Alcohol Ban

[midasthailand]

What hotel was she staying at that didn't have a beer in the minibar? No drinks on the plane? Are you sure the bar in the hotel wasn't serving?

I apologise, in my post I said "a cleansing ale" (in my circles, an all encompassing euphemism for one's drink of choice) I should have said a bottle of chardonnay (her drink of choice). She was staying at the Dynasty and there was no white wine in the mini-bar, nor was the hotel bar serving alcohol. She does not indulge whilst embarked on an aircraft - a personal foible which I think is attributable to the urban myth that one gets drunk quicker at altitude.

LOL, a call to room service would have had a bottle of Chardonnay delivered immediately. (and billed the next morning ... or added to the pre-check-in bill)

I have never had an issue getting a drink in a decent hotel in Thailand when staying there, even if the bar was closed ... at any time .. day or night.

JD, whilst you may enjoy sitting in the confines of a hotel room slurping down a bottle of Chardonnay, most people probably would not. I think my point in relating the details of her visit was merely to illustrate the point that the OP was trying to make, namely, that a further restriction on the sale of alcohol is an embuggerance to tourists in general and short stay tourists in particular.

[jdinasia]

What hotel was she staying at that didn't have a beer in the minibar? No drinks on the plane? Are you sure the bar in the hotel wasn't serving?

I apologise, in my post I said "a cleansing ale" (in my circles, an all encompassing euphemism for one's drink of choice) I should have said a bottle of chardonnay (her drink of choice). She was staying at the Dynasty and there was no white wine in the mini-bar, nor was the hotel bar serving alcohol. She does not indulge whilst embarked on an aircraft - a personal foible which I think is attributable to the urban myth that one gets drunk quicker at altitude.

LOL, a call to room service would have had a bottle of Chardonnay delivered immediately. (and billed the next morning ... or added to the pre-check-in bill)

I have never had an issue getting a drink in a decent hotel in Thailand when staying there, even if the bar was closed ... at any time .. day or night.

JD, whilst you may enjoy sitting in the confines of a hotel room slurping down a bottle of Chardonnay, most people probably would not. I think my point in relating the details of her visit was merely to illustrate the point that the OP was trying to make, namely, that a further restriction on the sale of alcohol is an embuggerance to tourists in general and short stay tourists in particular.

So having a drink isn't the issue? being alone is? No need to be alone as many places would have been open (and in Suk if it were a decent place they would likely have been serving)

The only folks that get really inconvenienced are those that are here to drink themselves silly in Nana Patpog Cowboy Pattaya etc ....

And sorry, but MANY places in the world restrict alcohol sales around elections etc. Your same tourist would be chapped off at any of those places as well.

[kmart]

I also find that a surplus of alcohol can interfere with the "election" process.

[midasthailand]

What hotel was she staying at that didn't have a beer in the minibar? No drinks on the plane? Are you sure the bar in the hotel wasn't serving?

I apologise, in my post I said "a cleansing ale" (in my circles, an all encompassing euphemism for one's drink of choice) I should have said a bottle of chardonnay (her drink of choice). She was staying at the Dynasty and there was no white wine in the mini-bar, nor was the hotel bar serving alcohol. She does not indulge whilst embarked on an aircraft - a personal foible which I think is attributable to the urban myth that one gets drunk quicker at altitude.

LOL, a call to room service would have had a bottle of Chardonnay delivered immediately. (and billed the next morning ... or added to the pre-check-in bill)

I have never had an issue getting a drink in a decent hotel in Thailand when staying there, even if the bar was closed ... at any time .. day or night.

JD, whilst you may enjoy sitting in the confines of a hotel room slurping down a bottle of Chardonnay, most people probably would not. I think my point in relating the details of her visit was merely to illustrate the point that the OP was trying to make, namely, that a further restriction on the sale of alcohol is an embuggerance to tourists in general and short stay tourists in particular.

So having a drink isn't the issue? being alone is? No need to be alone as many places would have been open (and in Suk if it were a decent place they would likely have been serving)

The only folks that get really inconvenienced are those that are here to drink themselves silly in Nana Patpog Cowboy Pattaya etc ....

And sorry, but MANY places in the world restrict alcohol sales around elections etc. Your same tourist would be chapped off at any of those places as well.

