Phuket Businesses Face Strict Enforcement Of Alcohol Act

[notime]

It's all so stupid stupid stupid! Forgive me for loosing my nerve here but how else one can call the situation? The bars/clubs are only allowed to sell alcohol until midnight. They are only allowed to play music until 2am.

Why would the venues want to stay open until 2am and pay for DJ'd, live bands etc if they cannot serve drinks to their patrons after midnight? And why do some of them actually serve alcohol and stay open until 2-3am while others even stay open all night, serving drinks if this is all illegal? Are all these funny CRACKDOWNS there to give the police an excuse to charge more tea money for closing their eyes to the breaches in the law? And if so why isn't there, at the higher echelons of power, someone smart enough to realise what's going on and modify the laws to make them practical, enforceable and in line with the community’s and country’s aspirations?

[jensonmcm]

Another "Crackdown" ? Yawn. More posturing and posing from the powers that be. Yawn Yawn Yawn.

Can TV make another category besides "Breaking" News? Like "Boring" News for example.

[fiercesnake]

Oh gosh ANOTHER crackdown! For the folks living here this is just more rhetoric! One poster said it's probably new muscle somewhere. So true, "The new broom always sweeps stiffer!" The idea of restricted times on alcohol is one of the most ludicrous laws here. It is simply an annoyance which fails to have any effect on drink driving or any other alcohol related problem or disease.

What I find most amazing in "Amazing Thailand" is the shear indulgence of government officials and/or the BIB constantly having crackdowns on useless laws like alcohol selling times or the left hand lane rule for anything other than a pure sedan car! This would be normal if this was a fully developed nation but as usual in LOS it’s let's avoid the overwhelming issues of poverty, low educational standards, corruption, motor vehicle accident rate, influx of yaa bah from Myanmar, social injustice, lack of real employment prospects for women at the bottom end of society (i.e. typical desperate for money bargirls), massive wage divergence between the ruling elite and "slum" class labourers, appalling animal rights (that doesn’t even rate a mention here, even though Buddhism is the major religion; though perhaps too many Thais only pay it lip service to wai at the right moment and visit the temple on auspicious occasions, or when they want something from Buddha!) and the list goes on...

Sorry Thailand is an NIC (Newly Industrialized Country), it’s still NOT a developed nation. As long as the government persists in ignoring multiple social injustices, political instability as witnessed by the continuing insurgency in the South and Red Shirt discontent will persist. Sometimes the smile at everything and lets avoid direct confrontation of an issue means that serious problems are never really likely to be addressed. Until major issues are addressed Thailand cannot possibly reach developed nation status! Instead the bureaucrats prefer to attempt to copy Europe and other developed nations in enforcing laws related to very minor issues.

This style of government is the typical hallmark of a developing NIC, so until politicians and big business change the attitude to take on greater social responsibility we will continue to see nonsense crackdowns on who sells a “Spy” at 2.05 pm in the supermarket. Yes, send that young sales girl to jail and fine her B50,000 or some other totally ridiculous amount! Gosh wake-up politicians, do something worth doing with all the power you have to do good; forget worrying about rot. Help your poor countrymen to improve their daily lives and their education!

[PhilHarries]

And maybe we should not be surprised if Thais increasingly perceive the farangs as <deleted> behaving like poor idiots.

Wrong, the average Thai perceives his leaders as <deleted> behaving like hi-so idiots bringing out laws that make it more difficult for him to earn money and put food on the family table.

Hmmmmmm. Not so different to political leaders the world over.

[asiawatcher]

Would someone explain to me the sensibility of the 11-2 and after 5-00pm for booze purchases? Wot - is this some sort of stupid ban? People don't buy and can't drink? In bars they can so what is this all about?????? More of some pencil neck public service attempt at curbing alcohol consumption - that really helps ...

[asiawatcher]

Oh gosh ANOTHER crackdown! For the folks living here this is just more rhetoric! One poster said it's probably new muscle somewhere. So true, "The new broom always sweeps stiffer!" The idea of restricted times on alcohol is one of the most ludicrous laws here. It is simply an annoyance which fails to have any effect on drink driving or any other alcohol related problem or disease.

