Photo Courtesy of Flickr

 

A nationwide alcohol ban will be enforced in Thailand this Saturday, June 3, in observance of the Buddhist holiday Visakha Bucha. 

 

Visakha Bucha commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and death of Prince Siddhartha, which all occurred on the same date, decades apart, according to the ancient Buddhist calendar.

 

Devout Buddhists traditionally visit temples early in the morning to make merit and listen to sermons on Buddha’s teachings. In the evening, candle-lit processions take place at major temples across the country.

 

Alcohol sales will be prohibited throughout Thailand, except duty-free shops at the airport, from midnight Friday night until midnight Saturday night.

 

The ban, introduced by the Prime Minister’s Office in January 2015, applies to five specific religious days: Makha Bucha, Visakha Bucha, Asarnha Bucha Day, Khao Pansa, and Wan Org Pansa. Violators face up to six months in prison, a 10,000 baht fine, or both.

 

by Mitch Connor

Full story: https://thethaiger.com/news/phuket/thailand-alcohol-ban-on-june-3-for-visakha-bucha-and-royal-visit

 

-- © Copyright Thaiger 2023-05-31

 

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Wow glad I’m going to miss that, I arrive on June 4th ????

My local Mom & Pop shop will provide with a smile.

Can't be many of those devote Buddhists where I live indiscriminately poisoning dogs and eating meat as their religion states they cannot take a life. I don't drink but those foreigners who do who are not Buddhists should be able to buy it. 

1 hour ago, Mbaki said:

Wow glad I’m going to miss that, I arrive on June 4th ????

LOL. Yes, just in time for the next beer shutdown on the 5th June for yet another public holiday

4 hours ago, webfact said:

A nationwide alcohol ban will be enforced in Thailand this Saturday, June 3

Pfffttt, how inconsiderate! Do they not know it's FA Cup Final day...??? ????????

Darn it, the third dry day this month. What's a drunk supposed to do!

darn it .... I'll have to get some stock in on Friday. 

I hope the MFP will ban these alcohol free day bans.... Too stupid nowadays. Give the people some responsibility, and besides that what is a party without alcohol?/ Vesaka is in Christianity Christmas, Easter and  Pentecost.... 

44 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

LOL. Yes, just in time for the next beer shutdown on the 5th June for yet another public holiday

Monday holiday is not alcohol purchasing ban and of course Saturday every one is free to consume alcohol and many, many, many good Thai Buddhists will be. And again on Sunday. And again on Monday. Very silly anachronistic law.

Edited May 31, 20233 yr by dinsdale

1 hour ago, brommers said:

Darn it, the third dry day this month. What's a drunk supposed to do!

Keep drinking. Doesn’t make any difference unless perhaps thou ist a clueless tourist. ????

These bans are stupid, because all people do is go the day before and buy their drinks and drink at home

You can’t drink but can smoke…

3 hours ago, hotchilli said:

My local Mom & Pop shop will provide with a smile.

our not...

i'll be stocking up on June 2nd then...

 

Thanks for the heads up!

22 minutes ago, Tarteso said:

You can’t drink but can smoke…

You can't sell alcohol but you can drink it.

1 hour ago, dinsdale said:

Monday holiday is not alcohol purchasing ban and of course Saturday every one is free to consume alcohol and many, many, many good Thai Buddhists will be. And again on Sunday. And again on Monday. Very silly anachronistic law.

And when the Buddhists can ban alcohol for everyone, than why don't we respect other religions and ban pork for the Muslims which are many in Thailand and beef because of the Hindus. Or maybe we better leave that all to personal choice (together with Marijuana).

1 hour ago, ikke1959 said:

I hope the MFP will ban these alcohol free day bans.... Too stupid nowadays. Give the people some responsibility, and besides that what is a party without alcohol?/ Vesaka is in Christianity Christmas, Easter and  Pentecost.... 

That party that just want to ban Marijuana? I hope they do but I doubt it. Or the purchase time limits.

1 hour ago, daveAustin said:

Keep drinking. Doesn’t make any difference unless perhaps thou ist a clueless tourist. ????

Normally I'd agree. But Saturday is the FA Cup Final and most of the big sports pubs showing the game in BKK will be following this ban. Even the ones that don't, it will be a coffee mug under the table which is still pretty lame.

 

So it's kind of inconvenient even if you live here as I do. 

19 minutes ago, h90 said:

And when the Buddhists can ban alcohol for everyone, than why don't we respect other religions and ban pork for the Muslims which are many in Thailand and beef because of the Hindus. Or maybe we better leave that all to personal choice (together with Marijuana).

Too sensible.

 

Some folks just like to control others and enjoy telling people what to do. 

2 hours ago, steven100 said:

darn it .... I'll have to get some stock in on Friday. 

could be a good idea.....i have had a stock in for weeks !!!

2 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

I hope the MFP will ban these alcohol free day bans.... Too stupid nowadays. Give the people some responsibility, and besides that what is a party without alcohol?/ Vesaka is in Christianity Christmas, Easter and  Pentecost.... 

Just stick to local Mom & Pop shops. They'll happily sell whatever you want.

Saturday 3rd, alcohol ban (Visakha Bucha and Queens birthday).

 

Monday 5th, public holiday (substitute for Saturday), all offices incl immigration closed.

 

The latter one might be more important to many.

3 hours ago, bluemoon58 said:

Pfffttt, how inconsiderate! Do they not know it's FA Cup Final day...??? ????????

Yeah should be great watching the match over an orange juice !!

Let's celebrate this possibly last day of no booze on Buddhist holiday. All other Buddhist countries do not have a "no alcohol" law to suppress the underlings for no reason.

And, should the 14 million voters get their government, there is light at the end of the tunnel, that also this nonsense comes to a screeching end. Not, that I care but it is overdue to get rid of all those nappy governments to tell you to open your fly prior to go for a leak! 

1 hour ago, h90 said:

And when the Buddhists can ban alcohol for everyone, than why don't we respect other religions and ban pork for the Muslims which are many in Thailand and beef because of the Hindus. Or maybe we better leave that all to personal choice (together with Marijuana).

But for Muslims pork and for Hindus beef is a whole year prohibited..But in Thailand there is an alcohol ban always when there is something to celebrate...But  drugs are allowed for everyone, even in candy and food... 

Already done my weekly shopping at Lotus's a couple of days back

Plenty of Chang beer in the fridge ???? 

3 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

I hope the MFP will ban these alcohol free day bans.... Too stupid nowadays. Give the people some responsibility, and besides that what is a party without alcohol?/ Vesaka is in Christianity Christmas, Easter and  Pentecost.... 

As well as remove the idiotic official selling hours ban which is every day. 

2 hours ago, Tarteso said:

You can’t drink but can smoke…

And Dope

Bad news if you own a sports bar one of the biggest games of the year FA Cup final and you cannot serve a beer, The millions will be watching around the world