Businesses in Thailand urge government to reverse alcohol ban

[webfact]

A member of the Craft Beer Association holds a placard reading ‘Cocktail is not a crime’. Photograph: Watcharawit Phudork/Sopa Images/Rex/Shutterstock

 

Borders to open after 18 months of Covid restrictions that did ‘catastrophic damage’ to tourism sector

 

Rebecca Ratcliffe South-east Asia correspondent

 

Businesses in Thailand have urged the government to lift restrictions on alcohol sales as the country reopens to tourists, warning the measures are destroying its famous nightlife and risk deterring visitors.

 

Thailand plans to reopen its borders to fully vaccinated travellers from 45 countries on 1 November, after 18 months of restrictions that have devastated its tourism industry. Just weeks before the reopening, many bars, clubs and restaurants are closed or struggling to survive.

 

The government banned the sale of alcohol in restaurants, and closed bars, to dissuade people from going out after a rise in Covid cases in April, which was linked to clusters at nightclubs. Nightlife venues are still shut, while restaurant rules vary by area.

 

The rules have caused “catastrophic damage” to the nightlife sector, said Niks Anuman-Rajadhon, owner of Teens of Thailand, a bar in the capital’s Chinatown.

 

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Full story: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/26/businesses-in-thailand-urge-government-to-reverse-alcohol-ban

 

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[alyx]

Quite understandable

I do not drink, even socially, so I am not personally impacted by this ban, or am I ?

Without alcohol in restaurants and bars, let alone nightclubs, the ambiance is not the same and, although I still do not fathom why  people cannot enjoy a night out without a drink, alcohol is a necessary factor to make it a success

…well…reasonably consumed that is.

That being said, I do believe that nightlife is dead and it will not be a perk for visitor anytime in the foreseeable future in this country.

So many industries have been killed by these (irrational) measures ( some might say ) that Thailand must think ( note that I have not used re-think) a new tourism and forget about attracting the wealthy who have so many spots around the world  where they can party without being bothered by anyone or submitted to harsh restrictions. Of course some countries impose even tougher restrictions but they do offer something else ( eg Iran).

Well to do tourists  are not going anywhere “restricted”:

they need “niches”
Freedom is key to these people and to the majority of the travellers especially when their stay is short

[Jeffr2]

Hmmm....wasn't it a club in Thong Lor that cause one of our huge increases in cases?  Maybe make alcohol sales OK, but limit the number of customers?  Right...that's all controlled by the police.  Never happen.

[zzaa09]

Hypothetically, what if every alcohol serving business and everyone that enjoys social drinking were to resist and challenge this current and rather silly temperance imposed restrictions? 

 

 

[CrunchWrapSupreme]

1 hour ago, alyx said:

Without alcohol in restaurants and bars, let alone nightclubs, the ambiance is not the same and, although I still do not fathom why  people cannot enjoy a night out without a drink, alcohol is a necessary factor to make it a success

I was at a popular seaside destination last weekend, sat outside one of the bars. Definitely dead and depressing. Just me and the fam, the proprietress, and a server. Alcohol was being discreetly served to me, heh. But without more people to collectively join in the inebriated state of diversion, with music, dancing, etc., it totally wasn't the same. I saw a few other farangs walk past us and look. I can't imagine they were all teetotalers. Maybe they didn't think alcohol was on offer, or didn't want to risk the consequences.

 

I have no qualms about admitting I like getting good and tanked going out. I just love reaching that "happy place". Looking about and seeing all the other smiliing people, knowing I've joined them. Then with the right people, some hiliarious, memorable exchanges are possible. The night takes on a whole new meaning in this state. Without it, you just think about where you would be if you had it, and how you're missing out. A bit like having to make do with your fish and chips without tartar sauce or ketchup.

[JayClay]

19 minutes ago, zzaa09 said:

Hypothetically, what if every alcohol serving business and everyone that enjoys social drinking were to resist and challenge this current and rather silly temperance imposed restrictions? 

 

 

Well a couple of months back there was a plan on Facebook for "civil disobedience" in Bangkok where a large group of restauranteurs said they would ignore the ban.

 

It looks like they chickened out at the last minute which is a shame.

[jacko45k]

2 minutes ago, JayClay said:

It looks like they chickened out at the last minute which is a shame.

Civil disobedience gets handled harshly in this part of the world. I don't think alcohol sales is the issue to kick off on!

[Gsxrnz]

Man's first invention was alcohol.

 

Just sayin'.  

 

 

[Jeffr2]

7 minutes ago, JayClay said:

Well a couple of months back there was a plan on Facebook for "civil disobedience" in Bangkok where a large group of restauranteurs said they would ignore the ban.

