Koh Samui: Three British pensioners, one other, arrested with Thais for illegal drinking

[DBath]

3 hours ago, Thomas J said:

Did it also say that all of the murders, assaults, rapes etc were completed attended to freeing these police to spend their time looking at people drinking inside a bar and a beauty salon?  

The point is there has to be duties more vital to the public safety than expending time arresting 3 old men who if they were endangering anyone, they were endangering themselves.  As to that risk, you have 3 friends who likely spend time together outside of the bar.  I would view their risk of contracting covid inside the bar is far far far less than the shopping at Makro, Tesco or Big C surrounded by hundreds of people. 

I am not saying the police should not have ticketed them.  However to somehow take their pictures inside a police precinct and proudly showcase their arrest seems to be beating ones chest for something pretty insignificant. 

Additionally, if these same three men were sitting in the same bar and enjoying a soft drink, iced tea, and a glass of water, they would not have been arrested.  

That just demonstrates how arbitrary and ridiculous the ban on alcohol is. The only thing it is really accomplishing is putting the bar owners and restaurants into insolvency. 

 

 

 

The biggest problem for me, which you touched on, is the terribly inefficient use of resources which could be used for more important things - or even more dangerous offenses. The law is the law, but fill out your little receipt pad and give them a fine and be done with it. Then go and try to catch some real criminals or perform wider covid law enforcement, your choice RTP. Either of those two is better than booking a bunch of old farts into jail for having a few beers.

[Pmbkk]

21 minutes ago, robblok said:

Yes that is ok with me they broke the law on alcohol and this has been in place a long time. Probation is good too.

 

Bars are closed these guys risked it and got caught. People who drink disregard rules  more then any. Bars are always the first to close in any country so its not really strange to close them.

 

So many people defending the drinkers looks like a lot have problems with alcohol If you want to drink do it at home not in illigal bars. 

 

Oh just for your information food from markets is essential to live. Beer is not though for people from a certain country it seems it is.

 

Much like drugs for people from a certain country where there are  - little mice with clogs on....

[Huckenfell]

Perhaps if they were members of old "Tic Tocks"   watch collectors club, they would have been allowed to walk .

[richard_smith237]

46 minutes ago, PEE TEE said:

I bet you haven't been here for long you can arrested fined and banged up just for being at the wrong place at the wrong time .IE. stopping to help someone at a road accident and then getting the blame for it .

 

You’ve been spending too much time on bar-stools chatting to ex SAS servicemen who’ve become bitcoin millionaires. ... ????

[robblok]

2 minutes ago, Pmbkk said:

 

Much like drugs for people from a certain country where there are  - little mice with clogs on....

These lil mice with drugs and clogs must be a lot smarter then those alcohol users from that other country as I hardly see them making the news with drug offences while the same cannot be said from the people of the land of gentlemen.

 

I mean when you know there is a nation wide ban on opening bars and serving alcohol. You deserve all you get if you still break that rule especially when you know the spotlights are on you.

 

Just not a really smart thing to do if you like alcohol you can drink at home. This would be akin to an idiot from the land of clogs lighting a big joint up in public during a drug crackdown.

[PEE TEE]

7 minutes ago, robblok said:

God man learn to see the difference between essential things like hospitals and non essential things like drinking beer in bars.

 

Buying food and clothes is essential, beer in bars non essential. Getting jabs is vital. 

 

Seems you got your priorities totally wrong, what is it with people who can't live without a bar and alcohol. Its closed for a reason. When you drink alcohol you forget about the rules and its non essential. Its how this 3rd wave started.

If you are happy with standing next to lots of people that's ok with me as for the drink stuff i don't drink alcohol i don't smoke . so you are assuming . The 3 wave started from parties in BKK AND letting people travel at Songkran that's when the infections started in Samui The fact is people are not self distancing whether its hospitals or markets  

[Tee00]

No Story Here.Big Deal

[robblok]

1 minute ago, PEE TEE said:

If you are happy with standing next to lots of people that's ok with me as for the drink stuff i don't drink alcohol i don't smoke . so you are assuming . The 3 wave started from parties in BKK AND letting people travel at Songkran that's when the infections started in Samui The fact is people are not self distancing whether its hospitals or markets  

I avoid places with lots of people and i do drink (occasionally). I just don't make a fuzz about it when its not available.

