Civil disobedience: CCSA general tells restaurants DON'T allow in-house dining and drinking - it'll only spread Covid

[webfact]

 

Thailand's Center for Covid Situation Administration or CCSA has begged restaurants mounting a civil disobedience campaign not to break the law.

 

The latest regulations issued at the weekend have infuriated restaurant owners already battered by a year and a half of the pandemic. They claim they have public support.

 

Yesterday Channel 7 reported the National Security Council director and CCSA chief Gen Natthaphol Nakphanich as calling for cooperation and not to open for in-house dining. 

 

He reiterated that the government was considering help measures for restaurants and that reviews will take place every 15 days amid the tension. 

 

He stood by the data, he claimed, that showed the spread of Covid being linked to restaurant gatherings and the consumption of alcohol. 

 

This is unlikely to hold much sway with restaurants, notes Thaivisa, as some got behind a hashtag trending on Twitter calling for civil disobedience in Bangkok. 

 

Language was strong as protests were planned in an escalating campaign that could see people drinking and eating on the streets in open violation of the ban issued at the weekend and valid Monday last.

 

But so far it has not materialized. Thai Rath said that the Bangkok governor - Aswin Kwanmuang - noted that across 50 districts in the Thai capital there had been no breaking of the law in this regard.

 

The Thai Restaurant Association moved to distance themselves from the planned protests preferring to continue an approach at trying the persuade the authorities to adopt their view. 

 

They said they had 35,000 members and would not forbid any of them from participating in the protests but would not support them. 

 

The association also said they feared that established protesters against the government could use the protests against restaurant opening to further their agenda. 

 

Picture: Bangkok Business News

 

Meanwhile Bangkok Business News noted that the government's stance remained one that the law should be followed.

 

They quoted spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri as continuing to claim that restaurants and the consumption of alcohol were high risk factors in the spread of Covid-19. 

 

He attempted to calm the crisis by saying that help was on the way for artists, freelancers and those in the entertainment industry hardest hit by the latest round of rules. 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2021-07-01

 

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[dcsw53]

About time the mood changed. How there have not been riots so far sets Thailand aside from most other countries, where there would have been full scale rioting months ago. Let's see if it comes to pass.
The construction industry gets immediate compensation for closing its hot beds of Covid spreading, the dormitories, but sell a diner a beer instead of a coffee with their meal and the SWAT squad will descend.
Balanced approach ? No we're in Thailand.

[DaLa]

They should have consulted with any of us falang with a Thai wife , do not mess with their eating habits. 

 

And as an aside what 'freelancers' are they talking about and what sort of help?  

Edited July 1, 2021 by DaLa
Missing words

[cocoonclub]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

They claim they have public support.

And I‘m sure I have public support for 0% tax and free stuff for everyone. 

[KhunMorris]

What about the gogo bars?

 

Sincerely

 

MORRIS

Ex Bar Owner 

[BKKTRAVELER]

The biggest issue for restaurants now is their new "competition" when they can only do take away or delivery.

 

Since the beginning of Covid I have noticed a huge increase in independent online food "shops". They usually are people who lost their activities and are looking for incomes. They cook from home, pay no rent, no taxes, no salaries... So, of course they manage to make and sell food at lower prices than restaurants can afford to. A lot of snacks, desserts but also full kitchens have popped up online. I appreciate that they are trying to make money in any ways possible, but this is seriously killing restaurants, which still have high costs to cover monthly. It should not be allowed, except if they register somewhere and pay taxes. I'd be depressed if I owned a restaurant in Bangkok at the moment...

[smedly]

CCSA general

 

and that right there is part of the problem - it should read

 

CCSA doctor

[HappyinNE]

They quoted spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri as continuing to claim that restaurants and the consumption of alcohol were high risk factors in the spread of Covid-19. 

 

Consumption of alcohol is a high risk factor in the spread of Covid-19.  Prove this one to me.  With this lack of logic it is no wonder Thailand is now in Covid-19 trouble.

[Thomas J]

Yes you should only go back and forth to work and your home traveling where it is totally safe. 

[connda]

I agree.  Close all restaurants.  Only Malls and Hypermarts should be allowed to open. Small and media business all spread Covid.  Only Malls and Hypermarts are proven safe.

Close them all!!!

[connda]

Men in government with steady jobs and guaranteed salaries and pension out to destroy the livelihoods of small and medium sized businesses.
I understand - at this point the law is being actively used to completely destroy a large segment of the economy that collectively offers large business and corporations competition. Kill the small guys and transfer the wealth to the obscenely wealthy. 
So the government is out to destroy them in the name of Covid.
Civil disobedience is the last of these regimes worries when the populace can't make a living.

