2 hours ago, Bday Prang said:

It would invoke jealousy and resentment amongst the indigenous population , the media would have a field day, and imagine how many netizens would be in "uproar" it could overload the entire internet.

Well as soon as voters have done their duty, an indelible stamp on their body could be used to signify this, and the local could then go and get pi55ed.

On 1/29/2026 at 6:50 PM, PoorSucker said:

This weekend and next its time for election again, Alcohol ban.

6.00pm on 31 January 2026 until 6.00pm on 1 February 2026

6.00pm on 7 February 2026 until 6.00pm on 8 February 2026

I was in a bar yesterday about 4 in the afternoon and there was a very confused tourist. One of the ladies tried to tell the guy that the bar would be closing at 6. I asked the guy a little later if he understood about the election and he said the reason he was so confused was because the girl had told him the the bar would be closing because of the injections.

7 minutes ago, georgegeorgia said:

Yes people have cancelled their travel plans as they need that poison called alcohol

I was enjoying the early evening yesterday, drinking a pint of poison.

The girlfriend, playing in the sand, she's not a big drinker but a great lover.

She told me she was getting cold.
I took her home, warmed her up. ❤️

3 minutes ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

she trying to back out a poo ?

12 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

Why do they ban the weekend before the election?

they haven't. get out of the bar and enlighten yourself.

32 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

she trying to back out a poo ?

Yes similar position. 👍

I often watch her taking a dump.

She doesn't like it, when I watch her when she's on the toilet.

7 hours ago, Bday Prang said:

Now why am I not surprised ,?

people like you always feel the need to say something, despite having so little to say

The thought is to be helpful. But this confused dullard was quite likely to be a person like you, apt to respond with some predictable and pretentious discourtesy.

14 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

Why do they ban the weekend before the election?

Advanced polling for those who won't be in their home town/district on election day. Actually, if my memory is correct, in some previous elections, the election commission didn't allow Thais to vote outside of their home district. So there would be this massive migration from Bangkok back to the home province by millions of people to cast a ballot. It's good that they allow advance polls these days, it makes it fairer for working class Thais to have a say as many wouldn't make the trip home to vote, thus the outcome of an election is more democratic in practice with advance polls for the millions of Thais who live/work in Bangkok, Chonburi, etc. The advance poll means they can vote for their representatives in places like Khon Kaen or Ubon or Udon without leaving Bangkok.. that's the big plus. Good for populist/worker's parties, less so for the establishment's parties who prefer the working class 'don't' vote at all..

1 hour ago, ronnie50 said:

there would be this massive migration from Bangkok back to the home province by millions of people to cast a ballot

I used to live on Koh Samui, only 50.000 are registered on a Thabien Bahn there.

Migrant workers from Issan had to go home for election.

And they can't vote for mayor.

My wife got 500 baht from each candidate and voted for my favorite anyway.

Yes, she asked me and I explained that the current mayors brother has the contracts for fixing the roads and they are really bad.

New mayor fixed them, don't know if it was a good idea, speeding increased dramatically.

Live in Pattaya now, I was scared to drive on Samui last time

On 1/31/2026 at 4:19 PM, mikeymike100 said:

Absolutely, its not as if foreigners can vote, so what is the point?

Why do people think these things are geared towards upsetting Foreigners? Frankly, the Thai government and probablymost Thais couldn't care less about Farang.

The rules are for the Thai people, we just unfortunately get caught sometimes in the crossfire.

What is the problem? Buy your beer or whatever it is in advance. Buy a box or three.. have a beer storage at home or in your hotel room.. how difficult can it be?

On 1/30/2026 at 12:47 PM, Seppius said:

Going to be interesting in 7-11s when they have to pull the shutters down at 6pm, specially like the busy ones at sunset points like soi 5 Pratumnak

Surprised you don't know the cash registers won't let alcohol ring through when alcohol sales aren't allowed. At 7/11 not tops which are often less than a block away. Ever try to buy a beer at 7/11 at 2:01 Pm last year???

On 1/29/2026 at 6:50 PM, PoorSucker said:

This weekend and next its time for election again, Alcohol ban.

6.00pm on 31 January 2026 until 6.00pm on 1 February 2026

6.00pm on 7 February 2026 until 6.00pm on 8 February 2026

So what. Can you not go one day without a drink? If you aren't an alky you must be very sad to need booze to get your social interaction fix.

39 minutes ago, pete43 said:

So what. Can you not go one day without a drink? If you aren't an alky you must be very sad to need booze to get your social interaction fix.

I think what they are upset about is that at the Bars that are open, the girls charge the same for a Coke as they do for a lady drink.

On 2/1/2026 at 4:05 PM, biervoormij said:

I was in a bar yesterday about 4 in the afternoon and there was a very confused tourist. One of the ladies tried to tell the guy that the bar would be closing at 6. I asked the guy a little later if he understood about the election and he said the reason he was so confused was because the girl had told him the the bar would be closing because of the injections.

Better than because of the upcoming Erection!

