Thailand Targets Tougher Alcohol Laws to Align with Global Norms

[Ralf001]

10 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

 

People have different preferences. And (most) mom and pop stores don't sell my favourite brands.

 

Sucks to be you then !

[redwood1]

I would almost bet the farm that the 2-5 sales ban stays....

Why?

Because the 2-5 sales ban is complete non sense....

Which is precisely the reason it stays....

The Thai government has a thing for non sense rules...

[OneMoreFarang]

6 minutes ago, kingstonkid said:

Money is not the issue, as most don't pay the bills anyway. The better solution is to impound the cars/motorcycles and sentence repeat offenders or people who cause injury.

 

How about: Pay now, or you have to walk.

I am sure they will learn very quickly. 

[azdarrell]

58 minutes ago, wensiensheng said:

Is that in every state? ie a federal law?

I’m from the USA, and I’ve never experienced an issue buying beer/liquor between the hours of 2:00p and 5:00p.  I’ve lived in and traveled to many States, never had such an issue.  Some states have restrictions selling before 10:00 or 11:00a, and after midnight, but other than some “dry counties” in the South, no issues in my experience.

[ronster]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Thanakrit Chit-areerat, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Public Health, has voiced concerns over drink-driving, especially during the upcoming New Year celebrations. He has urged the public, particularly motorists, to remain sober, citing the long-term health risks young drinkers face.

Or maybe they could actually pull people over at checkpoints and make them take a breathalyser test.

If they refuse then instantly charged with drunk driving. Anyone tested positive gets a ban length of which depends on reading. 🙄

[Jonathan Swift]

4 hours ago, Geoffggi said:

How about adjusting the cost of wines to bring the price of a bottle of wine in line with other countries.

I'm not sure how it works here, the price might have to do with taxes, as it is in Scandinavia, where booze is exponentially higher than the US because of tax. I don't drink wine so I plead ignorance. All I buy here is beer, and that's only when I go out

[Lite Beer]

42 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

 

Is there not a "mom and pop" store on your route ?

 

 

Most of us don't want to drink Leo, Chang or Archa. 

[Jonathan Swift]

12 minutes ago, azdarrell said:

I’m from the USA, and I’ve never experienced an issue buying beer/liquor between the hours of 2:00p and 5:00p.  I’ve lived in and traveled to many States, never had such an issue.  Some states have restrictions selling before 10:00 or 11:00a, and after midnight, but other than some “dry counties” in the South, no issues in my experience.

Way back when in the US booze could not be sold on Sundays. "Blue Laws". When governments finally started smelling the money to be made they eliminated that. In Thailand I believe originally there was a reason for the 2 - 5 ban, possibly to do with afternoon naps, or a king's decree, or something Buddhist. I think someone told me once but I forgot

 

[loong]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Thanakrit Chit-areerat, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Public Health, has voiced concerns over drink-driving, especially during the upcoming New Year celebrations. He has urged the public, particularly motorists, to remain sober, citing the long-term health risks young drinkers face.

 

Why do they always come up with lines like this!?
They should be concerned year-round and not just during holiday periods!

[Ralf001]

7 minutes ago, Lite Beer said:

Most of us don't want to drink Leo, Chang or Archa. 

 

Me neither, infact I do not drink any beers.

[loong]

6 minutes ago, Lite Beer said:

Most of us don't want to drink Leo, Chang or Archa. 

Strange, in my group of expat drinking buddies, the vast majority drink Leo or Chang!

[swissbie]

2 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

 

Thai drivers are able to follow the rules if the alternative is paying a lot of money.

I once was in a van from Hat Yai in Thailand to Malaysia. On the Thai road there was chaotic traffic. On the same road which continued in Malaysia, the traffic was very civilized. According to the driver the reason was easy. If they are stopped in Malaysia they have to pay a lot of money. So, they behave.

Police could enforce the rules in Thailand as well, if they would want to do that.

You're right and the interesting thing is that many Malaysian drivers here act like racing pilots same as many Thai drivers do. They know that they can do it here, so they do it. But, at least, much less Malaysians are drunk drivers..

[Scott Tracy]

1 hour ago, CFCol said:

Where is the logic in that? Thankfully it's GLOBAL norms they're looking at.

There are no global norms. 

[Tropicalevo]

1 hour ago, jesimps said:

It would be nice to be able to buy my booze on my early morning visit to the supermarket when the roads are less congested, rather than have to shop post 11am and return home during the lunch hour rush.

 

I have my alcohol delivered.