[Thomas J]

3 hours ago, HappyinNE said:

Consumption of alcohol is a high risk factor in the spread of Covid-19.  Prove this one to me.  With this lack of logic it is no wonder Thailand is now in Covid-19 trouble.

Yes haven't you read the extensive studies that show a control group in an open air restaurant sipping a glass of water and another control group drinking a bottle of diet coke had significantly less Covid positive people than the uncontrolled group with their masks off drinking a bottle of beer. Norrlands Guld Export from Sweden was particularly bad as a super spreader.  Additional tests with the Swedish Beer drinkers dining with and without meat balls is anticipated to be conducted later this year. 

[The Hammer2021]

Generals tell soldiers  what to do. Not civilians

[The Hammer2021]

11 minutes ago, connda said:

Men in government with steady jobs and guaranteed salaries and pension out to destroy the livelihoods of small and medium sized businesses.
I understand - at this point the law is being actively used to completely destroy a large segment of the economy that collectively offers large business and corporations competition. Kill the small guys and transfer the wealth to the obscenely wealthy. 
So the government is out to destroy them in the name of Covid.
Civil disobedience is the last of these regimes worries when the populace can't make a living.

They shoot  to kill.

[The Hammer2021]

5 hours ago, BKKTRAVELER said:

The biggest issue for restaurants now is their new "competition" when they can only do take away or delivery.

 

Since the beginning of Covid I have noticed a huge increase in independent online food "shops". They usually are people who lost their activities and are looking for incomes. They cook from home, pay no rent, no taxes, no salaries... So, of course they manage to make and sell food at lower prices than restaurants can afford to. A lot of snacks, desserts but also full kitchens have popped up online. I appreciate that they are trying to make money in any ways possible, but this is seriously killing restaurants, which still have high costs to cover monthly. It should not be allowed, except if they register somewhere and pay taxes. I'd be depressed if I owned a restaurant in Bangkok at the moment...

No. you would be selling take away  food

[BKKTRAVELER]

1 minute ago, The Hammer2021 said:

No. you would be selling take away  food

And lose money due to the competition I mentioned earlier. I don't see your point...

[The Hammer2021]

28 minutes ago, BKKTRAVELER said:

And lose money due to the competition I mentioned earlier. I don't see your point...

Most restaurants I know here in Pattaya are doing decent take away business to AVOID SHUTTING DOWN. Of course they are also selling meals but not alcohol. Coffee bars and day / breakfast restaurants are selling food to eat in and take away. I don't see your point. The take away business from established restaurants is thriving here. People are getting fast deliveries from 4 companies and drinking at home with decent food. It's bars that are suffering more than restaurants.

[Tropicalevo]

9 hours ago, webfact said:

He stood by the data, he claimed, that showed the spread of Covid being linked to restaurant gatherings and the consumption of alcohol. 

Not quite true General.

It started with high class brothels, naughty activities and the consumption of alcohol.

Hi So's started it and are refusing to go into quarantine.

How many of those brothel owners - sorry, executive club owners are in gaol? Have they all been closed down?

Stop blaming the poor and people genuinely trying to make ends meet.

[BKKTRAVELER]

10 minutes ago, The Hammer2021 said:

Most restaurants I know here in Pattaya are doing decent take away business to AVOID SHUTTING DOWN. Of course they are also selling meals but not alcohol. Coffee bars and day / breakfast restaurants are selling food to eat in and take away. I don't see your point. The take away business from established restaurants is thriving here. People are getting fast deliveries from 4 companies and drinking at home with decent food. It's bars that are suffering more than restaurants.

Ok, first of all my point was due to the fact that many people decided to sell food online without a license, no rent, salaries and no taxes, restaurants were losing a significant share of their possible revenues during take away periods. Which is not fair nor right for the people of the industry that put their money and hard work for years while complying with Thai laws.

 

Now, you talk about "thriving" for take away.. Last I came to Pattaya in March, over half the city center was closed, I don't think that it has changed much since then. Go ask all those businesses how well it went for them. Then, you talk about delivery companies (such as Grab, FoodPanda and such I guess). Considering they push you to do promotions to stay attractive and also take 30-35% of your sales, you really still think they are thriving? Most restaurants owners I know tried these services because they needed to survive and wanted to avoid food waste. They all left them due to not making money. 

 

Nothing to say about bars, of course they are the most to suffer during covid with clubs, but it wasn't the topic.

