Ban on alcohol sales in restaurants, other venues will cost industry Bt9 billion, TABBA chief bemoans

[Burma Bill]

  On 1/8/2021 at 7:55 AM, webfact said:

will cost industry Bt9 billion,

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Not only the industry, but the Government itself in lost alcohol tax/excise duty!!!

[Yorkshire Tea]

  On 1/9/2021 at 2:43 AM, Burma Bill said:

Not only the industry, but the Government itself in lost alcohol tax/excise duty!!!

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Not if everyone drinks at home.

[Wullie Mercer]

Thailand at its best.

How hypocritical can you get, the owner of a small Thai family restaurant, that I use, told me she went to pay company taxes yesterday. Was told they have been INCREASED from last year. What kind of government is this, business is not even breaking even and they increase the tax !!!!

Shame on you the Government of Thailand.

[Jiggo]

  On 1/9/2021 at 1:10 AM, alant said:

Has anyone seen an official reason for the banning of alcohol?

An official reason for the ban in Restaurants?

Official reasons would be welcome plus translation if at all possible.

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They don't need an official reason to ban alcohol, as long as they can still drink it in there Officers Clubs etc.

 

[Magenta408]

Since when is alcohol a deterrent to viruses? I am referring to the drinking alcohol? Since when? Is this the science in this country. Are we all brainless?

[elgenon]

So how much is a saved life worth?  

[petedk]

Maybe restaurants and other venues are losing money, but others are gaining.

 

Now at least 3 houses on our soi have started renting out for private parties.

Last night the cars were parking in the middle of the road, blocking access to some houses. The police came and simply told the owners of the cars to move. 

[PEE TEE]

They will have to ban alcohol sales in 7/11s if that's the only way to get it or the chances of the virus spreading will increase from 7/11s 

[CNXexpat]

  On 1/9/2021 at 1:43 AM, brommers said:

So the hugely rich industry is moaning that it will lose money. What about the hundreds of thousands who have lost their jobs, their rented homes and more. I have no sympathy for the Association & it's members.

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The mentioned number includes the effected restaurants, bars and sellers.

[Kaopad999]

  On 1/9/2021 at 2:41 AM, AMFWolfie said:

Don't personally think banning alcohol in a proper restaurant with a meal will make a blind bit of difference

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What do you mean exactly by a 'proper' restaurant? 

[CNXexpat]

Thais really have an alcohol problem. I don´t no another country what forbids selling alcohol at religious, election and other dates plus between 2 pm and 5 pm. The problem are not the people they drink one ore two glasses of beer or wine for dinner.

[henry213]

I'm so glad i got out of Thailand over a year ago, what a messed up country it is, Run by the most childish people on earth, it truly is a nanny state.

[Susco]

  On 1/9/2021 at 3:44 AM, CNXexpat said:

Thais really have an alcohol problem. I don´t no another country what forbids selling alcohol at religious, election and other dates plus between 2 pm and 5 pm.

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I know quite a few countries that forbid the sale of alcohol 365 days a year. You think they all have an alcohol problem?

[bloodyholly]

  On 1/9/2021 at 1:38 AM, ChipButty said:

The last time before they actually banned booze, there was gangs of people sitting outside 7/11's drinking, I think here in Phuket then they just banned alcohol sales completely

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“...banned alcohol sales completely.” 
 

except at the local mom & pop stores

[Kaopad999]

  On 1/9/2021 at 3:47 AM, henry213 said:

I'm so glad i got out of Thailand over a year ago, what a messed up country it is, Run by the most childish people on earth, it truly is a nanny state.

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Well at least you got up and left instead of constantly moaning about it.
Did you find a better alternative to Thailand or just move back to your home country? 

[spidermike007]

Can anyone on this forum explain the "science" behind the decision to ban restaurants from serving alcohol? Are they saying Covid somehow transmits Covid, or makes it easier to catch? All I have been able to find is this. I suppose the part about potentially weakening the immune system makes sense, but do they really think not being able to get a drink at a restaurant will change behavior? 

 

Alcohol is known to be harmful to health in general, and is well understood to increase the risk of injury and violence, including intimate partner violence, and can cause alcohol poisoning. At times of lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic, alcohol consumption can exacerbate health vulnerability, risk-taking behaviours, mental health issues and violence.

[Cake Monster]

If there are two things that are cast in Stone, its that Banks and Booze Companies never loose money.

They just put up their prices to recoup any shortfalls they have to endure.

[CNXexpat]

  On 1/9/2021 at 3:48 AM, Susco said:

 

I know quite a few countries that forbid the sale of alcohol 365 days a year. You think they all have an alcohol problem?

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They have a religious "problem". I guess you know that I mean countries where you can buy alcohol regular.

[patman30]

  On 1/8/2021 at 7:55 AM, webfact said:

“Online selling also complies with the government’s Covid-19 measures of maintaining social distance and reducing travel to crowded areas,” he said.

