Just now, richard_smith237 said:

 

Can you  ??  MK Suki ? Fuji Japanese restaurant etc ??...  restaurants in Malls etc ??

 

 

No idea. I don't drink! Get an iced coffee instead.

3 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

Can you  ??  MK Suki ? Fuji Japanese restaurant etc ??...  restaurants in Malls etc ??

 

 

No.

 

But then again they aren't  technically in a tourist area..

 

I think, Richard, you knew what I meant.

 

Pattaya, Bangkok, Chiang mai etc have plenty of roadside restaurants that don't follow the 2-5pm rules.

 

Eric.

7 minutes ago, Stressed Eric said:

No.

 

But then again they aren't  technically in a tourist area..

 

I think, Richard, you knew what I meant.

 

Pattaya, Bangkok, Chiang mai etc have plenty of roadside restaurants that don't follow the 2-5pm rules.

 

Eric.

So why are you so stressed?

18 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

I have seen anything explicitly saying retail sales are included. Link?

The way it would work is everything is included unless it says, that's how law works

6 minutes ago, emptypockets said:

So why are you so stressed?

......

 

Why even mention it in the first place????

 

If nothing changes, then why even bother??

 

Oh wait, is it because they were talking about FINING people 10,000 baht for having a glass of wine with their meal in the afternoon?

 

That could have been it.

 

Typical face saving nonsense.

 

Eric.

1 minute ago, Stressed Eric said:

......

 

Why even mention it in the first place????

 

If nothing changes, then why even bother??

 

Oh wait, is it because they were talking about FINING people 10,000 baht for having a glass of wine with their meal in the afternoon?

 

That could have been it.

 

Typical face saving nonsense.

 

Eric.

Who said nothing is changing? The 2 to 5 ban is gone, for the time being.

1 minute ago, emptypockets said:

Who said nothing is changing? The 2 to 5 ban is gone, for the time being.

NOT IN 7/11.

 

What don't you get?

 

Eric.

8 minutes ago, Stressed Eric said:

No.

 

But then again they aren't  technically in a tourist area..

 

I think, Richard, you knew what I meant.

 

Pattaya, Bangkok, Chiang mai etc have plenty of roadside restaurants that don't follow the 2-5pm rules.

 

Eric.

 

Actually, no - I didn’t fully grasp what you meant in that context. I travel all over Thailand, so I think differently about restaurants in the 'tourist context'.

 

Now I understand you mean places like beachside eateries, or smaller, more local spots - less digital, less mall-like etc...

 

..But even in tourist areas, there are plenty of chain restaurants, like MK or Fuji - think Terminal 21 in Pattaya, or Blue Port and Market Place in Hua Hin. They’re touristy, yet you still can’t get a beer in those places between 2 and 5 pm.

 

Do we even know which “zones” allow alcohol sales, or are we just expected to assume that any tourist area is fine?

 

So what happens if a restaurant serves a beer outside a permitted zone? Do the authorities come and fine the customer? That’s the paranoid edge of this discussion.

 

I remember shortly after reopening post-Covid, when it was allowed to eat out again. We went on a beach holiday - no beer with dinner in the restaurants, so I brought my own mini “water-bottle chiller” of gin and tonic, as did a friend.

The police visited the restaurant - four officers, almost like a raid - and I half-expected some slap-on-the-wrist theatrics from guys who were probably planning to have a beer themselves later.

Of course, nothing happened - it looked like we were drinking water !!!... 

 

... But with the lack of clairity here - there’s clearly room for things to go sideways if tourists start getting fined for something as simple as enjoying a beer - it gives rogue police the potential to rip tourists off - and thats where many people object I think.

 

 

 

 

 

 

4 minutes ago, Stressed Eric said:

NOT IN 7/11.

 

What don't you get?

 

Eric.

Nobody knows that, yet. Stop stressing or buy your beers at 1:59.

I recall the 7/11s in tourist areas such as Pattaya didn't worry about it a few years ago. Some sort of exemption they told me .

 

Wait a few days and see what eventuates.

Stop stressing, Eric.

1 minute ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

Actually, no - I didn’t fully grasp what you meant in that context. I travel all over Thailand, so I think differently about restaurants in the 'tourist context'.

 

Now I understand you mean places like beachside eateries, or smaller, more local spots - less digital, less mall-like etc...

 

..But even in tourist areas, there are plenty of chain restaurants, like MK or Fuji - think Terminal 21 in Pattaya, or Blue Port and Market Place in Hua Hin. They’re touristy, yet you still can’t get a beer in those places between 2 and 5 pm.

 

Do we even know which “zones” allow alcohol sales, or are we just expected to assume that any tourist area is fine?