 

Yes the 3rd wave started from alcohol fueled partied in Thong Lor (I live in Thong lor) and then the decision of the PM to let people go on Songkran. But without the bar being that main hotspot things would not have gotten this bad.

 

In my home country and in the UK too they also closed bars yet we moan when they do it in Thailand. I don't understand why that is. Everyone knows that alcohol like any other drug influences decision making in bad way.  

[PEE TEE]

8 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

You’ve been spending too much time on bar-stools chatting to ex SAS servicemen who’ve become bitcoin millionaires. ... ????

How did you know that about the black ops . but wrong I'm T total so you don't know me 

[AlfHuy]

3 fruit Hoegaarden and some other stuff.

They must have been drunk.

Release a few Thai prisoners and lock the farangs up.

[Call]

Might be wrong, but can´t see any beer in the picture.

Claim evidence!

 

[robblok]

1 minute ago, AlfHuy said:

3 fruit Hoegaarden and some other stuff.

They must have been drunk.

Release a few Thai prisoners and lock the farangs up.

At least they drank some better (non el cheapo) beer.

[PEE TEE]

4 minutes ago, robblok said:

I avoid places with lots of people and i do drink (occasionally). I just don't make a fuzz about it when its not available.

 

Yes the 3rd wave started from alcohol fueled partied in Thong Lor (I live in Thong lor) and then the decision of the PM to let people go on Songkran. But without the bar being that main hotspot things would not have gotten this bad.

 

In my home country and in the UK too they also closed bars yet we moan when they do it in Thailand. I don't understand why that is. Everyone knows that alcohol like any other drug influences decision making in bad way.  

I totally agree with you The UK at weekend is like a war in the city's . see on YouTube the bouncers. i stay with my wife don't go out apart from beach walks and bicycle rides have not been out for years . I use to go to a quiz night every week but that's all closed of course . so Tv and computer is the new life as i am sure this virus will be here for quite some time  any way best wishes to you stay safe 

[Skeptic7]

1 hour ago, robblok said:

No need for you to feel safe just drink your beer at home instead of illigal bars and you will be ok. 

I'm OK...You're OK.

 

The vast majority of the world is OK. Yet the vast majority of the world is being prevented from normal, usual, day to day life and activities. 

 

Something seems amiss. 

[shy coconut]

10 hours ago, Excel said:

No doubt by now this article has already been sent to the BBC and others' news sites. 

Why would it? 

I don't see anyone outside of this forum being remotely 

interested in the carry on with 3 old duffers on an obscure 

island in Thailand.

 

Although interesting to me and you, people around the world 

really don't care about trivial matters in s place they couldn't 

point to on a map.

 

Israel and Hammas blowing each other up last week isn't even 

given a mention on the news this week. 

 

 

 

[ICELANDMAN]

47 minutes ago, PEE TEE said:

I totally agree with you The UK at weekend is like a war in the city's . see on YouTube the bouncers. i stay with my wife don't go out apart from beach walks and bicycle rides have not been out for years . I use to go to a quiz night every week but that's all closed of course . so Tv and computer is the new life as i am sure this virus will be here for quite some time  any way best wishes to you stay safe 

 

So you decided to be a voluntary prisoner for long time.

 

[Kinnock]

8 hours ago, Thomas J said:

List of major crimes

Homicide

Assault

Robbery

Rape

Drug Dealing

Human Trafficking

Arson

Kidnapping

Thai police making life safer for everyone by apprehending and arresting three elderly men for drinking.  I feel so much safer now. 

All the ones on your list are reserved for Thais.  The only crimes left for foreigners are drinking and failing to complete your TM30.

[edwarda909]

9 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

The regulations were published in English and have been widely known for some time. 

 

Nationwide laws were recently relaxed slightly to allow restaurants in ‘red zones’ to open up until 9pm but they are still not permitted to sell alcohol. 

 

There is very little doubt that these folk knew they were breaking regulations. 

 

 

The issue is the regulations are stupid, killing businesses and are not intelligently thought out. 

Open air gatherings of a few people at a time are not an issue.

 

The problem here is that discretion has been removed and its been replace with this ridiculous ‘faux-outrage’.

 

I bet every single one of those arresting officers regularly drink with a larger group of friends.

 

 

Why do you assume they have any friends?

