (and the token falang - Greek I think he was - getting a kicking at the end of each episode).

 

Do you remember the almost orgasmic delight with which it was received, and held up as a model by those " in influence" ?

 

Do you remember the hysterical sight of the watchman in period costume?

 

I suggest this is from the same scriptwriters!

 

 

 

It depends how the question was phrased. I think, for example, open air pubs would be fine but a nightclub would be too risky. So if the question grouped them together - "Do you think bars, pubs, clubs and discos should stay shut?" - then I can imagine most people saying yes.

If you let social distancing restaurants sell booze again, I think that would be a happy compromise.

I’m more afraid of being crammed In on public transport than sat a few feet away from people in a pub. 

1 hour ago, webfact said:

A Nida Poll strongly suggested that Thais, fearing a second wave of cases due to the coronavirus pandemic, are strongly in favor or keeping bars and pubs shut.

 

 

How can asking 1,259 people, out of a population of 69,799,978 people, strongly suggest that most Thais want them kept shut ?

Another pathetic poll that shows nothing in reality. 

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Some 78.87%

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Some 33.68%

As a non-native English speaker: what does the "some" means? Makes no sense for me.

 

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Only 18.03%

1 hour ago, webfact said:

emergency decree 35.98% agreed strongly

Here is no "some".

 

 

Keep the bars closed but let in millions of Chinese from Wuhan. Makes sense.

11 minutes ago, Thaiwrath said:

How can asking 1,259 people, out of a population of 69,799,978 people, strongly suggests that most Thais want them kept shut ?

Another pathetic poll that shows nothing in reality. 

Do you know how a representative survey works? Usually they are with a +-2,5% correct. 

 

If they would ask 200,000 people of 70 million, some people would call it as not enough. 

7 minutes ago, CNXexpat said:

Do you know how a representative survey works? Usually they are with a +-2,5% correct. 

 

If they would ask 200,000 people of 70 million, some people would call it as not enough. 

1259 puritan junta lovers isn't representative of the country

 

Thousands and thousands of jobs on the line 

1 hour ago, OneMoreFarang said:

It seems there are extreme few infected people in Thailand. So who is going to infect whom?

As long a no "outsiders" arrive who bring the virus the risk is minimal.

So it seems the most important issue is: Keep the borders closed. And/or anybody who comes to Thailand must be tested and/or quarantined.

That is obviously inconvenient for the people who want to come to Thailand. But the best way to make sure there are no new infections.

Thailand can survive without foreign tourists for a year or two.

 

I doubt any nation can go without 20% of its GDP for a year or two without serious repercussions. Which is what the tourist component of Thailand's economy is. No such thing as a nice depression, they are all nasty.

That's why the government is letting Chinese tourists back in.

Just now, Lacessit said:

I doubt any nation can go without 20% of its GDP for a year or two without serious repercussions. Which is what the tourist component of Thailand's economy is. No such thing as a nice depression, they are all nasty.

That's why the government is letting Chinese tourists back in.

While the Thai population is on its knees they won't question, protest or THINK they just want their rent money and some food for their kids. Classic control technique. 

Given how they were told that corona is spread by dirty farangs it comes as no surprise that Thais would say keep the bars closed.

Most of them are not connected to bars or nightclubs so any hit to the economy from lack of tourists will not affect them.

And of course there are a lot of Thais who dislike Westerners anyway.

So people are in favor of packed BTS and MRT trains everyday but pubs and nightclubs are dangerous. Typical Thai logic.

36 minutes ago, CNXexpat said:

As a non-native English speaker: what does the "some" means? Makes no sense for me.

 

Here is no "some".

 

 

Well, some 43.61% of all these polls are useless anyway. Thinking about it, it could well be some 97.76%. And you are correct, the "some" doesn't make any sense at all. Nor do these polls as a whole.

1 hour ago, OneMoreFarang said:

It seems there are extreme few infected people in Thailand. So who is going to infect whom?

As long a no "outsiders" arrive who bring the virus the risk is minimal.

So it seems the most important issue is: Keep the borders closed. And/or anybody who comes to Thailand must be tested and/or quarantined.

That is obviously inconvenient for the people who want to come to Thailand. But the best way to make sure there are no new infections.

Thailand can survive without foreign tourists for a year or two.

 

So I'm guessing you don't work in the tourism industry.

 

In 2019, Tourism accounted for 17.7% of Thai GDP, perhaps more if gray money was counted.

 

The tens of millions of foreigners who came to Thailand in 2019 supported upwards of 8 million Thai jobs. It also allowed hotel owners to make debt payments, which in turn helped banks keep bad debts lower.

 

A year or two is okay with you? Those 8 million Thais, hotel owners, and banks might have a different view.

10 minutes ago, time2093 said:

So people are in favor of packed BTS and MRT trains everyday but pubs and nightclubs are dangerous. Typical Thai logic.

There's the perfect emoticon to describe that kind of logic:

 

3 minutes ago, Walker88 said:

So I'm guessing you don't work in the tourism industry.

 

In 2019, Tourism accounted for 17.7% of Thai GDP, perhaps more if gray money was counted.

 

The tens of millions of foreigners who came to Thailand in 2019 supported upwards of 8 million Thai jobs. It also allowed hotel owners to make debt payments, which in turn helped banks keep bad debts lower.

 

A year or two is okay with you? Those 8 million Thais, hotel owners, and banks might have a different view.

They will have to adjust to the reality and adapt as nobody will be travelling on holiday for a while.

 

Those heavily invested in the hospitality industry will suffer.

 

As I and others suffered during the oil and gas downturn in 2013.

 

It happens. 

Dear Thai people, Please study what the USA did in the 1920's concerning alcohol. (they outlawed alcohol). Then study what it did to their desire for alcohol. If all the bars are shut down in Thailand it would seem, based on the USA experience, you can expect a huge disaster to society. Up to you to take a look at American Prohibition...19020s 

Cannot risk opening up all bars right now, those Thai style late night pubs, where Thais get totally legless, would be impossible to manage social distancing. As would open air beer bars with drunken foreigners.

I do reckon that certain bars, should be allowed serve alcohol, so long as they can demonstrate managing social distancing, would need doorstaff, control of numbers entering, turning people away when bar is at capacity etc.

 

By all means open up the Malls with no circulation, crowds, no social distancing.  Keep those open air pubs closed.  We wouldn't want anyone to enjoy themselves. 

2 hours ago, smedly said:

Disco's and clubs yes I would agree if there is still virus about 

 

open air bars are entirely different and pose less risk than a restaurant 

virus can be anywhere - open air bars or closed up spaces.

I say keep them closed.

Other countries have had issues with mass infections especially clubs and discos.

As a man, what is your goal in these venues anyway?

The dating sites are blowing up now with girls from these places fun times.

1 minute ago, hackjam said:

Cannot risk opening up all bars right now, those Thai style late night pubs, where Thais get totally legless, would be impossible to manage social distancing. As would open air beer bars with drunken foreigners.

I doubt there's enough foreign punters here to matter. Might be one or two in a bar if that.