[Elkski]

Many small eateries had a big takeout business  pre covid.  In January 2020 I sat in a small 2-3 table eatery on Ekimai and there were 4-5 takeout drivers in there continuously while I ate my lunch.   It is crazy that these food delivery services can charge 30+% of the order.  It seems like it should be based on package size, weight and distance.   

[nahkit]

11 hours ago, webfact said:

Meanwhile Bangkok Business News noted that the government's stance remained one that the law should be followed.

 

Really? So how many of the people from the justice ministers Songkran party were prosecuted for breaking the rules?

 

 

[Bluespunk]

12 hours ago, webfact said:

They said they had 35,000 members and would not forbid any of them from participating in the protests but would not support them. 

We won’t support the protests, but won’t call upon our members taking part in them to desist…however we have this great plan that could solve the issue…how about a slice of pie and refreshing brew while you review it. 

Edited July 1, 2021 by Bluespunk

[Stargeezr]

Yes I hope that all you expats realize that the food delivery companies are really like

a bunch of mafia. They are not your friends or the restaurants friends, they are strictly

there to make their profits, at a greedy rate. It is the same in Canada, and I have boycotted

all of them by ordering my food at various restaurants and picked it up. The restaurants

all thank me every time I do this, because they are all suffering and the delivery companies

are taking most of the profits.  So my suggestion is to not use,  Big Panda, or any of the delivery companies,

but get on your bikes and help out your favorite restaurants survive. Come on gang you can do it.

  Geezer

[Danderman123]

They will make an example of one restaurant that is serving dine in customers, and that will be the end of it.

[BKKTRAVELER]

6 hours ago, Stargrazer9889 said:

Yes I hope that all you expats realize that the food delivery companies are really like

a bunch of mafia. They are not your friends or the restaurants friends, they are strictly

there to make their profits, at a greedy rate. It is the same in Canada, and I have boycotted

all of them by ordering my food at various restaurants and picked it up. The restaurants

all thank me every time I do this, because they are all suffering and the delivery companies

are taking most of the profits.  So my suggestion is to not use,  Big Panda, or any of the delivery companies,

but get on your bikes and help out your favorite restaurants survive. Come on gang you can do it.

  Geezer

I also do the same. I know how much they are getting murdered by these delivery services. I call and come pick it up myself or arrange Grab myself to deliver from the restaurant to my place. Cost me a bit extra but the restaurant gets paid what they are supposed to. The last 2 times I did arrange for Grab, each restaurant gave me a small dessert for free to show their appreciation with a thank you note to make an effort for them.

[The Hammer2021]

16 hours ago, BKKTRAVELER said:

Ok, first of all my point was due to the fact that many people decided to sell food online without a license, no rent, salaries and no taxes, restaurants were losing a significant share of their possible revenues during take away periods. Which is not fair nor right for the people of the industry that put their money and hard work for years while complying with Thai laws.

 

Now, you talk about "thriving" for take away.. Last I came to Pattaya in March, over half the city center was closed, I don't think that it has changed much since then. Go ask all those businesses how well it went for them. Then, you talk about delivery companies (such as Grab, FoodPanda and such I guess). Considering they push you to do promotions to stay attractive and also take 30-35% of your sales, you really still think they are thriving? Most restaurants owners I know tried these services because they needed to survive and wanted to avoid food waste. They all left them due to not making money. 

 

Nothing to say about bars, of course they are the most to suffer during covid with clubs, but it wasn't the topic.

The roads are busy  with delivery  vehicles.  Plenty  of restaurants  are doing  business selling takeaway  food. Many are open selling  food during the day and food at night not alcohol  though. The non licensed  vendors without a brand name or reputation  are of negligible influence.  Your presumptions  are wrong and observations limited.. I pass a few busy places around Pratumnak  every  evening.. There is a  healthy  trade in food  stalls too. Mid level restaurants  are doing good delivery  business despite your speculation and lack  of observation  of them . Pattaya  is larger than the places you see.

[BKKTRAVELER]

1 hour ago, The Hammer2021 said:

The roads are busy  with delivery  vehicles.  Plenty  of restaurants  are doing  business selling takeaway  food. Many are open selling  food during the day and food at night not alcohol  though. The non licensed  vendors without a brand name or reputation  are of negligible influence.  Your presumptions  are wrong and observations limited.. I pass a few busy places around Pratumnak  every  evening.. There is a  healthy  trade in food  stalls too. Mid level restaurants  are doing good delivery  business despite your speculation and lack  of observation  of them . Pattaya  is larger than the places you see.

