Two booze ban days coming up in Thailand

[webfact]

 

by leah

 

In case drunkenness influences voters to tick the wrong box in Thailand‘s upcoming elections, alcohol sales will be banned nationwide for two Saturdays next month – early voting day and Election Day.

No alcohol may be sold from 6pm on May 6 until 6pm on May 7, as well as from 6pm on May 13 until 6pm on May 14. That’s two sober Saturday nights. Foreigners cannot vote in the election, but the alcohol ban applies to everyone living in the kingdom.

The sale or distribution of alcohol is banned everywhere: convenience stores, bars, and even parties and weddings. Anyone who violates the ban could land themselves a six-month jail sentence and/or a fine of up to 10,000 baht.

 

Not only alcohol, but Thailand’s election law also bans…

 

Buying or selling votes
Preventing eligible voters from casting their ballots
Providing free transport for eligible voters to voting stations
Intentionally damaging a ballot paper

 

Full story: https://thethaiger.com/news/national/two-booze-ban-days-coming-up-in-thailand

 

-- © Copyright Thaiger 2023-04-26

 

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[JoePai]

Only goes to prove the Government cannot trust their 'subjects' to behave 

[dinsdale]

11 minutes ago, webfact said:

In case drunkenness influences voters to tick the wrong box in Thailand‘s upcoming elections, alcohol sales will be banned nationwide for two Saturdays next month – early voting day and Election Day.

I guess people won't stock up pre 6 pm on Sat then thus avoiding 'ticking the wrong box' on voting day. The logic is just incredible. Bit like alcohol ban Buddhist holidays were everyone stocks up and drinks on their day off if they get one. Especially if it's a Fri or Mon. It's just so infantile.

[smedly]

19 minutes ago, JoePai said:

Only goes to prove the Government cannot trust their 'subjects' to behave 

only goes to prove they make up stupid rules for stupid reasons

[stoner]

 what about weed sales ? i call for a ban on weed sales for those 2 days as well. 

[Tarteso]

Does this make sense when you can stock up on all the drinks you want ?

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Not only alcohol, but Thailand’s election law also bans…

 

Buying or selling votes
Preventing eligible voters from casting their ballots
Providing free transport for eligible voters to voting stations
Intentionally damaging a ballot paper

Might just as well cancel the election then.

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, smedly said:

only goes to prove they make up stupid rules for stupid reasons

The scary bit is they think they're right.

[Skeptic7]

8 minutes ago, Tarteso said:

make sense

 

You sure have high expectations for LOMNS...

Land of Make No Sense❗

 

[JonnyF]

Never understood why they don't allow the purchase if a foreign passport is provided.

 

That would help the tourist businesses to continue as normal and not ruin 2 days of peoples holidays. It's not like they have a problem differentiating between Thais and foreigners on other issues. I guess they only like to do that when it results in a benefit for the Thai as opposed to a benefit to the foreigner.

[Lokie]

1 hour ago, JonnyF said:

Never understood why they don't allow the purchase if a foreign passport is provided.

 

That would help the tourist businesses to continue as normal and not ruin 2 days of peoples holidays. It's not like they have a problem differentiating between Thais and foreigners on other issues. I guess they only like to do that when it results in a benefit for the Thai as opposed to a benefit to the foreigner.

Overall agree but then we are applying farang logic to the issue... 555

[zzaa09]

1 hour ago, hotchilli said:

Might just as well cancel the election then.

That'll be their twisted intent anyway. 

We should be expecting some sort of manipulated scheme of this fashion in the coming weeks. 

 

It's what they do, isn't it?

 

[Upnotover]

While everyone has their calendars out might as well circle June 3 as well, Visakha Bucha.

[VocalNeal]

1 hour ago, JonnyF said:

Never understood why they don't allow the purchase if a foreign passport is provided.

 

That would help the tourist businesses to continue as normal and not ruin 2 days of peoples holidays. It's not like they have a problem differentiating between Thais and foreigners on other issues. I guess they only like to do that when it results in a benefit for the Thai as opposed to a benefit to the foreigner.

All Thais know where to buy alcohol on all days. This doesn't effect them one iota. 

 

[Advocatus Diaboli]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

In case drunkenness influences voters to tick the wrong box in Thailand‘s upcoming elections, alcohol sales will be banned nationwide for two Saturdays next month – early voting day and Election Day.

But Thais can still go get medicinally HIGH those days …. As nice and legal to go and do that.

[JonnyF]

45 minutes ago, VocalNeal said:

All Thais know where to buy alcohol on all days. This doesn't effect them one iota. 

 

Yes of course, and so do expats. However that wasn't my point.

 

My point is that this needlessly affects business owners and tourists. It would be so simple to allow foreigners to be excluded from this silly paternalistic tradition.

