19 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

granted permission to serve alcohol on Asarnha Bucha Day and other major Buddhist holidays.

 

Well I never - one small step into the 21st Century!

No problems here in Cambodia, alcohol always available on Buddhist holidays.

14 hours ago, dinsdale said:

What about Bangkok or Pattaya

last local election Pattaya city was permitted to sell but not Bang Lamung.

Guess what everything was closed as Pattaya city is in Bang Lamung

@DezLez one more off topic post for a posting holiday.

1 hour ago, Burma Bill said:

 

Well I never - one small step into the 21st Century!

No problems here in Cambodia, alcohol always available on Buddhist holidays.

Not quite as fanatical, or different spirits. I don't see many trees wrapped in cloth with spirits drinking fanta, but you can always find random rocks in weird places with offerings

15 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

Why only in Phuket and not in the rest of Thailand.. Anyway Thailand is the only Buddhistic country that forbids alcohol on Buddhist holiday, strange as Thailand is not even a real Buddhistic country but a mix of several religions...

 

Beat me to it!  They run this country with a " different courses , different horses" type of attitude - often   totally illogical. Not wanting to go off topic, but take for instance, the ludicrous situation at Immigration Offices throughout the country where the interpretation of the rules and regs are down to the particular Immigration Officer involved in the case.

 

And in this instance, if it's OK for Phuket, why not for other tourist areas like  Pattaya, Koh Samui. Hua Hin etc,?

15 hours ago, Yagoda said:

But thats their rule, why is it a problem? Their country, their rules

 

Yes, but then they should also stop lamenting every other day on all the news channels: "Boo hoo, why fewer tourists??" 😆 

9 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

 

Yes, but then they should also stop lamenting every other day on all the news channels: "Boo hoo, why fewer tourists??" 😆 

That's their problem too, not mine. Don't make it hard to get weed and lose even more tourists. But it's their country, so whatever is fine with me. If it's too burdensome, go somewhere else. I did.

Just now, Yagoda said:

That's their problem too, not mine. Don't make it hard to get weed. But it's their country, so whatever is fine with me. If it's too burdensome, go somewhere else. I did.

 

Me too, and whenever I'm in Thailand, I usually don't drink much alcohol. 'Fun' is somewhere else, and Thailand is just a stopover place these days.

22 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Photo courtesy of Phuket 101

 

In a relief for both tourists and locals, Phuket's bars and entertainment venues have been granted permission to serve alcohol on Asarnha Bucha Day and other major Buddhist holidays. This follows confirmation from the island's top police official amidst earlier confusion.

 

Earlier this week, a bar in Koh Kaew faced uncertainty after being told to close on Asarnha Bucha Day, due to its location outside a designated tourist zone. Seeking clarity, The Phuket News consulted Major General Sinlert Sukhum, the Phuket Provincial Police Chief, who swiftly resolved the issue.

 

"All licensed service establishments in Phuket may sell alcohol on Asarnha Bucha Day," affirmed Maj. Gen. Sinlert. This policy extends to all five major Buddhist holidays: Makha Bucha Day, Visakha Bucha Day, Asarnha Bucha Day, Wan Khao Pansa, and Wan Ork Pansa. This is underpinned by an official announcement from the suspended Prime Minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, published in the Royal Gazette in May.

 

Further clarification was issued in June, stating that hotels, airport terminals, and permitted entertainment venues may serve alcohol. However, general businesses must adhere to Thailand’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Act, permitting sales only between 11am–2pm and 5pm–midnight.

 

Maj. Gen. Sinlert stated, "I re-read the announcements to ensure accuracy and have informed all police superintendents in Phuket."

 

The exemptions to the alcohol ban on Buddhist holidays encompass:

 

• Sales at international airport passenger terminals
• Licensed service establishments under the Service Establishment Act
• Venues recognised as tourist attractions by the Ministry of Public Health
• Hotels registered under the Hotel Act
• Sites hosting significant national or international events announced by authorities

 

Despite the relaxed regulations, Maj. Gen. Sinlert emphasised the importance of responsibility. "Sellers must implement measures for public peace, safety, and restrict access for children and youth," he noted, referencing Section 4 of the announcement.

 

This development is poised to assist the local tourism sector, ensuring visitors can enjoy their stay without disruption while preserving the spirit of the holidays.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-07-08

 

 

It's unbelievable that people can't last a day without this <deleted>ty drug!

OK - Phuket bars and restaurants can serve alcohol on Thursday and Friday. It's a step in the right direction for businesses. 

I have a fully licenced bar / restaurant in the tourist area of Chiang Mai - near to Tha Pae Gate.

My understanding is that 'Entertainment venues and licenced bars / restaurants' can sell alcohol, but it's not the message we are geting here in CM. How can we know? Why is it so vague? If we sell and get caught there's a large fine and court appearance......

We (THE BUSINESSES) need to know FOR CERTAIN whether we are or are not breaking the law by serving alocoholic beverages on Thursday and Friday.

16 hours ago, Yagoda said:

But that's their rule, why is it a problem? Their country, their rules

Yep their country their rules. The army generals who sit in the Thai senate would totally agree with you Yagoda.

