Hotel tycoon calls for Thailand to ease restrictions on alcohol

 

Bill Heinecke/file photo

 

One of Thailand’s leading hoteliers has called on the Thai government to ease restrictions regarding the sale of alcohol by November 1, as the country plans to welcome the return of foreign tourists.

 

In an open letter to Bangkok Governor Asawin Kwanmuang, Bill Heinecke, founder and chairman of the Minor Group, has called for the “prompt resumption of alcohol sales to tourists in metropolitan Bangkok”.

 

Mr Heinecke says that at very least, alcohol sales should be permitted in restaurants and hotels - or in settings where alcohol is generally consumed responsibly.

 

“As one of Thailand's largest providers of hospitality to foreign visitors, we are keenly familiar with the expectations and needs of travelers to Thailand,'' Heinecke writes.

 

“For both business and leisure travelers, alcohol plays a central role in the enjoyment of their visits. It also makes a significant contribution in sales to restaurants and hotels, thus boosting the earnings of Thai businesses and the millions of staff that they employ.

 

“I recognize that public officials may have concerns about the impact of alcohol sales on COVID

transmission rates. However, a distinction should be made in the conditions and environments in which alcohol is present. 

 

“Those who consume alcohol in proper restaurant and hotel settings typically do so responsibly. 

“Such environments rarely exhibit the crowded conditions within bars, pubs, clubs, etc.

 

“To that end, I humbly request that restrictions on alcohol sales in Bangkok be lifted by November I, if not entirely, then selectively to establishments that serve the needs of foreign tourists to Thailand. 

 

“At the very least, businesses that are approved by the Safety and Health Administration (SHA+) should be allowed to resume serving customers with the complete suite of services that patrons expect from November onwards”.

 

Mr Heinecke also calls on vaccination efforts to be stepped up in a “prime tourism destination such as Bangkok, Phuket and Samui”.

 

Negative PCR/ATK tests should also be required for “all travellers entering Bangkok or any major tourist destinations from all cities in Thailand”.

 

 

Discover Cigna’s range of health insurance solutions created for expats and local nationals living in Thailand - click to view

 

-- © Copyright  ASEAN NOW 2021-10-26

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

 

Get your business in front of millions of customers who read ASEAN NOW with an interest in Thailand every month - email [email protected] for more information

He's right, no alcohol = nobody's coming.

 

Far easier to just go elsewhere and enjoy a bottle of wine or a few beers in the evening, or even on the beach in the afternoon if you're so inclined.

That sounds like a sensible approach to get things moving. It's time to acknowledge that not everyone who enjoys a beer or a glass of wine with their meal ends up acting like a beligerent, arrogant fool spraying saliva over anyone within 5 metres. 

 

Far too sensible an approach for the clowns in charge no doubt. 

17 minutes ago, webfact said:

“prompt resumption of alcohol sales to tourists in metropolitan Bangkok”.

Hey!! there are other parts to Thailand than Bangkok think of other also ...................!!!!!

there is no prohibition, like during the 1st wave, in some places just for over 2 months.

Anybody can buy everything and in any quantity anytime.

They can drink in their rooms or even in common places inside hotel.

Restaurants do tolerate punters bringing their own booze, no corkage. 

For hotels and restaurants it's only side income to their main activity. They do survive.

Pubs and bars rely solely on drinks, they are in a much more dire situation 

Heinecke is only stating the obvious, (and kudos to him). But anyone with half a brain, who wants to get the tourist re-opening into the real world, would have thought this through. Yes, thought it through. But these people live under a rock. "Drinking is evil and causes the spread of covid." seems to have been the main bullet point on that committee to discuss re-opening, and no one challenged it. These committees start with a basic set of assumptions, and no one ever challenges them, which is why every single policy has to be rewritten ad nauseam.

Gonna have to get rid of the test on arrival and first night quarantine before meaningful numbers even begin to arrive.

38 minutes ago, webfact said:

At the very least, businesses that are

run by me should be exempt. 

Fair point, but he also was in favor of the coup and these goons running the country in the first place. 

Who cares what farangs wants and thinks?

FTFY

 

Hotel tycoon, who stands to lose a lot of money under the current protocol, calls for Thailand to ease restrictions on alcohol

RafPinto

Leader of the "lonelybarladies" group.

 

Dear Governor,

 

Please give them a chance. No falang coming, no support for millions of families.

I can assure you that once the "desperados" are allowed to follow their desire and the ladies of the nights are allowed to make those "hansum" men happy again, there will be millions of smiles around you.

 

Please consider my wish.

 

Sincerely yours,

1 hour ago, edwinchester said:

Gonna have to get rid of the test on arrival and first night quarantine before meaningful numbers even begin to arrive.

