It's a minor gripe, but when I go out for a beer, I like to relax and savor it at my own pace. I always tell the server that I'll pour my own beer, thank you very much. However, unless I keep a vigilant eye on my glass, one of the other staff members inevitably sneaks up and tops it off.

As I mentioned, it's a minor annoyance when I'm alone or with a small group. But it becomes problematic at large gatherings, where it’s nearly impossible to keep track of how many bottles are piling up at the end of the table. Does anyone else feel this way?

I think for most Thais it's normal that glasses are refilled.

You want to be the exception of the rule, but don't expect that they remember that or care about it.

Just accept it.

30 minutes ago, Querentino_Spaghettino said:

. However, unless I keep a vigilant eye on my glass, one of the other staff members inevitably sneaks up and tops it off

ManUp 

 

 

Drink it straight from the bottle. 

 

BTW, I like your user name 😂

 

Edited June 28, 20242 yr by SAFETY FIRST

1 hour ago, Querentino_Spaghettino said:

It's a minor gripe, but when I go out for a beer, I like to relax and savor it at my own pace. I always tell the server that I'll pour my own beer, thank you very much. However, unless I keep a vigilant eye on my glass, one of the other staff members inevitably sneaks up and tops it off.

As I mentioned, it's a minor annoyance when I'm alone or with a small group. But it becomes problematic at large gatherings, where it’s nearly impossible to keep track of how many bottles are piling up at the end of the table. Does anyone else feel this way?

 

Over time, you'll learn to relax and roll with the flow.

I stopped drinking beer and the problem immediately went away. 

2 hours ago, BigStar said:

 

Over time, you'll learn to relax and roll with the flow.

Or flow with the roll !

Drink draught

3 hours ago, Querentino_Spaghettino said:

It's a minor gripe

 

... at least its better than the tosh the latest trollish bore Mekmong MICK is serving up... 

 

Its also understandable that some prefer to keep track of how much they've been drinking - 4 glasses or 7 etc... when the staff are constantly topping it becomes difficult to tell - especially when they start adding ice too.

 

But, as others have mentioned - its ingrained in the staff and we just have to roll with it. 

 

I much prefer this way, rather than having to queue up at a bar for 10 mins just to get a beer (as in the UK).

 

 

 

 

My annoyance comes from the servers not caring which drink to pour. For example, on Monday my friend had a Singha reserve and I has a Singha, they pour his beer into mine. Or last week I changed from a Leo to a Singha and they top my half full Leo glass up with Singha. It's like beer is just beer to some of them. It's all the same but with a different packaging.

I don't drink a lot.  But what bothers me more than them refilling the glass all the time is filling it full of ice first.

4 hours ago, Querentino_Spaghettino said:

keep a vigilant eye on my glass, one of the other staff members inevitably sneaks up and tops it off.

Place the napkin on the top of the glass, I’m sure no one will attempt to fill it. btw great handle @Querentino_Spaghettino 

OP drinks light beer

4 hours ago, Querentino_Spaghettino said:

Does anyone else feel this way?

 

Just the once.  I was visiting friends in Pattaya and we went to eat at Lengis.

 

I had a bad cold and sore throat and did not want any ice in my beer. The waiter came and was about to put ice in my glass. I held up my hand to stop him.

 

' My ow nam keng , my ow nam keng , MY OW NAM F>>>>>G KENG.

 

He just smiled and filled the glass with ice , smiling all the time . He started to pour, I covered the glass with my hand. He just kept smiling and poured beer on my hand. Talk about thick. He quickly stopped and looked non plussed. I grabbed a fresh glass and the beer from his hand and poured my own. He must have been Burmese and only had one Thai word in his vocabulary. Nam keng.

4 hours ago, Querentino_Spaghettino said:

It's a minor gripe, but when I go out for a beer, I like to relax and savor it at my own pace. I always tell the server that I'll pour my own beer, thank you very much. However, unless I keep a vigilant eye on my glass, one of the other staff members inevitably sneaks up and tops it off.

As I mentioned, it's a minor annoyance when I'm alone or with a small group. But it becomes problematic at large gatherings, where it’s nearly impossible to keep track of how many bottles are piling up at the end of the table. Does anyone else feel this way?

Man up and buy the 3 litre towers    

1 hour ago, AAArdvark said:

Drink draught

 

Yes indeed. Here in Siem Reap, Cambodia, draught beers are widely available - none of the "drinking from a bottle" lark!  They are inexpensive costing around 50 US cents (17 Thai baht) for a 330ml glass at many bars, especially during "happy hours". I always drink draught Cambodian beers except when I visit Thailand where I have to resort to large bottles of Chang at the cost of 80 baht per large bottle at my usual hotel in Chiang Mai. (Please note, this hotel does not stock small bottles)

Edited June 28, 20242 yr by Burma Bill
additional information

Problem solved:

 

https://www.lazada.co.th/products/yizhuoliang-picks-stopper-conservation-i4878192056.html

 

5 hours ago, Querentino_Spaghettino said:

I prefer to do it myself - thanks

Then what did you come to Thailand for? Could have just stayed home with a tube of your favorite snap off cream. 