Being alone? I can't see anywhere in any of my post where I mention being alone, only confined in a hotel room. I am glad to see that you finally agree that tourists will be "chapped off" about restricted alcohol sales.

[jdinasia]

What hotel was she staying at that didn't have a beer in the minibar? No drinks on the plane? Are you sure the bar in the hotel wasn't serving?

I apologise, in my post I said "a cleansing ale" (in my circles, an all encompassing euphemism for one's drink of choice) I should have said a bottle of chardonnay (her drink of choice). She was staying at the Dynasty and there was no white wine in the mini-bar, nor was the hotel bar serving alcohol. She does not indulge whilst embarked on an aircraft - a personal foible which I think is attributable to the urban myth that one gets drunk quicker at altitude.

LOL, a call to room service would have had a bottle of Chardonnay delivered immediately. (and billed the next morning ... or added to the pre-check-in bill)

I have never had an issue getting a drink in a decent hotel in Thailand when staying there, even if the bar was closed ... at any time .. day or night.

JD, whilst you may enjoy sitting in the confines of a hotel room slurping down a bottle of Chardonnay, most people probably would not. I think my point in relating the details of her visit was merely to illustrate the point that the OP was trying to make, namely, that a further restriction on the sale of alcohol is an embuggerance to tourists in general and short stay tourists in particular.

So having a drink isn't the issue? being alone is? No need to be alone as many places would have been open (and in Suk if it were a decent place they would likely have been serving)

The only folks that get really inconvenienced are those that are here to drink themselves silly in Nana Patpog Cowboy Pattaya etc ....

And sorry, but MANY places in the world restrict alcohol sales around elections etc. Your same tourist would be chapped off at any of those places as well.

Being alone? I can't see anywhere in any of my post where I mention being alone, only confined in a hotel room. I am glad to see that you finally agree that tourists will be "chapped off" about restricted alcohol sales.

If they are gonna get PO'd in BKk they'd get PO'd anywhere ..... the difference being in BKK they could still go out or stay in and get a drink

[elkangorito]

Let's restrict the use of motor vehicles...it may lead to a reduction in road deaths & global warming. Let's restrict the use of petrol...it may lead to a reduction in road deaths, global warming & Australian aboriginals being brain dead. Let's ban tobacco smoking...it may help to reduce health deficits & reduce global warming. Let's ban/restrict.........

Have any of these measures ever worked?

The stupidity of the restriction of alcohol sales in Thailand is not only a joke but is also unnecessarily costly.

The costs include:

a] the government to decide upon this rule.

b] the government to enable the police to enact in accordance to this rule.

c] the police to actually enforce this rule.

d] the increased unemployment & decreased business income as a result of this rule.

As the OP says, it's simply more moralistic folly...idiots clinging to what is left of their "perfect world"...or should I say "perfectly controllable world".

[rott]

Thailand meets my expectations and I am not crying about the country nor trying to change it I have addressed every issue brought up by our newest one-trick-pony and finally the AC is on and i am not sweaty

He's not trying to change the country, he wants it to be the way it's always been.

He brought the holier-than-thou brigade out in all their glory, and distorted logic.

[Mobi]

Thailand meets my expectations and I am not crying about the country nor trying to change it I have addressed every issue brought up by our newest one-trick-pony and finally the AC is on and i am not sweaty

He's not trying to change the country, he wants it to be the way it's always been.

He brought the holier-than-thou brigade out in all their glory, and distorted logic.

And he's h..ll bent on trying to convince us that tourists never have any problems getting a drink - even on dry days - which is simply a load of <deleted>, and anyone who has had friends or family here during elections or whatever can attest to that.

And then he thinks by asserting that he's "seen off" all those with a differing view makes it a fact, and is a classic piece of self delusion.

[jdinasia]

Mobi

Enjoying your Chang?

You might reread the post you are quoting to determine who the "he" is that is referred to.

And Rott ---- it always has been this way, there have always been dry days (and in fact there were more in the past than there are now) But don't sweat Chalerm ... it just won't happen

[Mobi]

What is so wrong with that.It happens in most of the Muslim country's that you are allowed to serve alcohol in the western hotels because the people which stay there are foreigners and from a different religion.