What I find most amazing in "Amazing Thailand" is the shear indulgence of government officials and/or the BIB constantly having crackdowns on useless laws like alcohol selling times or the left hand lane rule for anything other than a pure sedan car! This would be normal if this was a fully developed nation but as usual in LOS it’s let's avoid the overwhelming issues of poverty, low educational standards, corruption, motor vehicle accident rate, influx of yaa bah from Myanmar, social injustice, lack of real employment prospects for women at the bottom end of society (i.e. typical desperate for money bargirls), massive wage divergence between the ruling elite and "slum" class labourers, appalling animal rights (that doesn’t even rate a mention here, even though Buddhism is the major religion; though perhaps too many Thais only pay it lip service to wai at the right moment and visit the temple on auspicious occasions, or when they want something from Buddha!) and the list goes on...

Sorry Thailand is an NIC (Newly Industrialized Country), it’s still NOT a developed nation. As long as the government persists in ignoring multiple social injustices, political instability as witnessed by the continuing insurgency in the South and Red Shirt discontent will persist. Sometimes the smile at everything and lets avoid direct confrontation of an issue means that serious problems are never really likely to be addressed. Until major issues are addressed Thailand cannot possibly reach developed nation status! Instead the bureaucrats prefer to attempt to copy Europe and other developed nations in enforcing laws related to very minor issues.

This style of government is the typical hallmark of a developing NIC, so until politicians and big business change the attitude to take on greater social responsibility we will continue to see nonsense crackdowns on who sells a “Spy” at 2.05 pm in the supermarket. Yes, send that young sales girl to jail and fine her B50,000 or some other totally ridiculous amount! Gosh wake-up politicians, do something worth doing with all the power you have to do good; forget worrying about rot. Help your poor countrymen to improve their daily lives and their education!

Can I have the soap box now???

[JetsetBkk]

Wow! 20 replies before "Another nail in the coffin..." was posted.

Amazing Thailand.

[Jirapa]

Crackdown, crackdown, crackdown. I don't believe the word even exists in Thai, but Thaivisa calls everything a crackdown.

As for the rest, whenever Thailand is doing nothing the expats blame it for doing nothing, whenever Thailand is doing something the expats blame it for doing the wrong thing.

I wonder how the laws of this country would look like if the expats were making them. Probably pretty drunk I think.

Are you for real? Of course the word "Crackdown" doesn't exist in Thai it's an English word but I'm sure there's a Thai equivalent like there must be a Thai equivalent for "Toe Cheese!" I don't even speak Thai but the language must be old enough and complex enough to be able to translate anything. Other than apple which is apple!

Thaivisa is an English speaking forum and if you look up "Crackdown" on Wikipedia or in Word I think you'll see it's a crackdown.

The prohibition law between 2pm and 5pm then from midnight to 11am is pointless and Thais agree. The amount of laws that only apply to expats in this country need to be addressed in forums such as this even though the end result is zero. The so called "Probably pretty drunk I think" people are the ones bringing all their money from abroad and spending it here so shut up! We have the right to speak.

I haven't a negative word to say about this country otherwise I wouldn't be here but if people do then let them and stop your "crackdown" on people expressing their views. Nowhere's perfect not even Thailand but we live here so we live with it!

[jensonmcm]

Wow! 20 replies before "Another nail in the coffin..." was posted.

Amazing Thailand.

Just how many nails HAS Thailand got in the coffin now? The metallic content must be starting to outweigh the wooden by now.  

[LivinginKata]

A number of trollish posts have been removed.

Read rule 5) Not to post inflammatory messages on the forum, or attempt to disrupt discussions to upset its participants, or trolling.

[beammeup]

I think its so the traffic cops cant buy wihskey before they go on duty

[Milo]

Oh gosh ANOTHER crackdown! violin.gif For the folks living here this is just more rhetoric! One poster said it's probably new muscle somewhere. So true, "The new broom always sweeps stiffer!" The idea of restricted times on alcohol is one of the most ludicrous laws here. It is simply an annoyance which fails to have any effect on drink driving or any other alcohol related problem or disease. annoyed.gif

What I find most amazing in "Amazing Thailand" is the shear indulgence of government officials and/or the BIB constantly having crackdowns on useless laws like alcohol selling times or the left hand lane rule for anything other than a pure sedan car! This would be normal if this was a fully developed nation but as usual in LOS it’s let's avoid whistling.gif the overwhelming issues of poverty, low educational standards, corruption, motor vehicle accident rate, influx of yaa bah from Myanmar, social injustice, lack of real employment prospects for women at the bottom end of society (i.e. typical desperate for money bargirls), massive wage divergence between the ruling elite and "slum" class labourers, appalling animal rights (that doesn’t even rate a mention here, even though Buddhism is the major religion; though perhaps too many Thais only pay it lip service to wai at the right moment and visit the temple on auspicious occasions, or when they want something from Buddha!) and the list goes on...

