The history of Thailand’s holy-day alcohol ban – and why it could soon be lifted

[webfact]

 

The Move Forward Party has offered a trickle of hope to drinkers who have long agonized over the alcohol ban imposed during religious holidays. The ban will be banished if it forms the new government, the party has promised.

 

“Scrapping the prohibition is one of our policies,” affirmed Amarat Chokepamitkul, who was elected as a party-list MP for Move Forward when it scored a shock win in the May 14 national poll.

 

She highlighted the policy after the ban was enforced for Visakha Bucha Day last Saturday, when Thailand’s normally buzzing nightlife fell silent, along with countless cash registers around the country.

 

Thai authorities prohibit the distribution of alcoholic drinks on five religious holidays, including Visakha Bucha, which marks the birth, death and enlightenment of Lord Buddha. Abstaining from intoxicants such as alcohol is one of the Five Precepts that all Buddhists are encouraged to follow.

 

However, while most Thais are Buddhists, the country is also home to other faiths, and to people who profess no faith at all. Meanwhile, not all Buddhists willingly agree to abstain from alcohol on their holy days. However, those caught violating the ban risk up to six months in jail and/or a fine of 10,000 baht.

 

By Thai PBS World

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/the-history-of-thailands-holy-day-alcohol-ban-and-why-it-could-soon-be-lifted/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2023-06-06

 

- 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.

 

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[bob smith]

oh yeah now i remember.

 

i was absolutely rat ar*ed that day!

[ikke1959]

11 minutes ago, webfact said:

Abstaining from intoxicants such as alcohol is one of the Five Precepts that all Buddhists are encouraged to follow.

But that means for every day not only on the 5 important holidays.. and also is smoking, use of drugs, having money, gossip, telling lies, respect for lives and many more... So alcohol ban can be scrapped as all the other I have mentioned are not implemented too.....

Besides that the ban is more about selling than consuming..Not of this time anymore so stop with this nonsense and also on election days, and all other days they have invented. Make people aware how to (ab)use alcohol safely and driving with alcohol punish severe, if they ever test one   

[quake]

I'm sure the Monks will drink to that. 

[RandolphGB]

Quote

...drinkers who have long agonized over the alcohol ban

Anyone who 'agonizes' over bars not legally being able to serve alcohol for 24 hours should probably see a doctor. 

 

 

 

 

[KhunBENQ]

32 minutes ago, RandolphGB said:

Anyone who 'agonizes' over bars not legally being able to serve alcohol for 24 hours should probably see a doctor

Live and let live.

The medieval laws do absolutely nothing against alcoholism just hurt the business particularly in tourist areas.

[Woof999]

34 minutes ago, RandolphGB said:

Anyone who 'agonizes' over bars not legally being able to serve alcohol for 24 hours should probably see a doctor. 

 

 

 

 

That's kind of missing the point.

 

Taking foreigners out of the picture, a Thai not being able to do what they can do on the other 360 days of the year, in their own country, because of the beliefs of someone else is just plain wrong.

[2baht]

Ban it everyday! 

[Ralf001]

1 minute ago, 2baht said:

Ban it everyday! 

The sales and distribution or the consumption ?

[2baht]

7 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

The sales and distribution or the consumption ?

The lot! 

[h90]

1 hour ago, RandolphGB said:

Anyone who 'agonizes' over bars not legally being able to serve alcohol for 24 hours should probably see a doctor. 

 

 

 

 

Anyone who believes the government should decide what you are allowed to do should grow up.

[h90]

42 minutes ago, Woof999 said:

That's kind of missing the point.

 

Taking foreigners out of the picture, a Thai not being able to do what they can do on the other 360 days of the year, in their own country, because of the beliefs of someone else is just plain wrong.

And there are for example Christian Thais who can drink....or Hindu Thais who don't demand the ban of beef.

[h90]

1 hour ago, quake said:

I'm sure the Monks will drink to that. 

yes they drink their "coke" from their own bottle...and as more coke they drink as more they smile.

[Ralf001]

1 hour ago, 2baht said:

The lot! 

Why ?

[whereyougo]

4 hours ago, RandolphGB said:

Anyone who 'agonizes' over bars not legally being able to serve alcohol for 24 hours should probably see a doctor. 

 

 

 

 

Recovering alcoholics are like born again Christians spreading the word 

[xkkpafi]

4 hours ago, RandolphGB said:

Anyone who 'agonizes' over bars not legally being able to serve alcohol for 24 hours should probably see a doctor. 

 

 

 

 

So how does it work? Presumably the doctor gives you a prescription for 4 cans of Chang, you then go to your mom and pop store and get your beer there. Or do you know a doctor who owns a pub?

[cnx101]

You can always find a drink and day if you want one

[webfact]

Move Forward Signals Fewer Alcohol Restrictions

 

 

The Move Forward Party says alcohol bans imposed during religious holidays will be banished if it forms the new government.  A further move towards a less restrictive approach to alcohol may see the ban on packaged alcohol sales between and 11 AM and 5 PM withdrawn.