Price of one night quarantine is 6000 baht up, saw the price list, just another scam.

2 hours ago, ukrules said:

He's right, no alcohol = nobody's coming.

 

Far easier to just go elsewhere and enjoy a bottle of wine or a few beers in the evening, or even on the beach in the afternoon if you're so inclined.

Then nobody is coming as you cant take away the alcohol restrictions just for tourists  . If the restrictions are lifted for all say good bye to any control of the infection rate .

29 minutes ago, cnx101 said:

Price of one night quarantine is 6000 baht up, saw the price list, just another scam.

There are cheaper options available.

3 hours ago, webfact said:

“I recognize that public officials may have concerns about the impact of alcohol sales on COVID

transmission rates. However, a distinction should be made in the conditions and environments in which alcohol is present. 

Which exactly why clubs and bars have been exempt from opening and alcohol sale are available;e from many other establishments.

bars have proved time and time again that they cannot abide by any regulations set.

Thong Lor is a great example.

1 hour ago, poskat said:

FTFY

 

Hotel tycoon, who stands to lose a lot of money under the current protocol, calls for Thailand to ease restrictions on alcohol

Exactly.. the 'at the vey least in hotels and hotel restaurants' is just icing on the cake.. 

"man who stands to benefit from reduced alcohol controls demands reduced alcohol controls' doesn't make quite the same headline does it. 

20 minutes ago, Salerno said:

There are cheaper options available.

There would want to be. 6000 baht is absurd.

2 hours ago, samtam said:

Heinecke is only stating the obvious, (and kudos to him). But anyone with half a brain, who wants to get the tourist re-opening into the real world, would have thought this through. Yes, thought it through. But these people live under a rock. "Drinking is evil and causes the spread of covid." seems to have been the main bullet point on that committee to discuss re-opening, and no one challenged it. These committees start with a basic set of assumptions, and no one ever challenges them, which is why every single policy has to be rewritten ad nauseam.

In a country that bans the sale of alcohol on most public holidays... Thailand is truly backwards.

2 hours ago, edwinchester said:

Gonna have to get rid of the test on arrival and first night quarantine before meaningful numbers even begin to arrive.

And the COE oh! I mean Thai Pass.

I first read Mr Heineken

With that surname, it makes me want to get a couple of drinks… legally ????

Thank you. Whatever pressure can be put on the timid, fake puritan, scared of the dark, petrified of beer after dusk cowards, is a good thing.

 

Few tourists will come with the draconian and stupid restrictions on nightlife.

Beer and wine do not cause Covid!

 

Lighten up. Get a life. At least pretend to be real men. At least pretend to care about the economic well-being of the people! Stop the nonsense. 

2 hours ago, edwinchester said:

Gonna have to get rid of the test on arrival and first night quarantine before meaningful numbers even begin to arrive.

Agreed ….. it will be last quarter 2022 before any reasonable quantity of tourists return… Thais can only hope for the return(Maybe) of  the ones who left for security and home

It's good to see that someone has been reading my posts 

Already mentioned about alcohol being made available in Restaurants 

I am waiting for this to Happen before I will travel to Bangkok 

But also should be available in the rest of the Country Restaurants wise 

3 hours ago, webfact said:

“To that end, I humbly request that restrictions on alcohol sales in Bangkok be lifted by November

Replace the above word Bangkok with.....all of Thailand

 

In particular bars, clubs and establishments where people get s-hit faced, otherwise life is just going to continue to be boring for some.

 

4 minutes ago, Millcx said:

Agreed ….. it will be last quarter 2022 before any reasonable quantity of tourists return… Thais can only hope for the return(Maybe) of  the ones who left for security and home

Totally agree, just arrived from Sweden last month.

Nobody is planning holidays in Thailand, the Swedish government recommends against traveling to Thailand so a normal home insurance that covers holiday travel is void for Thailand travel.

Agree with everything he points out. 

It's time to get back to some kind of 'normal'. 

I hope the govt lifts alcohol sales restrictions throughout the country on Nov 1st - here's hoping.

Cheers

 

23 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

In a country that bans the sale of alcohol on most public holidays... Thailand is truly backwards.

A few public holidays , not most, Why ? Because the country is a predominately Buddhist country . Backwards ? Ask your self that 

The foreigner isn't saying anything new. Just like we all know that COVID doesn't go home at 9 p.m.  so they changed it to 10p.m.  and now 11p.m.  This may actually  make him look like hes the reason that alcohol  and bars will open.  But many already speculate  that alcohol  may be sold again by the 15th if not the first already.  More public  relations  is all this is geared at for the tycoon