I don't know about these days, but many years ago when I worked in Abu Dhabi, we all were issued with Liquor licences which allowed us to buy booze from the official liquor store. Muslims couldn't get one.

And yes, you could drink in the hotels.

It might be different in these days of militant ideology, but at least it showed a degree of tolerance and sophistication amongst the Arabs that seems to be totally missing with our beloved Thai leaders.

And Abu Dhabi don't have a tourist industry to worry about.

Edited October 9, 2008 by Mobi

[bkkjames]

What is so wrong with that.It happens in most of the Muslim country's that you are allowed to serve alcohol in the western hotels because the people which stay there are foreigners and from a different religion.

I don't know about these days, but many years ago when I worked in Abu Dhabi, we all were issued with Liquor licences which allowed us to buy booze from the official liquor store. Muslims couldn't get one.

And yes, you could drink in the hotels.

It might be different in these days of militant ideology, but at least it showed a degree of tolerance and sophistication amongst the Arabs that seems to be totally missing with our beloved Thai leaders.

And Abu Dhabi don't have a tourist industry to worry about.

Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, google it. As for your license idea, in the UAE the number of bottles one can buy is restricted per month.

Why don't they do like Malaysia and Casinos, if you are a Malay, you cannot partake. Seems pretty simple for a farang to prove he is not Thai

[Mobi]

Mobi

Enjoying your Chang?

You might reread the post you are quoting to determine who the "he" is that is referred to.

And Rott ---- it always has been this way, there have always been dry days (and in fact there were more in the past than there are now) But don't sweat Chalerm ... it just won't happen

Well let's substitute "he" for JD.

Happy now

I'm, not sweating Chalerm. Whatever he does has absolutely no affect on my drinking habits.

You seem to think that because someone holds a particular view,he is in some way personally affected by opposing views.

Why don't you go and drown your sorrows in Gullivers before they close it down?

[jdinasia]

1) I am not in Pattaya ... and for the most part I never am! It is imho the armpit of Thailand.

2) Gullivers bores me, not enough cute guys.

3) I leave it to folks like you to drink in the afternoon

[Razzler1973]

I live in the UAE and the number of bottles you can buy is not restricted to one. You can obtain a liquor licence which will enable you to buy alcohol from booze outlets around town (not for Muslims), there is a restriction on how much you can buy but it's far far greater than one bottle. I think it's linked to your salary and can spend a percentage of it. Friends of mine that have a licence have never not been able to buy whatever they like.

I don't use a licence, I drive to various 'hole in the wall' outlets to buy as much as I want without a licence (Muslims allowed!) or go to Baracuda in Umn al Quain where there is a booze supermarket owned by the Sheikh and buy whatever I want openly and drive it home.

[bkkjames]

I live in the UAE and the number of bottles you can buy is not restricted to one. You can obtain a liquor licence which will enable you to buy alcohol from booze outlets around town (not for Muslims), there is a restriction on how much you can buy but it's far far greater than one bottle. I think it's linked to your salary and can spend a percentage of it. Friends of mine that have a licence have never not been able to buy whatever they like.

I don't use a licence, I drive to various 'hole in the wall' outlets to buy as much as I want without a licence (Muslims allowed!) or go to Baracuda in Umn al Quain where there is a booze supermarket owned by the Sheikh and buy whatever I want openly and drive it home.

When I was there late last year for 3 months, the expat guys in our office had one to buy booze offsale. Anyways, I was able to buy booze in hotels and restaurants just about whenver I wanted.

[Mobi]

1) I am not in Pattaya ... and for the most part I never am! It is imho the armpit of Thailand.

2) Gullivers bores me, not enough cute guys.

3) I leave it to folks like you to drink in the afternoon

1. For someone who hates Pattaya, you seem to know a lot about it.

2. You were the one who drew our attention to Gulliver's. I've never been there. Methinks thou dost protest too much.

3. There you go, assuming everything people post is to support their own likes/dislikes. When did I ever say I drunk in the afternoon?

Seems to me you better open that new bottle of single malt

[jdinasia]

1) I have a friend that is in the family of the people that own Gullivers ....

2) You and your chang

3) you and your friends

[bendix]

Can I have the last word on this thread?

Please?

[jdinasia]

Yes, since Mobi can't remember what he has written

[Mobi]

Can I have the last word on this thread?

Please?