[StayinThailand2much]

28 minutes ago, Lite Beer said:

Most of us don't want to drink Leo, Chang or Archa. 

 

Exactly. And it sucks, if you get to the supermarket at 2:10 PM (maybe because of a traffic jam), and then not being able to buy a bottle of beer (as a grown-up) until 5 PM... So, just check ID, if you think the buyer is too young.

[Andrew65]

2 hours ago, jesimps said:

It would be nice to be able to buy my booze on my early morning visit to the supermarket when the roads are less congested, rather than have to shop post 11am and return home during the lunch hour rush.

I always found it a bit of a pain having to wait until 10am for shops to open. 

[off road pat]

5 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

 

Now, imagine the Thai police would arrest everybody who is drunk and drives. Now that would make a huge difference.

But obviously we can't expect such radical changes in Thailand. 

Hm, Arrest all drunk drivers ? And what about those that are busy with their mobile, and motorcycle drivers without helmets or drivers license, and,... Ok that would be far too much work !!

[off road pat]

Thailand Targets Tougher Alcohol Laws to Align with Global Norms ???

Bla, bla, bla, bla,..... It's just wind. Without the help of the crooked police nothing will happen.

This is just one more way for the police to make more money !

 

[blazes]

5 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

 

Now, imagine the Thai police would arrest everybody who is drunk and drives. Now that would make a huge difference.

But obviously we can't expect such radical changes in Thailand. 

 

Not enough jails....

[BarBoy]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

He advocates for the introduction of stiffer penalties, such as mandatory imprisonment for individuals caught driving under the influence.

I'm currently at the pub and now 7 pints in. I won't be leaving for a while and WILL be driving home...

 

Catch me if you can!

[pomchop]

2 hours ago, wensiensheng said:

Is that in every state? ie a federal law?

it is total BS

[pomchop]

5 hours ago, connda said:

I know that in America, you can't buy a beer from 2pm to 5pm every day of the week.  😁

either you have never been to america or tyring to make some kind of joke...

2 hours ago, wensiensheng said:

Is that in every state? ie a federal law?

it is total BS

[OneMoreFarang]

28 minutes ago, off road pat said:

Hm, Arrest all drunk drivers ? And what about those that are busy with their mobile, and motorcycle drivers without helmets or drivers license, and,... Ok that would be far too much work !!

I agree that they should also arrest people who try to drive while playing with their phone, and obviously people without license should not drive.

About the helmet: If people don't want to protect their own head, that is their personal problem. Just don't blame anybody else if your head is injured or you die. 

[Dogmatix]

A rambling, uninformative article that only says what is not being changed in this bill but says notice about how it will change alcohol laws. 

[Cabradelmar]

There is nothing much normal about the volume of consumption and easy access/availability of alcohol in Thailand (nor the number of alcohol fueled crimes and roadway deaths)... and it's just the way they (TAT, tourist operators, government lackies on the take) seem to like it, it would seem. And plying the hoi poli with more alcohol is all part of the misguided ideal of Thailand as a tourist paradise (of fools).

[scottiejohn]

5 hours ago, connda said:

I know that in America, you can't buy a beer from 2pm to 5pm every day of the week.  😁

I assume you were you last in the USA during prohibition?

[scottiejohn]

46 minutes ago, BarBoy said:

I'm currently at the pub and now 7 pints in. I won't be leaving for a while and WILL be driving home...

 

Catch me if you can!

If true you are a very sad individual but I will give you the benefit of the doubt and assume it is just your usual B>S Cr@p!

[BarBoy]

1 minute ago, scottiejohn said:

If true you are a very sad individual but I will give you the benefit of the doubt and assume it is just your usual B>S Cr@p!

Get lost John you boring git!

[Oz82]

12 minutes ago, Cabradelmar said:

There is nothing much normal about the volume of consumption and easy access/availability of alcohol in Thailand (nor the number of alcohol fueled crimes and roadway deaths)... and it's just the way they (TAT, tourist operators, government lackies on the take) seem to like it, it would seem. And plying the hoi poli with more alcohol is all part of the misguided ideal of Thailand as a tourist paradise (of fools).

I've always found Thailand to be very uptight about alcohol consumption. Binge drinking is not a normal way of life like it is in western countries. Yes there are people getting drunk at bars on weekends, but society is far less alcohol oriented here than in the west. Tourist areas revolve around alcohol, and Thai people who hang around in tourist/expat areas, are often drinkers. But in normal Thai towns it isn't the norm, and being drunk is quite taboo here.