[shy coconut]

10 hours ago, BestB said:

Ok. Irrespective of my beliefs , law is the law, so if one breaks it then tough luck . But problem I have is why make arrests and such a fuss. This is not criminal offence . So you caught them breaking the news law, issue them with fines on the spot and end of story .

 

why turn it into a circus ? 
 

when big P was caught not wearing a mask , he was not arrested or detained , but simply issued with a fine , why this any different ?

 

it makes news, it scares people from coming when you get arrested for fineable offences 

Have they been imprisoned, deported, blacklisted?

 

What offences have they been charged with and what are the consequences?

 

I would guess, and it's only a guess as per usual the headline does what it's supposed

to do, ie create hysteria among the usual suspects here, without providing any real 

information and guaranteed no follow up, that the person in the most trouble here 

would be the bar owner who sold the booze.

 

I'm sure everyone involved knows the deal and knowingly risked this outcome.

A mere slap on the wrist and on your way old man isn't going to deter anyone, 

so I can understand why the police would put on a show.

 

As for big p, if he was merely given a fine, how did you get to hear about it? Did you 

just happen to be present at the time of did someone put it in the news?

 

[from the home of CC]

1 hour ago, sambum said:

 

My, what a big horse! Another member of the "if you don't like it go home" club!

 

"As death rates rise daily in this country I would suggest to those who are hopelessly addicted to pack up and go back to the UK,"

 

So drinking is now responsible for the rising death rates in the country - as most of the bars in the country are closed, I would suggest that you need to find another "scapegoat" for your biased theory!

 

And from your tone, it would appear that you would be quite happy for all the bars to be closed permanently, as you imply that they are solely responsible for the rising death rates in the country? I'm sure the tourist industry and a lot of its employers/employees would really appreciate that move.

 

And I would also suggest that you don't seem to realise that a lot of tourism depends on the fact that an awful lot of people enjoy a (alcoholic) drink as part of their holiday - that is not to say they are "hopelessly addicted"!

 

So, have a nice day and enjoy your cuppa - I'm going for a beer on the balcony!

no, I'm actually suggesting that alcohol played a big part in your own country's horrendous rate of death and that people (if they weren't alcohol addled) would realize this and respect the rules of this country. 

[shy coconut]

6 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

 

When did having a beer with a friend become ‘alcoholism’ ?????

 

 

A bit sanctimonious with these ‘non-drinking / non gathering’ times comment don’t you think?

 

Are you telling us you have not had a drink and not met up with any friends for the past 3 or 4 months ????

 

 

There are no regulations against having friends round for dinner and beers (outside of Phuket), the only difference is that this was done publicly. 

 

In most tourist places bars, pubs and restaurants are not allowed to sell alcohol. 

You know it, I know it, these silly old boys knew it and thought they would get away 

with a cheeky beer or 2. 

 

If this contravenes current guidelines what are the police supposed to do? 

Hit the bar owner for some tea money, geez all the lions would have a field 

day with that!

 

They do their job in their own unique style and get 7 pages of indignant posters 

making angry comments. 

 

I don't agree all the strict rules, but if I want to keep my blurred features out if the 

Thai visa news thread, I try not to break them. Simples.

 

[sambum]

1 hour ago, robblok said:

God man learn to see the difference between essential things like hospitals and non essential things like drinking beer in bars.

 

Buying food and clothes is essential, beer in bars non essential. Getting jabs is vital. 

 

Seems you got your priorities totally wrong, what is it with people who can't live without a bar and alcohol. Its closed for a reason. When you drink alcohol you forget about the rules and its non essential. Its how this 3rd wave started.

 

So it's OK for hundreds (and I'm not exaggerating) of people to stand shoulder to shoulder for hours waiting for their jabs, or walking round crammed markets, but it's not OK for 2 or 3 people to have a drink together?

 

I am not saying that night clubs holding hundreds of people should fling their doors open to all and sundry! As you implied, that is possibly how one of these waves started -and I agree with you, for a change. But also an Army run boxing tournament was to blame for a surge in cases, and I don't think drink was involved there. But there is a big difference between a packed night club,  and a couple of mates having a drink and a chat together in a bar. You are obviously so anti drink that you probably won't see the logic there. I am an ex smoker, but I don't cough and splutter needlessly when someone lights a cigarette up somewhere between me and the moon, but a lot of ex smokers do!