[ripstanley]

Big coffee cups will be in a lot of restaurants.

[VocalNeal]

1 minute ago, JonnyF said:

It would be so simple to allow foreigners to be excluded from this silly paternalistic tradition.

I have walked into a hotel ( Now called Avani) sat by the pool/bar and ordered a beer, on a no beer day, no problem. I wasn't a guest and no one asked. 

 

Is there any country that makes different rules for foreigners???? 

 

Maybe residents of hotels could be excluded.

[VocalNeal]

2 minutes ago, ripstanley said:

Big coffee cups will be in a lot of restaurants.

I've just frozen some yoghurt containers????

[ripstanley]

Just now, VocalNeal said:

I've just frozen some yoghurt containers????

Thanks for the laugh. I cannot give you a ha ha emojo

[Jumbo1968]

3 hours ago, Tarteso said:

Does this make sense when you can stock up on all the drinks you want ?

The government don’t have any common sense, lack of education, scary tbh.

[dinsdale]

1 hour ago, VocalNeal said:

All Thais know where to buy alcohol on all days. This doesn't effect them one iota. 

 

So do farangs at least those that live here. 

Edited April 26, 2023 by dinsdale

[dinsdale]

So booze ban the week before the election for early voting is because 3% of registered voters registered to vote on this day. I don't care what anyone says but this is straight from the minds of complete imbiciles. Of course these absolute empty headed idiots who come up with this complete nonsense will be well and truly smashed Sat night and Sunday.

[daveAustin]

That'll make a good first impression for those tourists (who they desperately need) with their first night out on those dates. Still can't quite shake that banana republic mentality. 

[kingstonkid]

11 hours ago, dinsdale said:

I guess people won't stock up pre 6 pm on Sat then thus avoiding 'ticking the wrong box' on voting day. The logic is just incredible. Bit like alcohol ban Buddhist holidays were everyone stocks up and drinks on their day off if they get one. Especially if it's a Fri or Mon. It's just so infantile.

Before people get too far off track, I think you need to remember that bars used to be closed on election day in Canada and the U.S. until polls closed

 

People when they vote should have a clear head.

 

Hell n some areas the bar was the actual voting station.

 

The rule in Canada in the 2000 was that a person could be refused to be allowed to vote if they appeared to be under the influence of alcohol or any drug.  The hassle was that the rep for the different parties had to view the persona nd agree.

 

Could you imagine trying ot get the PT PPRP ans all these micro parties reps in one poll

[ikke1959]

ban on alcohol because you have to put a cross in box estimated time 5 minutes, but an alcohol ban for 24 hours...and that 2 weeks while the politician are drinking probably in waiting for their votes...

[mikebell]

20 hours ago, webfact said:

Buying or selling votes
Preventing eligible voters from casting their ballots
Providing free transport for eligible voters to voting stations
Intentionally damaging a ballot paper

Laughable to think Thailand could hold an election without these inducements!

[djayz]

Last time there was an election here, it fell exactly on my 50th birthday. I honestly and truly didn't even think about the election (let's be honest, if you're turning 50, who would be thinking about elections?). Anyways, minutes before 6 o'clock I sail into my favourite pub up on Sukhumvit with a big smile on my face and a wad of money in my wallet. I order a pint of the black stuff only to be told "Sorry sir, we're closing at 6. No can sell alcohol today". That was the driest birthday of my entire adult life! 

Never again! 

Now I is a gonna stock up real good this time round! 

Edited April 27, 2023 by djayz

[Mickeymaus]

My goodness. A night without alcohol in a bar. What a punishment for some. They must have a very poor life if they have no alternative.

[webfact]

Alcohol Sales Prohibited During Early Voting and Election Days
by Paul Rujopakarn

 

BANGKOK (NNT) - To avoid unnecessary incidents or complications, alcohol sales will be banned throughout Thailand on the day of early voting and Election Day next month.

 

Alcohol sales and distribution will be forbidden from 6:00 PM. on May 6 until 6:00 PM on May 7, and from 6:00 PM on May 13 until 6:00 PM on May 14.

 

The ban applies to everyone living in the country and violating it can result in a prison sentence of six months or a fine of up to 10,000 baht, or both.

 

Authorities also urged voters to familiarize themselves with the rules for the next election in order to avoid unintentional violations, such as photographing a marked ballot paper or taking a ballot paper out of a voting station.

 

Among those on the list are buying or selling votes, purposely destroying ballot papers, and stopping eligible voters from voting. Violators will face harsh penalties for breaking the law.

 

Source: https://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news/detail/TCATG230427090613581

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2023-04-27

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

The most versatile and flexible rental investment and holiday home solution in Thailand - click for more information.