Big C - Did They Change The Rules?

[Tootah]

Hi!

Just popped down to my local Big C for a bite to eat, the food court was flooded with water and most if not all of the food court food outlets down there were closed. So I popped upstairs to grab a rice pack and a bia chaang, only to be told I couldnt buy a beer as it wasnt time for sale, suer mai dai. Hmmm confused I trired to look for a sign that they have displaying the hours 11-2 and then 5-12 but they had all been removed. Just wondered if any of you have been there and had this happen, maybe today is a holiday or have Big C changed there license regarding selling beers now? Seems like they have changed the license or something?

thanks!

[Briggsy]

It is very common for all clocks and watches in Thai workplaces to be set 5 to 20 minutes fast. In my job I visit many different places of work and this habit is found across the board. This allows the staff to get off work early.

If you tried to buy a beer at 13:45, the cashier's watch may well have shown a time after 2:00.

AFAIK, there has been no change in the law.

[Tootah]

yeah I see what you mean, but this was at 1.30pm today, the lady was adament she wasnt allowed to sell beer and even brought the manager to the til? I just agreed and said mai bpen rai, actually I think I was wrong in doing so, and just went somewhere else for my lunch and midday tipple. I will go back tomorrow and see if they do the same thing, I bet they probably serve me this time. Sometimes I wonder.......

[Upcountry]

...clocks and watches in Thai workplaces to be set 5 to 20 minutes fast. ...

Today, at 1:40 pm, I loaded my cart with the ultra-expensive lowest price wine in the Big-C. The friendly attendant there pointed to his watch. I smiled and said "chai, yi sip natee". He said something else, after that, which I didn't understand. Maybe he was trying to warn me that Big-C time was not in my time zone!

Nevertheless, I got to the cash register by 10 till, and no problem, Many a time I have arrived at the cashier with moments to spare (actually arranged to buy the liquor first before the rest of the groceries, no problem).

I walked out of a Lotus liquor store one time when the register indicated that they could not sell me anything till more than 10 minutes after 5pm though.

Sometimes I try to joke with the clerks that Taksinopolis is kicking a ball around London but this law hasn't changed yet.

And they persist in taxing wine highly but not the cheap stuff.

Edited September 17, 2007 by Upcountry

[Tootah]

I had to laugh and say mai bpen rai, and then the manager looked at his watch, I think he was thinking hmm its 1.30pm we can sell it? But if he they had backed down and sold it to me, they would of course, in typical Thai tradition, lost face to the farang, as they were wrong and they knew it!

Edited September 17, 2007 by Tootah

[technocracy]

Alcohol + times to sell????? ERR - Don't compute! :D

Anytime, any day, just phone the shop down the road and there will be a crate of lovely Beer Lao awaiting outside the front gate in ten minutes . .. . guess I'm spoilt!

Edited September 17, 2007 by technocracy

[lazeeboy]

Alcohol + times to sell????? ERR - Don't compute!

Anytime, any day, just phone the shop down the road and there will be a crate of lovely Beer Lao awaiting outside the front gate in ten minutes . .. . guess I'm spoilt!

i was in macro the other day outside the acholhol laws ,i was buying for my business and had wayover 20 litres which is fine ,the thai guy in front was told he couldnt have his box of chang ,when he saw i was getting mine he went into one ,farang this farang that ,mostly profanities whitch i understand ,he made such a fuss ,the manager was called well not the manager as i know him ,and he's english ,maybe his assistant ,he got very agressive with the poor chap ,in the end he got the beer as im sure the boy was scared ,this is typical of the local people of samui ,they are related to everyone and like to intimidate outsiders ,so one law for one and one for another ,it didnt bother me ,in any case i got a box of singha beer glasses free ,and 10 minutes entertainment .....

[torrenova]

One of the stores, I forget which has removed a sign that says you can buy between 2 and 5 if you buy over 10 litres. Another still has the sign.

[jEFFREYk44]

Alcohol + times to sell????? ERR - Don't compute! :D

Anytime, any day, just phone the shop down the road and there will be a crate of lovely Beer Lao awaiting outside the front gate in ten minutes . .. . guess I'm spoilt!

Would seem you are in a different country, thus different laws

[technocracy]

Alcohol + times to sell????? ERR - Don't compute! :D

Anytime, any day, just phone the shop down the road and there will be a crate of lovely Beer Lao awaiting outside the front gate in ten minutes . .. . guess I'm spoilt!

Would seem you are in a different country, thus different laws

As sharp as a box of spoon eh!

It was supposed to be satrical. . . . you know a bit of a laugh . .. . I guess my use of smilies didn't make it that obvious!!

Tough crowd . .

[ilyushin]

We all agree the law sucks, right? The law has not changed, but I understand there is a way around buying from some larger outlets. I could not buy 2 cans of beer and a bottle of wine because of 20 minutes. F*** Up! The loss of taxes, people working in the industry, etc...

If they have a wholesalers permit, you may buy a minimum of 10 liters during those blocked periods. up to 11 and 2-5pm and so on.

Take a look at the Foodland cashier notice when leaving. It was posted at Foodland Patpong recently.

This law is to discourage youth ( teenagers) from buying/drinking booze. In Big C, Lotus, 7-11, etc... Most of these places are not where teenagers hangout anyway, plus they have CCTVs, can ID the buyers so the law should be scrapped and a blanket law of min age 18 or 20 yrs during a 6am-4am time period for purchase, agree?

I don't mind being carded, but not allowed to buy booze for home consumption is BS.

Some of us work irregular hours. So 9am at a super market is not uncommon for me. Get a red a few cans of beer. "NO" again.

Go to the PX is better.

Edited September 17, 2007 by ilyushin

[Upcountry]

i was in macro the other day outside the acholhol laws

At my Macro, I can buy two cases of beer during the ban time (2pm to 5pm). But not at Big-C, etc.

I'm so sick of this stupid law! When I have to go to the store, and want wine, or whatever, I have to make sure I get there before 2pm! Makes me sick. Add that to the dollar/baht ration fiasco and the rise in prices, it's driving me to water!

Edited September 17, 2007 by Upcountry