Sorry Thailand is an NIC (Newly Industrialized Country), it’s still NOT a developed nation. As long as the government persists in ignoring multiple social injustices, political instability as witnessed by the continuing insurgency in the South and Red Shirt discontent will persist. Sometimes the smile at everything and lets avoid direct confrontation of an issue means that serious problems are never really likely to be addressed. Until major issues are addressed Thailand cannot possibly reach developed nation status! Instead the bureaucrats neus.gif prefer to attempt to copy Europe and other developed nations in enforcing laws related to very minor issues. sad.gif

This style of government is the typical hallmark of a developing NIC, so until politicians and big business change the attitude to take on greater social responsibility we will continue to see nonsense crackdowns on who sells a “Spy” at 2.05 pm in the supermarket. Yes, send that young sales girl to jail and fine her B50,000 or some other totally ridiculous amount! Gosh wake-up 1zgarz5.gif politicians, do something worth doing with all the power you have to do good; forget worrying about rot. Help your poor countrymen to improve their daily lives and their education!

Can I have the soap box now???

And amongst all the vitriolic rhetoric FierceSnake, your point was? Past, long established socialist ideals are hardly likely to gain a foothold here I surmise? I can see the proletariat gathering arms already as the ripples spread from such a stirring speech!! Right. Nothing like getting all hot under the collar at the blatantly obvious? Somebody needs a beer methinks!!

I for one await with baited breath for next week's instalment of those in power's fiendishly cunning scheme to keep the masses crushed underfoot!!

Edited December 10, 2009 by Milo

[Maigo6]

Seems this law will include Bars also, surely an International tourist destination is not the place to strictly enforce such diotic laws.

I doubt some 60 year old Farang tourist could be confused with an underage Thai schoolkid, such blanket laws do absolutely nothing for the tourism industry that Thailand works so hard at trying to promote.

Imagine sitting down for an afternoon meal at a seafood restaurant, lovely ambience, great sea views, you order an ice cold beer at 14.01 hrs only to be told that the owner of the restaurant could be imprisoned if they serve you, 2 minutes ago would have been ok, but if you wait another 2 Hrs and 59 Minutes you can have that beer.

No doubt there will be even more beer bars than usual up for sale, surely that can't expect beer bars that are open not to be able to serve beer, it just doesn't make sense.

Are Beer bars exempt ?

[jb5music]

Just remind me again what is actually achieved by restricting alcohol sales in the afternoon?

Nothing!

Yes there is - You buy alcohol at that time and somebody extorts money out of

you and calls it a fine. Maybe it's ok if they put a asterisk next to it and print the word "fine".

Like the banks print the word "fee". (Then it's ok for them to

grab money right out of your account).

[kennalder]

LOP, (land of plastic)has done it again!!!

looking for bad guys selling alcohol outside the stipulated time instead of taking care of the big issues here.

Why not let the policeforce go out on the roads and pick up the plastic-shit floating around everywhere. Maybe

than they will be interested to inform and educate people to stop just drop their plastic whereever they go.

Glegolo

Maybe just maybe If there was less drinking and smoking there might be less trash and butts left behind, by non-caring smoking, drinking people, just maybe

Dumbest thing I have heard in the longest time. Not ever, mind you, but a long long time. I do a lot of bicycle riding around Chiang Mai. Dumped all along the country roads are plastic bags of trash. Can't say beyond a shadow of doubt, but pretty sure they aren't filled with butts and beer bottles. So what next? If no-one ate then no need to dump table scraps? If no-one bought electronics then no need to dump empty boxes and styrofoam?

It's not about what we have to dispose of, it's about how we choose to dispose of it. That boils down to education and awareness. Two things sadly lacking in the Thai system.

[george]

Similar crackdown is reported from Pattaya today:

Suggestions Of Major Bar Crackdown By Police Following Meeting With Provincial Police Chief

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Suggestions-...-P-t320969.html

[Ponbkk]

I was happy when those annoying yellow signs disappeared from the supermarket shelves and registers down the street during my normal afternoon grocery hours. Will they reappear? I hope not.

[HerbalEd]

Just remind me again what is actually achieved by restricting alcohol sales in the afternoon?

Oh easy, they do that just to piss me off. Cheers!

Better pissed off than pissed on.

