Alcohol ban in Thailand on Monday

[webfact]

 

By Online Reporter 

 
People in Thailand will observe the Buddhist religious day Makha Bucha on Monday (March 6), which also brings a 24 hour ban on the sale of alcohol.

 

One of the most important days in the Buddhist calendar, the sale of alcohol is prohibited at all venues, including restaurants, bars, pubs, hotels, convenience stores and supermarkets.

 

The 24 hour ban on alcohol is in place from 12:01am on Monday through to midnight.

 

The penalty for breaching the alcohol sales ban is a fine or up to 10,000 baht or up to 6 months in jail or both, in accordance with Section 39 of the Alcohol Control Act.

 

Full story: https://www.huahintoday.com/thailand-news/alcohol-ban-in-thailand-on-monday/

 

-- © Copyright Hua Hin Today 2023-03-04

 

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[proton]

Has anyone ever been fined for ignoring this nonsense ban controlling peoples lives?

[zzaa09]

Not where we are.

Suckers.

[papa al]

wa aboot 'erb.?

[norfolkandchance]

Beach Rd, Soi 4, Jomtien, Pattaya last year.

[jacko45k]

21 minutes ago, proton said:

Has anyone ever been fined for ignoring this nonsense ban controlling peoples lives?

Oh I am pretty sure a few bars have been in trouble over the years. Selling after midnight the night prior catches some out. I lived in The Middle East for some time so this is trivial... and I have enough gray matter to buy a few for the fridge. Their country, their rules.

[BananaStrong]

43 minutes ago, proton said:

Has anyone ever been fined for ignoring this nonsense ban controlling peoples lives?

You mean like RELIGION.   Or "bad" laws?   Or schools?  Or a boss?   

 

I have to wear a uniform while driving on the left hand side of the street and wai at my boss while listening to some weird prayer message blasting in my ear!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

[Henryford]

54 minutes ago, proton said:

Has anyone ever been fined for ignoring this nonsense ban controlling peoples lives?

It's one day for Christ's sake. You are a guest here. Buy a beer for the fridge.

[zzaa09]

1 hour ago, proton said:

Has anyone ever been fined for ignoring this nonsense ban controlling peoples lives?

Most everyone ignores these silly mandates.

[norfolkandchance]

45 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

Oh I am pretty sure a few bars have been in trouble over the years. Selling after midnight the night prior catches some out. I lived in The Middle East for some time so this is trivial... and I have enough gray matter to buy a few for the fridge. Their country, their rules.

Ah, another SID convert.

[actonion]

23 minutes ago, Henryford said:

It's one day for Christ's sake. You are a guest here. Buy a beer for the fridge.

All be it a paying  guest here

[actonion]

54 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

Oh I am pretty sure a few bars have been in trouble over the years. Selling after midnight the night prior catches some out. I lived in The Middle East for some time so this is trivial... and I have enough gray matter to buy a few for the fridge. Their country, their rules.

The bars that get into trouble are those not owned by the police i think

[harada]

I don’t like Mondays. 

[h90]

22 minutes ago, zzaa09 said:

Most everyone ignores these silly mandates.

unfortunately not in my area

[KannikaP]

28 minutes ago, zzaa09 said:

Most everyone ignores these silly mandates.

Except Lotus, Makro, 7-11 etc.

[AnnaBanana]

35 minutes ago, actonion said:

All be it a paying  guest here

We don't even qualify as guests here.

I wasn't invited, were you?

We're more like party-crashers who have arrived too late and found  "...a banquet hall deserted, whose lights are fled, whose garlands dead and all but he departed."

[Bangkok Barry]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

People in Thailand will observe the Buddhist religious day Makha Bucha on Monday (March 6), which also brings a 24 hour ban on the sale of alcohol.

Why? Also, why for non-Buddhists?

[Burma Bill]

4 hours ago, zzaa09 said:

Most everyone ignores these silly mandates.

Yes indeed, especially when I lived in Thailand up north in "country bumpkin land" outside the big cities!

[hotchilli]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

People in Thailand will observe the Buddhist religious day Makha Bucha on Monday (March 6), which also brings a 24 hour ban on the sale of alcohol.

Stock up this weekend then.. 

[Bangkok Barry]

3 hours ago, josephbloggs said:

3 hours ago, Bangkok Barry said:

Why? Also, why for non-Buddhists?

Should non Muslims be allowed to wander round drinking in Saudi Arabia or Kuwait?

It's about respecting the culture.

Election days, now there's another thing.

You only answered my second question. Why is having alcohol banned on only a couple or so days a year if it's against Buddhist principles/law? It either is, which means it should be banned all the time as in Muslim countries, or it isn't which means there should be no ban at all. As things are, it makes less sense than banning on election days.

[CG1 Blue]

13 minutes ago, Bangkok Barry said:

You only answered my second question. Why is having alcohol banned on only a couple or so days a year if it's against Buddhist principles/law? It either is, which means it should be banned all the time as in Muslim countries, or it isn't which means there should be no ban at all. As things are, it makes less sense than banning on election days.

