A chap in town runs a shisha bar....and has a licence to sell the stuff...everything was in order...Until yesterday...when Immigration police arrived at the bar, to inform the owner that " It is now illegal to sell shisha tobacco anywhere in Thailand"

They obviously also want to relieve him of a large sum of money as a "fine" ...

Can anyone tell me where it is possible to verify this new law....?

Any lawyers out there who can point me in the right direction?

Or is this just another attempt to get tea money?

A chap in town runs a shisha bar....and has a licence to sell the stuff...everything was in order...Until yesterday...when Immigration police arrived at the bar, to inform the owner that " It is now illegal to sell shisha tobacco anywhere in Thailand"

They obviously also want to relieve him of a large sum of money as a "fine" ...

Can anyone tell me where it is possible to verify this new law....?

Any lawyers out there who can point me in the right direction?

Or is this just another attempt to get tea money?

Could be the "No Smoking In Restaurants" law, does he serve food? he'll probably have to pay tea money every so often to stay open.

A chap in town runs a shisha bar....and has a licence to sell the stuff...everything was in order...Until yesterday...when Immigration police arrived at the bar, to inform the owner that " It is now illegal to sell shisha tobacco anywhere in Thailand"

They obviously also want to relieve him of a large sum of money as a "fine" ...

Can anyone tell me where it is possible to verify this new law....?

Any lawyers out there who can point me in the right direction?

Or is this just another attempt to get tea money?

Could be the "No Smoking In Restaurants" law, does he serve food? he'll probably have to pay tea money every so often to stay open.

NO!....he does not serve any food whatsoever....just booze and shishas...I still think it is another shakedown....but where can the truth be found?

According to the BBC http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3071521.stm it's been illegal since 2003.

EDIT It may be worth contacting these chaps http://www.alibaba.com/catalog/11896240/Sh...e_Charcoal.html as they are suppliers of the materials I'm sure they'd know if it's legal and the exact rules.

Edited September 8, 200718 yr by Crossy

A chap in town runs a shisha bar....and has a licence to sell the stuff...everything was in order...Until yesterday...when Immigration police arrived at the bar, to inform the owner that " It is now illegal to sell shisha tobacco anywhere in Thailand"

They obviously also want to relieve him of a large sum of money as a "fine" ...

Can anyone tell me where it is possible to verify this new law....?

Any lawyers out there who can point me in the right direction?

Or is this just another attempt to get tea money?

Sounds like the law-enforcers' whiskey cabinet is getting rather low and it needs a sponsor to help replenish the stock. In theory, it is illegal to sell alcohol before midday and after 2-5. It is illegal for youngsters under 20 to go to nightclubs blah blah blah blah blah...... Thailand's has thousands of laws which the police never enforce, but can do when they need to accomplish something..

There are a couple of places in town here which sell Shisha and they have no problem whatsoever, in fact a police friend of mine would have no idea if its actually illegal!

BTW: What has this matter got to do with the 'Immigration' Police!!

BTW2: I see you are in Pai, then unless your buddy has connections up there with some influential figures then he's just gonna have to give into the cops and pay the 'fine'....otherwise, if he gets cheeky they can make his working life misery

Edited September 8, 200718 yr by Stephen Cleary

Looks like from that BBC article that it is indeed illegal, and that tea money will be required.