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didnt they just ban online sales of alcohol ?
????‍♂️

seems the writing may be on the wall
if you're a drinker, stock up
if you're not a drinker stock up

[mikosan]

  On 1/9/2021 at 12:30 AM, Geoffggi said:

There is nothing wrong with restaurants selling alcohol providing it is managed correctly QED  

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Absolutely and the same applies to pubs and bars, but as usual, when the bars and pubs are closed, the restaurants take their place and take the p**s.  It is patently unfair to allow restaurants to sell alcohol whilst the pubs and bars are closed.  So I am fine with a ban on the sale of alcohol for consumption within restaurants, until such time as all licenced premises are allowed to sell alcohol for consumption on the premises again.

[NanLaew]

  On 1/9/2021 at 1:10 AM, alant said:

Has anyone seen an official reason for the banning of alcohol?

An official reason for the ban in Restaurants?

Official reasons would be welcome plus translation if at all possible.

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Who needs a translation? The UK closed pubs to stop those that drink alcohol from forming close-proximity social interactions, speaking loudly, laughing as well as other mannerisms that exacerbate aerosols, poor spatial awareness and the general lack of discipline and weakening of inhibitions that comes from the simple beer buzz to the flat out paralytic.

 

Again, in the UK they tried to allow alcohol only with a substantial meal which only encouraged a bunch of clowns offering a BOGOF special on Scotch eggs. There are those that think a pickled egg qualifies them to neck five pints of bitter.

 

I think it is safe to assume that the Thai social gadfly will be similarly irresponsible given the opportunity.

 

It's not rocket surgery.

[mikosan]

  On 1/9/2021 at 2:02 AM, ChipButty said:

If you are sitting in a bar alone having a beer then no ploblem, some bars where I live get quite busy and people congregate so no social distancing 

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So enforce social distancing.  Last time some restaurants I know simply turned into bars with the same lack of social distancing. So what's the difference?

[patman30]

  On 1/9/2021 at 3:33 AM, PEE TEE said:

They will have to ban alcohol sales in 7/11s if that's the only way to get it or the chances of the virus spreading will increase from 7/11s 

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the "virus" apparently doesnt spread in anywhere thats owned by large corporations
it apparently doesnt like to go in 7/11, Big C, Tesco, watsadu, home pro, mcdonalds, KFC etc.
it apparently only likes to go into small independant businesses, like bars, resturants, salons and mom and pop shops,
trust the science, the politicians know what they are doing, they have all the experts with all the facts.

[superal]

  On 1/9/2021 at 2:42 AM, IamNoone88 said:

I wasn't even aware of a ban. I had two meals in Ubon and again in Khon Khaen with a beer each and it was business as usual.

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Me too , unaware of a booze ban and I was drinking last night with 2 friends outside of a restaurant . Nearby bars were open serving booze

[johnarth]

it is to save Thai people from killing themselves on the roads, but only the rich Thais eat and drink in restaurants, the rest drink Thai whiskey

[Leef]

  On 1/9/2021 at 1:43 AM, brommers said:

So the hugely rich industry is moaning that it will lose money. What about the hundreds of thousands who have lost their jobs, their rented homes and more. I have no sympathy for the Association & it's members.

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The industry provides jobs for a huge amount of people who presumably will lose them or at least have their salary massively cut. The association doesn’t have 9 billion - that’s the industry, which includes countless small restaurants. The association is supposed to give the industry a unified voice. 

[Kaopad999]

  On 1/9/2021 at 4:04 AM, spidermike007 said:

Can anyone on this forum explain the "science" behind the decision to ban restaurants from serving alcohol?

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Again, i think that you're missing the bigger picture. Social distancing is proven to work , therefore, preventing people from gathering in large groups drinking alcohol in a restaurant  for prolonged periods of time would significantly help to reduce the transmission of the virus

[connda]

  On 1/9/2021 at 1:50 AM, flyfrog said:

Can somebody give me a decent explanation why reataurants cannot sell alcohol??  What has a glass of wine or a beer got to donwith Covid?? The guy who banned this does he know himself??

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It provides power hungry leaders that opportunity to exert power over the commoners? 
Logically what's the difference between drinking a bottle of cola or a bottle of beer?  Not a thing.  It can't be a public health issue and I don't believe you will ever hear an official reason because honestly?  Is there one?  I don't see how.  It's power tripping at its finest.

[lesmac]

So it is ok to go out and eat but if you have a glass of wine your food you may get covid

[connda]

  On 1/9/2021 at 4:04 AM, spidermike007 said:

Can anyone on this forum explain the "science" behind the decision to ban restaurants from serving alcohol? Are they saying Covid somehow transmits Covid, or makes it easier to catch? All I have been able to find is this. I suppose the part about potentially weakening the immune system makes sense, but do they really think not being able to get a drink at a restaurant will change behavior? 

 

Alcohol is known to be harmful to health in general, and is well understood to increase the risk of injury and violence, including intimate partner violence, and can cause alcohol poisoning. At times of lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic, alcohol consumption can exacerbate health vulnerability, risk-taking behaviours, mental health issues and violence.

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In that case, then perhaps it's time to reimplement full prohibition?
But then you just push it underground and create a new class of criminal.  At that point 95% of the Thai prison population would be incarcerated base on drug and/or alcohol offences.  I believe that approximately 80% are there on drug charges at the moment.  They'd need to build more prisons.