No.

[zorro1]

You have the last word on a lot of threads, You have closed 3 down today already

[bendix]

Who?

[Mobi]

Who?

You?

[thesunset75]

Who?

You?

Me ?

Sorry im juz playing

[zorro1]

you talking to me?

[Mobi]

This thread is going to get closed soon......

Time for an out of hours drink at Gullivers and I'll toast JD

[zorro1]

Hope so I want to have the last say. (unless my ex wife finds this thread )

[jdinasia]

Someone has to! but it should be Bender (or the guy in the UK that started it!)

[Frotting]

To set the table, I rarely drink (maybe a glass of wine a month), so I personally could care less if alcohol is banned. And I grant that the Thai government can do whatever they want with regards to extending the number of days where alcohol is not available.

But posters who think this will have no affect on tourism are not really living in reality. A tourist who comes here for a week wants to relax and enjoy himself or herself. That may include a glass of wine with dinner, a cocktail on the beach, or yes, loads of beer at a bar. It this tourist cannot get a drink for one, two, or three days, he or she is going to be upset and form a bad opinion on the degree of how tourist-friendly Thailand really is. He or she will probably not return and will rather pick other destinations (look at how hard Malaysia is courting the tourist trade right now.) And this upset tourist will tell his or her friends at home, the travel agent who booked the ticket, and maybe the local papers or travel forums. So not only will this person not return, but he or she will convince others not to come.

Yes, there a a mulitude of ways to enjoy Thailand without drinking. But most tourists, I dare say, do not want to go to places where their choices are limited, and limiting alcohol sales will affect the industry. So if the Thai government wants to place more days on the alcohol banned list, then they should do that with full knowledge of the deleterious effect that will have on tourism.

Personally, I think it is odd that alcohol is somehow OK for some days, but not for others. If alcohol is bad, then it should be banned on all days. If it is OK for use, then it should not be banned. You can make arguements for or against alcohol use, but whatever your conclusion, I don't see how on any given day it is OK to use it, then the next day it is not OK because that day has a religious or national implication.

ummmm .. how long have you been in Thailand? These are NOT new rules. In fact in the years that I have been here they have added 2 drinking days, in the past you were not able to buy alcohol on father's day and mother's day but that changed 3 years ago. So ... if the alcohol sales ban is so bad and so deleterious to tourism It would have had its affect years and years ago.

I doubt the "Pattaya single male" tourist as described earlier in the thread is gonna raise much stink about not being able to go to a disco one night of his vacation

--------------------------------

For jack who can't manage reality about my personal drinking habits, I encourage you to search the forums for non-alcohol related things to do in Pattaya including cultural shows and events. It isn't as if it hasn't been covered, from concerts to Alankarn to temple fairs to night markets .....

but jack, your resentment towards people that don't drink and problem drinkers seems to be an issue, check with one of the forum sponsors and they might be able to help!

I have been reading the posts on this thread, among which have been raised some very valid points including the subject of the thread laid out in the original post. The previous poster, 'Bonobo', has reiterated the same valid point, probably as he felt the thread has wndered off track - which it has. It now seems to be functioning as a vessel by which you insult everybody who contributes something meaningful to the dicussion, and deviate the course of the topic.

May I suggest that you take your own advice and seek help from one of the forum sponsors? Or perhaps go and have a drink yourself - it seems you might need one.

[Frotting]

Let's restrict the use of motor vehicles...it may lead to a reduction in road deaths & global warming. Let's restrict the use of petrol...it may lead to a reduction in road deaths, global warming & Australian aboriginals being brain dead. Let's ban tobacco smoking...it may help to reduce health deficits & reduce global warming. Let's ban/restrict.........

Have any of these measures ever worked?

The stupidity of the restriction of alcohol sales in Thailand is not only a joke but is also unnecessarily costly.

The costs include:

a] the government to decide upon this rule.

b] the government to enable the police to enact in accordance to this rule.

c] the police to actually enforce this rule.

d] the increased unemployment & decreased business income as a result of this rule.

As the OP says, it's simply more moralistic folly...idiots clinging to what is left of their "perfect world"...or should I say "perfectly controllable world".

At last....................The voice of reason. Got it in a nutshell. Now perhaps that awful insulting woman with PMT will go away and boil her head.