Anyone who cannot go a day or two without drinking really needs to take a good look at their life, their lifestyle, and how deeply they value their health.

7 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

Anyone who cannot go a day or two without drinking really needs to take a good look at their life, their lifestyle, and how deeply they value their health.

I take one drink after work to relax.

I work between 2PM-8.45PM

14 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

Anyone who cannot go a day or two without drinking really needs to take a good look at their life, their lifestyle, and how deeply they value their health.

Quite right. But this topic was posted about tourists in Pattaya. I think they have every right to complain/be confused when they arrive for their annual holiday and find that 2 consecutive Saturday nights will not only be dry but the majority of entertainment venues will be closed.

On 2/1/2026 at 6:52 AM, TorquayFan said:

Seems that posters on this topic are of similar mind.

Me too. IT IS JUST BIZARRE TO HAVE THESE 24 HOUR BANS FOR REASONS OF THE SECURITY OF ELECTION DECORUM. It makes NO sense, because Voters can still drink and fight and riot and forget/make mistakes casting their votes, (or whatever it is the Authorities fear), because it's a simple task to buy your booze before 6 p.m.

It's the unaware, (mainly tourists), who will be confused and probably angry when they find they can't have a pint !

I can identify with that - at a pleasant riverside location I frequent for my nightly Chang beer, they recently held a LeO promo night and would not serve Chang at all. I was boiling, (and laughing at myself), and protested my case to the LeO Rep., so I can imagine how an unsuspecting tourist would feel. A 7 night holiday becomes a 6 night holiday etc and a 14 day holiday a 12 night holiday. Fact is, Folks will book somewhere else !! It's madness.

I can respect these occasions for religious reasons, (though Falang could be sensibly exempted) but for elections, this is just SILLY !

Moderation edit: too many capital letters used.

Any tourist (or otherwise) who cannot go one day without alcohol is a loser or an alcoholic. Either way, I'd rather they weren't issued passports.

Yes Freddy o

8 minutes ago, Freddy42OZ said:

Any tourist (or otherwise) who cannot go one day without alcohol is a loser or an alcoholic. Either way, I'd rather they weren't issued passports.

Yes Freddy but don't be such a miserable bigger. It might not matter to you Lofty but those on holiday would probably like a drink on a Saturday night.

I was reflecting on the alcohol free day last Saturday - It seems to me the only purpose of that was to give us practice in NOT drinking for this Saturday !

Stock up again today before 6pm.

On 2/1/2026 at 3:44 AM, DonniePeverley said:

Why do they ban the weekend before the election?

Sunday is election day.

The ban is for the night before and the day of.

The ban is from 6pm this evening (Saturday) to 6pm tomorrow (Sunday)

4 hours ago, johng said:

The ban is from 6pm this evening (Saturday) to 6pm tomorrow (Sunday)

What will the Benidorm Brits do now?

Maybe have to do something cultural now ... go visit a museum, temple....

On 2/1/2026 at 11:39 AM, Bday Prang said:

The Op's suggestion to look out for "confused tourists" should also advise about looking out for triggered Expats suffering from early stage withdrawal symptoms

Expats and Thai know where to buy.

If you don't know you are a newbie

On 2/5/2026 at 2:38 PM, spidermike007 said:

Anyone who cannot go a day or two without drinking really needs to take a good look at their life, their lifestyle, and how deeply they value their health.

Especially when it gets to the stage that they are incapable of of simply buying a few extra bottles a day or so before, It's not like they haven't had enough notice of this, I mean there's still time now if they are quick.

Or is their problem that once the fridge is stocked, they just can't stop drinking until they have drunk it dry?

Or is it just something else for the habitual moaners to get their teeth into,?

In another few months it will be the looming prospect of Songkran that triggers them . The very same people will be telling us how they are planning to stock up with chang and lock their gates for a week, for fear of getting splashed with a bit of water.

Yet they all seem to manage ok then without buying beer for a few days , no problem with stocking the fridge up then apparently

5 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

What will the Benidorm Brits do now?

Maybe have to do something cultural now ... go visit a museum, temple....

Is that the sort of crap you'll be doing? "visit a museum" "visit a temple" do you ever read the rubbish you write before pressing "send"

On 2/5/2026 at 4:15 PM, Freddy42OZ said:

It's the unaware, (mainly tourists), who will be confused and probably angry when they find they can't have a pint !

Is It ever the unaware, (mainly tourists), who post angrily on here everytime this happens ?? I think not

On 2/5/2026 at 4:28 PM, TorquayFan said:

It might not matter to you Lofty but those on holiday would probably like a drink on a Saturday night.

How touching . Another expressing concern for tourists, every night is saturday night when on holiday

On 2/1/2026 at 6:00 PM, Asean Tiger said:

was quite likely to be a person like you, apt to respond with some predictable and pretentious discourtesy.

Thanks for the compliment , I didn't realise you knew me,

There really is nothing more pretentious than using a phrase like " predictable and pretentious discourtesy" keep up the good work AN needs more quality posters.