1 hour ago, Yagoda said:

No it's the definition of response to a troll and a stalker. What relevant question have I ever failed to answer? And what is Kamala have to do with anything

Do you live in Thailand? That was the question basically. 

16 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

Anyway Thailand is the only Buddhistic country that forbids alcohol on Buddhist holiday, strange as Thailand is not even a real Buddhistic country but a mix of several religions...

I'll guarantee Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday copious amounts of alcohol will be consumed by millions of Thais all across the country. The silly thing is you can't go to a restaurant and enjoy a beer or two with your meal. I'll also guarantee that the mom and pop shops have stocked up as their sales will see a definite up tick over the next two days.

1 hour ago, dinsdale said:

Do you live in Thailand? That was the question basically. 

Duh. Not at this time. When their irrationality moved my spirit, I packed my bag to go to a neighboring country where the irrationality doesn't affect me. I didn't come here to complain over and over about it, I just left.

1 hour ago, cynic1 said:

Yep their country their rules. The army generals who sit in the Thai senate would totally agree with you Yagoda.

Complaining about Thai generals running the government of Thailand is about as silly as criticizing their bizarre alcohol rules. It is what it is

On 7/8/2025 at 9:04 AM, ikke1959 said:

Why only in Phuket and not in the rest of Thailand.. Anyway Thailand is the only Buddhistic country that forbids alcohol on Buddhist holiday, strange as Thailand is not even a real Buddhistic country but a mix of several religions...

95% Buddhist. USA is a lot less "Christian" but we still close on Christmas. Unfortunately.

On 7/9/2025 at 10:37 AM, paul1804 said:

If you read the statement published in May & again in June all registered restaurants, bars & hotels etc in the Thai tourist regions are permitted to sell alcohol on those Buddhist holidays, not just Phuket!! 

 

Where I live has a tourist Police station. I will have to ask about Tourist Regions!

 

In Pattaya I never had a problem. I just wandered into the hotel-now Avani Pattaya- next to Ripley's sat by the pool and asked for a beer.

On 7/9/2025 at 12:06 AM, pub2022 said:

 

a failed nation without the use of alcohol. how sad.

 

Lots of failed people without the use of alcohol

On 7/8/2025 at 11:54 PM, dinsdale said:

You might not worry about it but I'm sure business would love to see an end to this insanity. Of course not just business. Anyone who would like to buy a beer from 7-11 for example on Buddhist holidays or at 5 minutes past 2 in the afternoon of 5 minutes to 11 in the morning.

 

No one is worried about all the sordid businesses around red light Phuket and Pattaya.

 

I think the concern is the overall no alcohol vibe that alcohol cannot be had with meals and top it off not even from convenience stores.

 

It's really stupid. Thais are not especially religious these days. Just today some head monk was caught out with thousands of porno videos he might have even featured himself in them I can't recall the story.

 

But it's not about Buddhism it's about control. You can give 28 holidays a year to poor people as long as 2/3 of those they're not blasted out of their minds on alcohol. Look what happens over Songkran.

 

The Buddhist holidays are at this point in Thailand meaningless. No one goes to Temple no one observes the holidays officially anymore. They should get rid of them entirely and replace them with 50% less holidays based on something or other that fall on Fridays and or Mondays. No reason to keep religious holidays that fall on particular lunar phases about. Especially as many occur midweek

 

Anyway, WE can say ...buy from mom pop, have a reserve, etc...but you're on a one week holiday and get hit with alcohol ban. Unless you had a blowout fabulous holiday here you'll be thinking about another beach in __________ that doesn't ban alcohol

Posts with inflammatory insulting comments have been removed, keep it civil please.

On 7/8/2025 at 6:42 PM, Yagoda said:

Who cares. Not my country.

 

I wouldnt know, Im not Thai. They define their rationality not me, and it affects me not one whit.

 

Why is that silly?

"not my country"   "I'm not Thai" ..... that's fair enough you're not interested in anything about Thailand

but why the hell are you on this forum then?   Seems pretty pointless if you're not interested in Thailand

Has anyone told these bars they're allowed to be open?  because they're all still shut.  

21 minutes ago, Pompeygeezer said:

"not my country"   "I'm not Thai" ..... that's fair enough you're not interested in anything about Thailand

but why the hell are you on this forum then?   Seems pretty pointless if you're not interested in Thailand

Ummm well I guess because I have been coming there since before there was a Swampy Airport or BTS, because I am a guest of their country, and because I have no right, power or ability to change anything there except by my depriving them of dollars, which I already have done, having reduced my presence to a mere month or three while I gleefully spend my money in Cambodia.

 

And because there is more stuff on this Forum than folks complaining about Thailand, Israel and the USA.

 

Biatchin about Thai weird rules over beer is waaaaaaay low on my list to think about. 

1 hour ago, Yagoda said:

Ummm well I guess because I have been coming there since before there was a Swampy Airport or BTS, because I am a guest of their country, and because I have no right, power or ability to change anything there except by my depriving them of dollars, which I already have done, having reduced my presence to a mere month or three while I gleefully spend my money in Cambodia.

 

And because there is more stuff on this Forum than folks complaining about Thailand, Israel and the USA.

 

Biatchin about Thai weird rules over beer is waaaaaaay low on my list to think about. 

Fair enough