I think it's about having a clear head on those days.

 

The Buddhist days so they can think clearly about their religious commitments and what a special day it is, and election days so they actually show up to vote and make a more informed choice. In both cases they don't want people comatose all day (and not tinking too mut). 

 

I don't agree with the bans, but I believe that's the 'logic' behind them. 

 

 

[Burma Bill]

On 3/4/2023 at 7:08 AM, webfact said:

People in Thailand will observe the Buddhist religious day Makha Bucha on Monday (March 6), which also brings a 24 hour ban on the sale of alcohol.

For reference:

 In Cambodia faithful Buddhists celebrate Makha Bucha day by gather in local temples to honor the Buddha and his teachings and to participate in traditional religious ceremonies.

https://www.yourphnompenh.com/makha-bucha-day-in-cambodia/

 

Here it is NOT a public (religious) holiday and alcohol is NOT banned outside the sanctuary of temples. 

Many thousands of tourists currently visiting Siem Reap and Angkor Wat will be happy bunnies!

If you are doing a border run to Cambodia on Monday March 6th, no problem getting a beer (or whatever) over the border.

[asf6]

5 hours ago, Bangkok Barry said:

Why? Also, why for non-Buddhists?

We are not banned from drinking alcohol, only from buying it on Monday. As others have suggested, buy some before Monday and thank Webfact for warning us in advance so we can navigate this minor inconvenience without too much, err, inconvenience. ☺️ 

[Bangkok Barry]

2 minutes ago, asf6 said:

We are not banned from drinking alcohol, only from buying it on Monday. As others have suggested, buy some before Monday and thank Webfact for warning us in advance so we can navigate this minor inconvenience without too much, err, inconvenience. ☺️ 

Thanks. We all know to buy early. But you didn't answer my question.

[sidneybear]

9 hours ago, AnnaBanana said:

We don't even qualify as guests here.

I wasn't invited, were you?

We're more like party-crashers who have arrived too late and found  "...a banquet hall deserted, whose lights are fled, whose garlands dead and all but he departed."

Oh dearie me. Just pop a few cold ones in your fridge and watch a film or two. 

[asf6]

48 minutes ago, Bangkok Barry said:

Thanks. We all know to buy early. But you didn't answer my question.

Why is it banned? Cuz the govt said so. ☺️

Why does the government ban it on such days? I have no idea and personally I don't really care but I assume that it is some kind of compromise between differing Thai thoughts on alcohol consumption and Buddhism:  Thai Buddhists that say Buddhists shouldn't drink alcohol at all, Thai Buddhists who say Buddhists shouldn't drink alcohol on Buddhist holy days (wan pra / วันพระ), and those Thais who want to drink every day. The government position seems to be to impose  quite a mild inconvenience and only ban the selling (but not consumption) of alcohol on 4 of the most important Buddhist special days: Makha Bucha, Wisaka Bucha, Kao Pansa and Asala Bucha. 

Edited March 4, 2023 by asf6

[zzaa09]

10 hours ago, KannikaP said:

Except Lotus, Makro, 7-11 etc.

Of course - for those know nothing else [dependent] than the Western-style supermarket or mini-marts.

Almost too predictable. 

[Bangkok Barry]

49 minutes ago, asf6 said:

Why is it banned? Cuz the govt said so. ☺️

Why does the government ban it on such days? I have no idea and personally I don't really care but I assume that it is some kind of compromise between differing Thai thoughts on alcohol consumption and Buddhism:  Thai Buddhists that say Buddhists shouldn't drink alcohol at all, Thai Buddhists who say Buddhists shouldn't drink alcohol on Buddhist holy days (wan pra / วันพระ), and those Thais who want to drink every day. The government position seems to be to impose  quite a mild inconvenience and only ban the selling (but not consumption) of alcohol on 4 of the most important Buddhist special days: Makha Bucha, Wisaka Bucha, Kao Pansa and Asala Bucha. 

Good reasoning. 

[zzaa09]

52 minutes ago, asf6 said:

Why is it banned? Cuz the govt said so. ☺️

Why does the government ban it on such days? I have no idea and personally I don't really care but I assume that it is some kind of compromise between differing Thai thoughts on alcohol consumption and Buddhism:  Thai Buddhists that say Buddhists shouldn't drink alcohol at all, Thai Buddhists who say Buddhists shouldn't drink alcohol on Buddhist holy days (wan pra / วันพระ), and those Thais who want to drink every day. The government position seems to be to impose  quite a mild inconvenience and only ban the selling (but not consumption) of alcohol on 4 of the most important Buddhist special days: Makha Bucha, Wisaka Bucha, Kao Pansa and Asala Bucha. 

All of your decent logic aside, might remember that there is a great leap as to what society is feeling and acting upon and what any surface/official mandates that are in place and promoted as such. 

[SoilSpoil]

Alcohol is so overrated, just drink some kratom tea and inhale some Thai sativa smoke at night.  No hangover for sure.