 

The point I am making is that the way social distancing is applied is a farce, and this "witch hunt" against drinkers is a prime example. I sleep in the same bed as my wife, we ride to places together on a motor bike, but when we go to a restaurant/cafe we are supposed to sit with a dividing screen between us? 

[Destiny1990]

To be placed in these cluster corvid jails?

[Excel]

5 minutes ago, sambum said:

 

So it's OK for hundreds (and I'm not exaggerating) of people to stand shoulder to shoulder for hours waiting for their jabs, or walking round crammed markets, but it's not OK for 2 or 3 people to have a drink together?

 

I am not saying that night clubs holding hundreds of people should fling their doors open to all and sundry! As you implied, that is possibly how one of these waves started -and I agree with you, for a change. But also an Army run boxing tournament was to blame for a surge in cases, and I don't think drink was involved there. But there is a big difference between a packed night club,  and a couple of mates having a drink and a chat together in a bar. You are obviously so anti drink that you probably won't see the logic there. I am an ex smoker, but I don't cough and splutter needlessly when someone lights a cigarette up somewhere between me and the moon, but a lot of ex smokers do!

 

The point I am making is that the way social distancing is applied is a farce, and this "witch hunt" against drinkers is a prime example. I sleep in the same bed as my wife, we ride to places together on a motor bike, but when we go to a restaurant/cafe we are supposed to sit with a dividing screen between us? 

I think you are overlooking a very important point. People standing in line for vaccination are not open to RTP extortion unlike the 3 guys having a drink, nor will it be the last. If anybody on this forum consider that the RTP's prime objective is to uphold the law, rather than pocket as much money as possible,  then I would suggest they need to seek help. 

[fleccer]

How to shooting yourself on the feet or in the balls.

[ibtg68]

This happened in Lamai. My girlfriend and I were having dinner at Pizza Del Sol, which is about a block away from Hundred Bar when I saw two police officers ride past on their motorbike with a Police pickup truck following behind. As they slowed down I knew some people were in store for a quick end to their night out. About twenty to thirty minutes later the pickup truck drove away with those arrested in the truck bed. 

[sambum]

33 minutes ago, Excel said:

I think you are overlooking a very important point. People standing in line for vaccination are not open to RTP extortion unlike the 3 guys having a drink, nor will it be the last. If anybody on this forum consider that the RTP's prime objective is to uphold the law, rather than pocket as much money as possible,  then I would suggest they need to seek help. 

 

I wasn't overlooking that very important observation, it's just that we weren't discussing corruption - that would come under a very different topic!

[sambum]

2 hours ago, robblok said:

These lil mice with drugs and clogs must be a lot smarter then those alcohol users from that other country as I hardly see them making the news with drug offences while the same cannot be said from the people of the land of gentlemen.

 

I mean when you know there is a nation wide ban on opening bars and serving alcohol. You deserve all you get if you still break that rule especially when you know the spotlights are on you.

 

Just not a really smart thing to do if you like alcohol you can drink at home. This would be akin to an idiot from the land of clogs lighting a big joint up in public during a drug crackdown.

 

"I hardly see them making the news with drug offences while the same cannot be said from the people of the land of gentlemen"

 

Posssibly/PROBABLY due to the fact that "the land of gentlemen" does not have the laxity of Dutch law as far as drugs are concerned! :- 

 

"While recreational use, possession and trade of non-medicinal drugs described by the Opium Law are all technically illegal under Dutch law, official policy since the late 20th century has been to openly tolerate all recreational use while tolerating the other two under certain circumstances." 

[NanLaew]

12 hours ago, colinneil said:

12 hours ago, webfact said:

Yesterday it was announced that Samui was desperate to get foreigners back on the island from July 1st

Well that aint gonna  happen with plod behaving like that.

That said what a terrible despicable bunch drinking together, lock em up, throw away the key, that will teach em.

 

Bish, bash, bosh... I just checked my calendar and it is still May so what has illegal drinking yesterday got to do with tourism in July?

[Liverpool Lou]

3 hours ago, DBath said:

It may not have anything to do with the point you're trying to make, but do you honestly think this was not just some ridiculous publicity stunt by Prayut? You're giving the man way too much credit, IMO.

I have not given him any credit.   I did point out what happened, though.