 

So what happens if a restaurant serves a beer outside a permitted zone? Do the authorities come and fine the customer? That’s the paranoid edge of this discussion.

 

I remember shortly after reopening post-Covid, when it was allowed to eat out again. We went on a beach holiday - no beer with dinner in the restaurants, so I brought my own mini “water-bottle chiller” of gin and tonic, as did a friend.

The police visited the restaurant - four officers, almost like a raid - and I half-expected some slap-on-the-wrist theatrics from guys who were probably planning to have a beer themselves later.

Of course, nothing happened - it looked like we were drinking water !!!... 

 

... But with the lack of clairity here - there’s clearly room for things to go sideways if tourists start getting fined for something as simple as enjoying a beer - it gives rogue police the potential to rip tourists off - and thats where many people object I think.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Absolutely.

 

You are spot on with many of your points, and Thailand is going to lose out big time if they can't get their act together and fast!!

 

High Season is just around the corner, tick tock, tick tock.....

 

Eric.

1 minute ago, emptypockets said:

Nobody knows that, yet. Stop stressing or buy your beers at 1:59.

I recall the 7/11s in tourist areas such as Pattaya didn't worry about it a few years ago. Some sort of exemption they told me .

Why the hell shouldn't a grown man be able to buy a beer at 14:01 if he so chooses?

 

Eric.

1 minute ago, Stressed Eric said:

Absolutely.

 

You are spot on with many of your points, and Thailand is going to lose out big time if they can't get their act together and fast!!

 

High Season is just around the corner, tick tock, tick tock.....

 

Eric.

Nonsense. The high season tourist will most likely go to bars that sell booze all day, not hang out at 7/11s with the cheap Charlie's 

2 minutes ago, Stressed Eric said:

Why the hell shouldn't a grown man be able to buy a beer at 14:01 if he so chooses?

 

Eric.

The law. Can you buy a beer at 6am in your country?

1 minute ago, emptypockets said:

The law. Can you buy a beer at 6am in your country?

You are just too far gone.

 

A lost cause.

 

Sad.

 

Eric.

Just now, Stressed Eric said:

You are just too far gone.

 

A lost cause.

 

Sad.

 

Eric.

Why do you feel that way? You are the one stressing about buying beers at 14:01. Not me. Doesn't bother me either way. I do have some planning skills.

You must meltdown on no booze Buddhist days.

Just now, emptypockets said:

You must meltdown on no booze Buddhist days.

In fact I don't.

 

I usually get twice as hammered on those days!

 

Eric.

2 minutes ago, Stressed Eric said:

In fact I don't.

 

I usually get twice as hammered on those days!

 

Eric.

Good for you. 

2 minutes ago, emptypockets said:

Good for you. 

Yeah, it is isn't it.

 

Eric.

28 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

The way it would work is everything is included unless it says, that's how law works

No it isn't.

1 hour ago, Stressed Eric said:

so, presumably, in a few days I will be able to buy a beer at 7/11 at 14:01?

Just in time for the AN forum Christmas Party. 

 

We can start the party early, hang out at the 7-Eleven. 🍺

 

13 minutes ago, emptypockets said:

Nonsense. The high season tourist will most likely go to bars that sell booze all day, not hang out at 7/11s with the cheap Charlie's 

 

It’s not about what authorities will do once tourists are here - after all, they’re already spending money.

 

The real issue is optics: the information circulating on social media and in the news about constantly changing regulations.

 

A simple, clear message would go a long way: no restrictions on timing or location - welcome tourists, come and enjoy!

 

Of course, normal expectations of behaviour apply, with standard enforcement for misconduct. That doesn’t need to be broadcast - just common-sense policing.

 

Sending out a straightforward “welcome” message is far more effective than warning tourists they could be fined 10,000 baht for drinking at the wrong time or in the wrong place.

 

It’s those confusing, threatening messages that stop people from booking flights in the first place.

 

 

5 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

It’s not about what authorities will do once tourists are here - after all, they’re already spending money.

 

The real issue is optics: the information circulating on social media and in the news about constantly changing regulations.

 

A simple, clear message would go a long way: no restrictions on timing or location - welcome tourists, come and enjoy!

 

Of course, normal expectations of behaviour apply, with standard enforcement for misconduct. That doesn’t need to be broadcast - just common-sense policing.

 

Sending out a straightforward “welcome” message is far more effective than warning tourists they could be fined 10,000 baht for drinking at the wrong time or in the wrong place.

 

It’s those confusing, threatening messages that stop people from booking flights in the first place.

 

 

Most potential tourists will be completely unaware of any of that.

Noone will get fined 10,000 baht.