[fxe1200]

Similar crackdown is reported from Pattaya today:

Crackdown forecast for Hat Yai

No crackdowns reported or to be announced for this month.

[featography]

Just remind me again what is actually achieved by restricting alcohol sales in the afternoon?

I am wondering the same thing, when I read that. Why no sales from 2 til 5??

[featography]

No the hardcore alcoholics think ahead and either have a fridge full of Lao Khao or get to 7Eleven 3 minutes before prohibition starts. I know that the clock in my local 7Eleven has been 12 minutes slow for about 2 years so I use that to my advantage. In unfamiliar minimarts that display the correct time try setting the time on your mobile back 10 minutes and insist on being served, it has worked!

Another alternative is make sure you have exactly the right notes and change for your 4 beers which you bag by yourself at the counter. Before the cashier has the time to explain the house rules say "yo no habla ingles?" slap the exact money down and walk out then look back to see the cashier going to the fridge to get the barcode!

Tescos is easy! Drink while shopping during prohibition and turn up at the checkout with a few empty cans of beer and a few full ones.

They'll tell you "you can't buy beer" and confiscate it and then spot the 3 empties and the one your drinking. This stumps them so the manager is called and you end up giving the exact money for what you've consumed which is kept out of the till and registered after prohibition ends.

If all else fails go local as granny don't give a sh!t about some dumb ass prohibition law!

Happy Drinking

Most would read thru this and not give it a 3rd thought, but it strikes me as funny as h@##. I have seen this methodology practiced at local mom-pop mkts in the village, and it tickles my funny bone that farang have figured out "thai way". Thanks for the belly shaking laff.

Edited December 10, 2009 by LivinginKata
removed formatting

[featography]

What is the goal??? Sounds more like actions of the oh so proper America. Not that I drink or smoke, but people will get what they want.

Correction here partner....England is oh so proper. America has become oh so liberal and politically correct, gag me with a ginsu, and choke me with a chainsaw

[PoorSucker]

Just leave us alone, the happy ex pats.

Don't come here, period..................

[def2708]

What you speak ? smoking in disco and other public places is forbidden in almost all countries in the world why here must be different ? If you smoke and want die why i must die too ? smoke what you want in your house and don't bother all others...

I hope they will do it...

did you read????

it s about selling alcohol and tobbaco.....

[Alboy301]

Another nail in the coffin for Thailand not many more to go.....

Can someone please ban this annoying cliche?

[YankeeVet]

Personally I like the system in Thailand. If you want to party or buy drinks late at night there is always somewhere or someone that caters to this but it is kept fairly inconspicuous. Of course everyone has their favorite Mom and Pop shops that will sell after hours and on holidays. Here in Chiang Mai there are many places open late. Some less conspicuous than others. Yea, the Police know, but most officers turn a blind eye if the place isn't causing any real problems. Compare this to most places in America. I actually had a drink snatched off my table at 2 am in San Francisco. Police were in the bar at 2:01 to issue violations. Some States never sell beer on Sunday because that's the day society says you are supposed to attend church. I've been to some places that don't sell any alcohol...period. Thanks America, but I don't need a nanny anymore.

[NamSod]

What you speak ? smoking in disco and other public places is forbidden in almost all countries in the world why here must be different ? If you smoke and want die why i must die too ? smoke what you want in your house and don't bother all others...

I hope they will do it...

Seeing alcohol and tobacco disappear forever would not make me sad. Good riddance!

[zorro1]

Its a stupid law as a true alcoholic is drinking at 9am , drunk by 1pm and awake again at 4 just in time for the next round. BKK is halfway civilized at least Villa market allows us farang the freedom to buy what we want when we want it so I figure this law is directly aimed at Thais which are very messy after a few.

[basjke]

Tescos is easy! Drink while shopping during prohibition and turn up at the checkout with a few empty cans of beer and a few full ones.

They'll tell you "you can't buy beer" and confiscate it and then spot the 3 empties and the one your drinking. This stumps them so the manager is called and you end up giving the exact money for what you've consumed which is kept out of the till and registered after prohibition ends.

Happy Drinking

So if I understand it correctly you consume at least 4 beers on a shopping trip.No bar or entertaining environment just a lousy shopping cart in a supermarket.You ever been made aware of that other forum called " I drink too much".

[tonyrx7]

No alcohol = no tourism, period! So go right ahead and see how long that crackdown will last, there's plenty of other countries that are more then happy to pickup some of Thailand's lucative tourism. Don't know better then to shoot themself on the foot with all these crackdowns.