I don't know where you drink, it must be Nakon nowhere. In Pattaya and Jomtien people drink either from bottles or have draught beer. A very few people have a bottle with a glass and no ice. The only time I have ever had someone try to top up the beer or add ice is in a Thai barbecue where it's an accepted part of the service. Elsewhere in a bar I have never seen or experienced it. 

 

Maybe you are one of the cheap Charlie's who irritate me. Bagging the best seat with the best Seaview and spending an hour over drinking a small bottle of beer with a glass. Maybe they are topping up your glass to get you to buy another beer or to move on.

9 minutes ago, jimn said:

Maybe they are topping up your glass to get you to buy another beer or to move on.

That is always why they do it. But it is disguised as giving good service. 

     Its a bit of a pain but its what Thais do and what they expect, When a group of Thais are drinking together, at somebody's house for example, the responsibility for topping up the glasses generally falls on the youngest or least senior member of the group, and that responsibility is taken quite seriously.

What I also find a pain is when , in restaurants, ones beer and Ice  is placed on a seperate remote table or trolley which is annoyingly, often  just out of reach.

            

Reported off topic post removed.

3 hours ago, rwill said:

I don't drink a lot.  But what bothers me more than them refilling the glass all the time is filling it full of ice first.

You got to tell them when ordering , No  Ice. 

It is Sacrilege to ad Ice to Beer /Beer to Ice.

Edited June 28, 20242 yr by digger70

9 hours ago, Querentino_Spaghettino said:

It's a minor gripe, but when I go out for a beer, I like to relax and savor it at my own pace. I always tell the server that I'll pour my own beer, thank you very much. However, unless I keep a vigilant eye on my glass, one of the other staff members inevitably sneaks up and tops it off.

As I mentioned, it's a minor annoyance when I'm alone or with a small group. But it becomes problematic at large gatherings, where it’s nearly impossible to keep track of how many bottles are piling up at the end of the table. Does anyone else feel this way?

In thought this topic would be about masturbation.

1 hour ago, susanlea said:

In thought this topic would be about masturbation.

You can still masturbate. You don't need this topic for that.

3 hours ago, digger70 said:

You got to tell them when ordering , No  Ice. 

It is Sacrilege to ad Ice to Beer /Beer to Ice.

I agree with proper beer....But the so-called beer that's sold in Thailand?  Not so much

At least it means you don't have to taste it.  😊

31 minutes ago, VBF said:

I agree with proper beer....But the so-called beer that's sold in Thailand?  Not so much

At least it means you don't have to taste it.  😊

 

Its ok... the 'ice in beer is sacrilege' comment is one every newbie to Thailand makes until they realise they are unoriginal....   and just learn to go with the flow.. 

12 hours ago, Querentino_Spaghettino said:

It's a minor gripe, but when I go out for a beer, I like to relax and savor it at my own pace. I always tell the server that I'll pour my own beer, thank you very much. However, unless I keep a vigilant eye on my glass, one of the other staff members inevitably sneaks up and tops it off.

As I mentioned, it's a minor annoyance when I'm alone or with a small group. But it becomes problematic at large gatherings, where it’s nearly impossible to keep track of how many bottles are piling up at the end of the table. Does anyone else feel this way?

Why would you concentrate on the amount of bottles? You still only have one glass, right?

 

8 hours ago, Grumpy one said:

Man up and buy the 3 litre towers

I stopped using those towers years ago. I always seemed to be able to drink a lot more without getting drunk compared to drinking from bottles. The draught  Chang often tasted particularly weak I'm sure many places water their draft beer down

5 hours ago, digger70 said:

It is Sacrilege to ad Ice to Beer /Beer to Ice.

Normally I would agree with you, but compared to drinking Chang, or any of the others, at anything approaching  ambient temperature I'll go with the ice every time

32 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

13 hours ago, Querentino_Spaghettino said:

But it becomes problematic at large gatherings, where it’s nearly impossible to keep track of how many bottles are piling up at the end of the table. Does anyone else feel this way?

Why would you concentrate on the amount of bottles? You still only have one glass, right?

 

Its possibly related to 'splitting the bill'...    some are more frugal and may only want to pay for exactly what they had - thats the only think I can think of when it comes to 'keeping track of bottles'... 

 

As the Op pointed out, its just a minor gripe...