 

It looks like they chickened out at the last minute which is a shame.

Don't know if that's necessary.  Pretty much every restaurant around here is selling booze.  And many bars. 

[darrenr]

Dear , Thailand Tourism authority, I am an Australian fully vaccinated, when my boarders open i will only come back to Thailand if you:

1. Stop the alcohol ban and open the bars

2. No quarantine (including overnight in Bangkok to await for covid result on arrival)

3. Happy to have tracking App that will advise me of my result 

4. Let me arrive in Bangkok and freely travel to other locations such as Pattaya, Chang mai, Koh Chang , Phuket , Samui 

5. I understand that I am a guest and respect your rules , but without this myself and others are unlikely to come to visit unless the above is implemented 

‘for your consideration 

[JayClay]

8 minutes ago, Jeffr2 said:

Don't know if that's necessary.  Pretty much every restaurant around here is selling booze.  And many bars. 

I expected a comment like this and it didn't take long.

 

Yes beer is available at the moment it seems. But there are also stories every week about places where I live being busted for selling, and patrons being arrested for consuming.

 

There's a big difference between some restaurants ignoring rules with various levels of discretion, and a civil disobedience campaign where places would be openly advertising the fact that they are selling alcohol.

[Jeffr2]

1 minute ago, JayClay said:

I expected a comment like this and it didn't take long.

 

Yes beer is available at the moment it seems. But there are also stories every week about places where I live being busted for selling, and patrons being arrested for consuming.

 

There's a big difference between some restaurants ignoring rules with various levels of discretion, and a civil disobedience campaign where places would be openly advertising the fact that they are selling alcohol.

Understood!  Just saying, where I am, very few restaurants aren't selling alcohol.  And more than just beer. 

 

I've been at many establishments busted for various infractions.  They were all settled rather quickly.  And easily.  That's been my experience, but for sure, some are being arrested here. 

 

 

[RAZZELL]

The "Powers That Be" will have an unpleasant surprise come November 1st - no-one is coming!

 

RAZZ

[vandeventer]

2 hours ago, alyx said:

Quite understandable

I do not drink, even socially, so I am not personally impacted by this ban, or am I ?

Without alcohol in restaurants and bars, let alone nightclubs, the ambiance is not the same and, although I still do not fathom why  people cannot enjoy a night out without a drink, alcohol is a necessary factor to make it a success

…well…reasonably consumed that is.

That being said, I do believe that nightlife is dead and it will not be a perk for visitor anytime in the foreseeable future in this country.

So many industries have been killed by these (irrational) measures ( some might say ) that Thailand must think ( note that I have not used re-think) a new tourism and forget about attracting the wealthy who have so many spots around the world  where they can party without being bothered by anyone or submitted to harsh restrictions. Of course some countries impose even tougher restrictions but they do offer something else ( eg Iran).

Well to do tourists  are not going anywhere “restricted”:

they need “niches”
Freedom is key to these people and to the majority of the travellers especially when their stay is short

I also do not drink, but for the life of me I can't see why they don't have a system for lets say a  3 drink limit keeping  most people happy. If tourist can't have a few drinks after going threw all the BS just to get here than they might not come at all.

[Iforbach]

A beer or wine with a meal is a marriage for some....if u kill that whats the point..as mentioned for x pats living here..at least open outside bars ah well hv 2 c nov 1 or dec 1 mmm

[spidermike007]

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. 

[mikosan]

46 minutes ago, Jeffr2 said:

Understood!  Just saying, where I am, very few restaurants aren't selling alcohol.  And more than just beer. 

 

I've been at many establishments busted for various infractions.  They were all settled rather quickly.  And easily.  That's been my experience, but for sure, some are being arrested here. 

 

 

I agree.  Most simply pay the cops and off they go.  So someone is making money, whilst many businesses go to the wall and families reliant upon them become destitute.  It's a sad state of affairs, but don't kid yourselves that the government or the hi-so's care, the situation doesn't affect them in any way at all.

Edited October 27, 2021 by mikosan
Spelling correction

[Mike KIWI]

1 hour ago, Gsxrnz said:

Man's first invention was alcohol.

 

Just sayin'.  

 

 

And womans first was prostitution. not that it exists in the land of smiles of course.

[NemoH]

1 hour ago, Gsxrnz said:

Man's first invention was alcohol.

 

Just sayin'.  

 

 

I thought it was prostitution as no start up cost ..????

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

The government banned the sale of alcohol in restaurants, and closed bars, to dissuade people from going out after a rise in Covid cases in April, which was linked to clusters at nightclubs. Nightlife venues are still shut, while restaurant rules vary by area.

 

The rules have caused “catastrophic damage” to the nightlife sector, said Niks Anuman-Rajadhon, owner of Teens of Thailand, a bar in the capital’s Chinatown.

