Breathalyzer tests proposed for Thai nightlife venues

[natway09]

The checking of patrons has & is done by many bars.

Having owned & operated bars in Bangkok for 25 years we have taken more keys to motorbikes & cars  off people than 

I can number. Our bar in lower Sukhumvit was open till 4am on a regular basis.

And "Smokey & the Bandit" refused drinks to many.

[Gottfrid]

35 minutes ago, Puccini said:

 

The answer is in the second paragraph of the news article in the OP:

 

"The proposal also includes the responsibility of these establishments to arrange transportation services for such patrons."

Yes, but not to pay for it. When the guy is in the taxi, he will just go to the next place.

[kiwikeith]

16 hours ago, jacko45k said:

I seriously doubt it!

I think you're right, they will soon learn to paint a white line on the street and get patrons to see if they can walk a straight line, this is far cheaper, they can get the bar girls to stand each side of it to be judges and prevent the customers from being run over by motorcycles. 

[Jethro27]

I can see Einstein and Tesla yelling at each other saying, Here we go again!!!!

If this is a lightbulb moment can you please disconnect my power source 

[Jethro27]

6 minutes ago, Jethro27 said:

I can see Einstein and Tesla yelling at each other saying, Here we go again!!!!

If this is a lightbulb moment can you please disconnect my power source 

You couldn’t make this S**t up.

The Thai national anthem should start with “ Folks are dumb where I come from “

[waders123]

There must be a burning desire among some of the government officials to destroy the tourist economy.  WHY pitch ideas like this at a time when the Thai government is trying to bring as many tourists to their shores as possible to boost the fragile economy?  It seems like one hand doesn't know or care what the other hand is doing.  They really need to have one central spokesperson to speak about public policy and that is only after it has been reviewed and approved by the chain of command.   

They really don't need any loose cannons making statements that pi$$es off the visitors thinking about coming.

[Bepah umayun]

Who is the big guy in the test balloon industry? 🤔

[richard_smith237]

37 minutes ago, waders123 said:

There must be a burning desire among some of the government officials to destroy the tourist economy.  WHY pitch ideas like this at a time when the Thai government is trying to bring as many tourists to their shores as possible to boost the fragile economy?  It seems like one hand doesn't know or care what the other hand is doing.  They really need to have one central spokesperson to speak about public policy and that is only after it has been reviewed and approved by the chain of command.   

They really don't need any loose cannons making statements that pi$$es off the visitors thinking about coming.

 

I think the most feasible explanation for such announcements was covered by SbuxPlease on page one of this thread. 

 

(as the quote below) - Someone in a position of power pops off thoughts, shooting from the hip....

 

....I'll add to the below comments... 

Because of Kraeng-Jai, those in positions of power are never questioned, never criticised, Juniors know the best course of action is to agree with everything...

... and even though those juniors may know what they are doing is gallatically idiotic, questioning authority in corridors of power is more so... 

 

So, we are left with the constant barrage of announcements of ridiculous, ill thought out, idiotic policies that if they ever get pushed through to fruition would be mind-blowing.... Yet some do.

 

I've sat there listening to 'higher level' folk with some of their idea's....  the juniors are all nodding in agreement am I thinking... is it me?... am I the mad one ??? am I completely misunderstand something here ????  

 

I'm quite certain the reasons we hear about such ridiculous things in these news pages and announcements is because there isn't anyone brave enough to ask the obvious question..."are you for jeffing real ???" 

 

I see it throughout the world in areas where 'power & position' is valued over 'intelligence and merit'.....

 

 

14 hours ago, SbuxPlease said:

I've been in Thailand the better half of a decade and I'm starting to figure out the government playbook.

 

The playbook:

1. High level official has a random idea pop to mind while consuming (insert some banned substance) with his 2nd or 3rd mia.
2. He asks a lower level guy (in their super-secret LINE group) to float it to the public as an announcement
3. The announcement: "The ministry has decided to start (insert impractical idea). We don't know when we'll start, maybe next week or maybe never, update you soon. Also we don't have answers to the obvious questions. No, no further questions are permitted."
4. The high level guy lays low and watches to gauge the public reaction. He periodically sends lower level guys out to make random comments to see what happens.
5. If it starts looks like it would be a win, they assign it to the "do it next year team". If it looks like it would result in a lost election, or cost any money, they just stop talking about it.
6. Nobody in the public knows if the idea will ever come to fruition, and the public eventually forgets about it because the next night -> (go to step 1)

 

 

Edit to add: After step 4, if the low level guy is getting torn apart by the madness, the high level guy just cuts ties. "That announcement was incorrect and not approved, we don't even know that guy!" But if the public likes it, the high level guy claims the idea as his own.

 

[Andycoops]

22 hours ago, smedly said:

omg

 

speechless 

 

what braincell come up with this totally ridiculous idea

 

I don't even understand what they are talking about, are the going to figure out who is driving and test them ?

 

stupid people, that is the job of police which is severely lacking

 

 

A big song and dance about 4am closures - places are alreay open to 4am and have been for months

I my experience they have been open after 4am in some venues for years and years...

[thailand49]

L.O.

[Lopburikid]

On 11/13/2023 at 8:18 AM, JBChiangRai said:

Nonsense, they can't be administered within 20 minutes of last drink or it's an instant failure from mouth alcohol.

They're are just suggesting it at the moment. The thing with the Thai government is they say things that have been suggested before they have really thought about it. Like you say,  go in for 15 mins have one drink leave straight away, test at the door, over the limit.

[foreverlomsak]

On 11/13/2023 at 8:05 AM, webfact said:

The proposal also includes the responsibility of these establishments to arrange transportation services for such patrons

Stuff the testing just arrange the buses/taxi's, if people new there would be transport home they would probably drink more, also who is going to test the drivers who've probably been at the venue for hours.

[jwest10]

On 11/13/2023 at 8:26 AM, smedly said:

omg

 

speechless 

 

what braincell come up with this totally ridiculous idea

 

I don't even understand what they are talking about, are the going to figure out who is driving and test them ?

 

stupid people, that is the job of police which is severely lacking

 

 

A big song and dance about 4am closures - places are alreay open to 4am and have been for months

Yeah, well the police set up tents on Thai public holidays and sure they do not breathalize  then and perhaps the should on drivers every day but it would work as be too lazy to carry it out

[tigerbeer]

i anticipate a lot of bar fights involving bouncers and drunk customers. 

[SbuxPlease]

Thought I might pop in here to note that this idea was indeed DoA (dead on arrival)