 

“Scrapping the prohibition is one of our policies,” affirmed Amarat Chokepamitkul, who was elected as a party-list MP for Move Forward in the May 14th national poll.

 

She highlighted the policy after the ban was enforced for Visakha Bucha Day last Saturday, when Thailand’s nightlife fell silent, along with countless cash registers around the country.

 

Thai authorities prohibit the distribution of alcoholic drinks on five religious holidays, including Visakha Bucha, which marks the birth, death and enlightenment of Lord Buddha. Abstaining from intoxicants such as alcohol is one of the Five Precepts that all Buddhists are encouraged to follow.

 

Those caught violating the ban risk up to six months in jail and/or a fine of 10,000 baht.

Taopiphop Limjittrakorn, who was elected as a Bangkok MP under the Move Forward banner, says the government should function as a secular state rather than imposing the ideals of one religion on all people in Thailand.  “Don’t forget that we are a multicultural country,” he emphasized.  In his view, the ban also violates people’s freedom of faith and of occupation, both of which are enshrined in the Constitution.

 

A survey of 412 Generation Z members (aged 18-25) released by a Rangsit University’s lecturer Assoc Prof Dr Thamrongsak Petchlert-anan last December showed that more than half wanted the bans scrapped while only 30.6% wanted it to stay. The rest declined to comment.

 

In late 2007, the government formed by the Council for National Security in the wake of the 2006 coup passed the Alcoholic Beverages Control Bill. After the law took effect, the government led by Abhisit Vejjajiva issued a ministerial regulation prohibiting the sale of alcoholic beverages on Makha Bucha Day, Visakha Bucha Day, Asarnha Bucha Day, and Wan Khao Phansa (so-called Buddhist Lent).

 

In 2015, the post-coup National Council for Peace and Order government extended the alcohol ban to cover hotels and added a fifth annual holiday, Awk Phansa, or the end of Buddhist Lent Day. The only exemptions granted were for airport duty-free shops and for business-to-business sales.

 

The Office of the Prime Minister also issued regulations in 2015 clarifying that alcohol can be sold only in stores between 11am and 2pm and again from 5pm to midnight only, a regulation that had previously been largely ignored.

 

Source: https://royalcoastreview.com/2023/06/move-forward-signals-fewer-alcohol-restrictions/

 

-- © Copyright Royal Coast Review 2023-06-06

 

- 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.

[jwest10]

4 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

But that means for every day not only on the 5 important holidays.. and also is smoking, use of drugs, having money, gossip, telling lies, respect for lives and many more... So alcohol ban can be scrapped as all the other I have mentioned are not implemented too.....

Besides that the ban is more about selling than consuming..Not of this time anymore so stop with this nonsense and also on election days, and all other days they have invented. Make people aware how to (ab)use alcohol safely and driving with alcohol punish severe, if they ever test one   

Saving face when owefamily lots of money but lie through their teeth and state it was given as a loan.
Scum and vermin all over the world and good and bad everywhere and do the wai apology and stating sorry, really!!! GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

[terryofcrete]

3 hours ago, h90 said:

Anyone who believes the government should decide what you are allowed to do should grow up.

They won't let me rob any bank ! I'm really cheesed off ! 

[n00dle]

What is the deal with all these news articles paying lipservice to all the great things the MFP will accomplish when it is increasingly unlcear tyhat they will even form a government?

 

cart before the horse much?

[daveAustin]

Move Forward certainly wants to move forward. They’ll be getting the mutts ‘n monkeys off the streets next! 

[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

The Move Forward Party has offered a trickle of hope to drinkers who have long agonized over the alcohol ban imposed during religious holidays. The ban will be banished if it forms the new government, the party has promised

Finally Thailand may have some common sense prevailing soon.

[redwood1]

The 11 to 5  sales ban is very very very very annoying when your grocery shopping and needs to go 100%......

 

A few days of no sales for religion.....Is ZERO problem and is good because all the bar workers are free to vist the Temples.......It shoud be kept......

[ben2talk]

Assuming ‘Move forward’ is allowed to survive…

[Mad mick]

Might as well open makes no difference All you do stock up the day before have bbq & chill ???? 

[wombat]

3 hours ago, 2baht said:

The lot! 

Lips that touch alcohol will not touch mine.

[worgeordie]

Up will go the death rates on the roads , if people cannot do without alcohol

for a few days a year ............

 

regards worgeordie

 

[khunjeff]

54 minutes ago, webfact said:

The Office of the Prime Minister also issued regulations in 2015 clarifying that alcohol can be sold only in stores between 11am and 2pm and again from 5pm to midnight only, a regulation that had previously been largely ignored.

Every article keeps stating this as fact, but it's totally false. The "Revolutionary Decree" was revived around 20 years ago under the puritanical Interior Minister Purachai duringThaksin's administration, and the 2015 regulation just re-codified the same policy.

[Purdey]

Everything depends on self-discipline,

 

....and police waiting outside the bar when you get into the car or on the bike