Ok, I'll try to be fair and stay out of the Pattaya businesses as I don't live there. But the fact that you mention "a few busy places" doesn't sound convincing. But I'll grant you Pattaya is bigger than the places I frequent as a "sometimes tourist".

 

Now, Bangkok is in a different place right now as they can only do take away and delivery. You mention busy roads with delivery vehicles. If you mention the green and pink jackets bike drivers, I've already made my point on these services. You may refer to food supply pick ups or trucks which usually deliver whole foods for restaurants. Since the beginning of covid with many restaurants closing down in Bkk these food suppliers have tried to expand their customers' base to regular households and not only restaurants. I weekly order from several of them for imported beef, seafood or even desserts. They always come and deliver to my place in their trucks, no restaurant is involved or benefiting from it. I talked to the one I order most often and they said they adapted their clientele from 90-10 % in favor of restaurants before covid, to about 50-50 % at the moment. The reason behind is because restaurants have closed down or order less. Same goes for alcohol suppliers, but this isn't the topic.

 

I agree the food stalls have been less affected during covid due to their businesses focused on mostly (if not all) take away since forever. I do not consider those places restaurants though.

 

Coming back to unlicensed online vendors, I can't agree with you, at least in Bkk. There are more and more popping every week. They are not all successful but many are selling pretty well. My gf likes to order from one that sells Chinese style rotisseries and delicacies. In the past, they asked 1 day notice to deliver, this week they have increased to 3 days because of the high demand, saying they can only serve 80 customers per day (exactly at the time restaurants dine in has been forbidden). If you follow Thai social medias, you will realize there are thousands of them just in Bkk alone. They are hurting the restaurant industry, a few friends of mine owning restaurants here complain about it non stop, saying they'll close and do the same.

 

Last point, go to Bkk (actually may not be a good idea, but just for the sake of the point 55), and walk around Sukhumvit, Silom, Sathorn and other main areas and you will see what I am talking about. Most places are closed or extremely quiet and you can just see Grab and FP drivers waiting, even shopping malls are dead and the delivery drivers are  waiting by the entrance or the parking. My gf relatives live in the outskirt of Bkk, which is more residential and rely less on foreigners. This week I noticed the same trend of empty or closed restaurants, on the streets and in the malls. 

 

I really can't see how you stay optimistic about their take away and delivery businesses. Every time I go pick up my food and ask managers/owners how they are doing, I am met with long faces. 

 

Anyway, glad to be able to debate with you without having to bicker and we can remain polite and friendly ????

[herfiehandbag]

On 7/1/2021 at 10:31 AM, dcsw53 said:

About time the mood changed. How there have not been riots so far sets Thailand aside from most other countries, where there would have been full scale rioting months ago. Let's see if it comes to pass.
The construction industry gets immediate compensation for closing its hot beds of Covid spreading, the dormitories, but sell a diner a beer instead of a coffee with their meal and the SWAT squad will descend.
Balanced approach ? No we're in Thailand.

The people who run the construction industry are influential, you don't for a moment think that any of that

 money will reach the poor bastards banged up and broiling in those corrugated iron camps do you? They will lucky if they get a bowl of rice and some water a day!

 

The people who run small restaurants should just put up with it, or <deleted> off back to their farms. I'll bet the cheeky bastards don't even wear yellow ties!

[Walker88]

On 7/1/2021 at 12:18 PM, The Hammer2021 said:

Most restaurants I know here in Pattaya are doing decent take away business to AVOID SHUTTING DOWN. Of course they are also selling meals but not alcohol. Coffee bars and day / breakfast restaurants are selling food to eat in and take away. I don't see your point. The take away business from established restaurants is thriving here. People are getting fast deliveries from 4 companies and drinking at home with decent food. It's bars that are suffering more than restaurants.

"Thriving"

 

Depends on what you mean by thriving.

 

If they sell to walk-up customers, maybe they make a profit.

 

If they sell via a delivery service like Foodpanda or Grab, they are losing money. Those services charge 30-35%. NO restaurant has that sort of margin (though some have jacked up prices hoping to find a break even point and to test their elasticity of demand).

 

Restaurants have a few motivations:

 

-get rid of existing inventory before it goes bad

-try at least to cover variable costs, accepting that there's no way to cover fixed costs with FP or GB's take

-keep their name alive

-hope it ends quickly and they can go back to serving dine-ins

[RubbaJohnny]

On 7/1/2021 at 7:33 PM, Tropicalevo said:

How many of those brothel owners - sorry, executive club owners are in gaol?

Perhaps you are new to land of dreams, important people seldom do time in LOS.