Which was largely due to the lack of vaccinations at the time, not the people congregating.

If vaccinations had been timely maybe the outcome would have been a lot different.

[Walker88]

All of this is a rehash of what's been said over the last 18 months, with a few important points to add, however, as 1 Nov approaches. The key point came in an article a day or two ago:

 

"Airlines have returned 80% of their contracted slots for the Oct-April period."

 

TAT and the govt can say whatever they want, but airlines are businesses. They live and die by revenue and costs (unlike bureaucrats who answer to no one or leaders who 'appointed' themselves seven years ago). When airlines return 80% of their allotted slots for the upcoming 'high season', it's pretty certain tourist numbers are going to be pretty low. It's unlikely millions of int'l travelers have decided they prefer a tramp steamer over an Airbus or Boeing.

 

The reasons tourists are not going to come are many---Covid fears, onerous entry requirements among them---but no alcohol with meals, and no nightlife, are also part of the problem.

 

Others have noted that alcohol is available in reality, despite the ban, but it is somewhat surreptitious and there is always the possibility that the authorities---who know full well virtually every restaurant is serving---will make an inspection if not a raid. Inspections were done last week after the big raid in BKK's Koreatown and a second in a venue across the street from a major police depot. Folks were properly warned beforehand. Inspectors also apparently told shops that it's virtually certain restaurants will again be allowed to serve as of next Monday, 1 November. Bars, however, look to remain shut until at least 15 November, maybe 1 December, or perhaps into the New Year if infection rates pick up again.

 

A pickup in actual infections is unlikely, as little in reality is going to change. New arrivals will be few (and will be double vaxxed and PCR-tested), and restaurants will be given the green light to do what they are already doing. If infections do pick up, that will likely be due to a change in the method of collating and reporting, rather than an actual change in infection numbers.  Anyone with an axe to grind will be able to make hay out of the numbers, so we shall see if the Temperance Union and/or Xenophobes win over the less puritanical  or fearful bureaucrats and leaders.

Edited October 27, 2021 by Walker88

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, alyx said:

Well to do tourists  are not going anywhere “restricted”:

they need “niches”
Freedom is key to these people and to the majority of the travellers especially when their stay is short

Well said.

[Bangkok Barry]

21 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

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. 

You and I know that the government is hell-bent on destroying the tourist business. They can't just come out and openly say that is what they want, but that is clearly their intention. As I believe you said recently, they couldn't be doing a better job of it.

[Bangkok Barry]

10 minutes ago, NemoH said:

I thought it was prostitution as no start up cost ..????

Well, apart from buying the uniform.

[JayClay]

1 hour ago, vandeventer said:

I also do not drink, but for the life of me I can't see why they don't have a system for lets say a  3 drink limit keeping  most people happy. If tourist can't have a few drinks after going threw all the BS just to get here than they might not come at all.

How would you police that, even in a first world country?

 

Unless you had undercover police sitting at a restaurant watching the drinks being served, there's literally no way to police that. Till receipts can be easily manipulated or obfuscated.

 

And even if you *could* police it, you'd have people going from one restaurant to another having a small meal and three drinks at each.

 

Just let them serve alcohol and be done with it. 

[Speedhump]

Businesses urge lifting of alcohol ban to help tourism. Business group leader says reopening of Thailand should be postponed. 

 

Please.... 

[PEE TEE]

Good idea also the same with Ecigs vaping is not a crime as well 

[DFPhuket]

I just returned home to Phuket after 3 weeks in Europe. The only requirement to land in Germany was proof of my Pfizer vaccination and a 2 minute online form completed before departure. In Germany, France, Switzerland and the Netherlands I had to show proof of vaccination before going inside or getting on public transportation. Masks required indoors, but not outside. 

 

Upon return it to Phuket it was 3 expensive PCRs, 7 days hotel (even though I own a condo and live alone), insurance proof, and the uploading of multiple documents to get a COE. Oh, and I'm supposed to wear a mask on the beach. 

 

Is there a Thai word for "common sense?" 

[Gsxrnz]

1 hour ago, NemoH said:

I thought it was prostitution as no start up cost ..????

Prostitution was a discovery.  Beer was an invention. Q.E.D.  ????

[paddyfield7]

3 hours ago, Jeffr2 said:

Hmmm....wasn't it a club in Thong Lor that cause one of our huge increases in cases?  Maybe make alcohol sales OK, but limit the number of customers?  Right...that's all controlled by the police.  Never happen.

Unblock the alcohol sale to civilised and private restaurant and bar visitors, but exclude those Thonglor guys, notabene a good part of the whole parliament, which have caused the whole disaster.