13 minutes ago, emptypockets said:

Why do you feel that way? You are the one stressing about buying beers at 14:01. Not me. Doesn't bother me either way. I do have some planning skills.

You must meltdown on no booze Buddhist days.

 

Wrong - That’s not the point - it’s perfectly normal to have a discussion about this. We see Thailand struggling with low tourist numbers, navigating the low season, and reporting declining visitor statistics. Naturally, we want to explore the reasons behind this.

 

Announcements and policies do not exist in a vacuum. Viewing them with the narrow lens of your response completely misses the nuance and the wider impact such issues can have.

 

Reducing the discussion to statements like “you must melt down on no-booze days” or “you must have an alcohol problem if you can’t go a few hours without a beer” entirely misses the point. 

 

Such comments, highlights an inability to appreciate the broader perspective and the real implications these policies have on tourism and public perception.

2 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

Wrong - That’s not the point - it’s perfectly normal to have a discussion about this. We see Thailand struggling with low tourist numbers, navigating the low season, and reporting declining visitor statistics. Naturally, we want to explore the reasons behind this.

 

Announcements and policies do not exist in a vacuum. Viewing them with the narrow lens of your response completely misses the nuance and the wider impact such issues can have.

 

Reducing the discussion to statements like “you must melt down on no-booze days” or “you must have an alcohol problem if you can’t go a few hours without a beer” entirely misses the point. 

 

Such comments, highlights an inability to appreciate the broader perspective and the real implications these policies have on tourism and public perception.

The broader perspective is irrelevant except to a few expats.

Just now, emptypockets said:

Most tourists will be completely unaware of any of that.

 

I'm not so sure...  maybe you are isolated from what 'potential' tourists see....

 

TikTok is now flooded with people posting about how you can be fined 10,000 baht for drinking 5 mins on the wrong side of 5pm.... 

 

That is going to have some impact - my nephews in the UK even asked me about it and they are not even planning on visiting Thailand.

 

A negative piece of news can spread quickly on social media - and this is why such announcements are clumsy and damaging... 

 

 

I do agree that a lot of tourists may not see this - but equally so there is a risk to tourist numbers on a whole and such announcements and a lack of cohesion is damaging.

Just now, emptypockets said:

The broader perspective is irrelevant except to a few expats.

 

Its not irrelevant to tourist numbers !!... the broader perspective is what attracts tourists.

 

I don't believe this 'will be' an issue - as with most announcements - not much will change and very few will be impacted - but thats not the issue here....

 

... The issue is the negative publicity such announcements generate, particularly with the speed of social media.... Even a small % drop in tourism is damaging.

 

 

5 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

I'm not so sure...  maybe you are isolated from what 'potential' tourists see....

 

TikTok is now flooded with people posting about how you can be fined 10,000 baht for drinking 5 mins on the wrong side of 5pm.... 

 

That is going to have some impact - my nephews in the UK even asked me about it and they are not even planning on visiting Thailand.

 

A negative piece of news can spread quickly on social media - and this is why such announcements are clumsy and damaging... 

 

 

I do agree that a lot of tourists may not see this - but equally so there is a risk to tourist numbers on a whole and such announcements and a lack of cohesion is damaging.

Well said , Richard!

 

Eric.

1 hour ago, Stressed Eric said:

what's the point in changing it at all then?

 

Eric.

Stores have the rights to make their own rules, for example, if they have strong beliefs that there is even the slightest chance school children are able to have someone purchase alcohols for them sortly after/ or during / school hrs, they can just stop selling as they please.   Just because the ban is lifted, doesn’t mean it is mandatory.   I know I would.  Now here come the “I will sue them for my right to drink cheap beer in the afternoon” crowd.  Waiting for the flames and the one notoriously known for the thumbs down to build up his post count, we know who you are.

Just now, Explorator en Actione said:

Stores have the rights to make their own rules, for example, if they have strong beliefs that there is even the slightest chance school children is able to have someone purchase alsohols for them sortly after/ or during / school hrs, they can just stop selling as they please.   Just because the ban is lifted, doesn’t mean it is mandatory.   I know I would.  Now here come the “I will sue them fior my right to drink cheap beer in the afternoon” crowd.  Waiting for the flames and the one notoriously known for the thumbs down to build up his post count, we know who you are.🤬

...You do know that the whole school children buying alcohol from 7/11 thing is a myth, don't you???

 

Eric.

1 minute ago, Stressed Eric said:

...You do know that the whole school children buying alcohol from 7/11 thing is a myth, don't you???

 

Eric.

It could very well be, but the Thai think it is true by the number of teen pregnancies that occur, presumably after school and involves drinking alcohol.    Peace