Beer? No Beer? Sometimes Beer?

[hanno]

So there I was in Bangkok last Saturday on a short break from Cambodia. This being a holiday, I ducked into the next 7-11 to get myself a cold Chang. No joy, with a big notice saying “no alcoholic beverages sold due to elections”. Fair enough I though, law is the law and all that.

Imagine my surprise then when I walked into a Pub a few meters down and saw beers on every table. Asking the waitress she told me that she would be more than happy to serve me a cold one or 10; excellent news indeed.

Onto a Thai restaurant only to once more get the “sorry, no alcohol because of elections” line. I love Thai food, but it tastes just so much with a cold beer, green tea is NO adequate replacement.

Back to the hotel and once more the nectar of the Gods was flowing freely, much to my pleasant surprise. I had to know what was going on here and according to the waitress it all depends on how well the owner of a particular venue is connected with the powers that be.

To cut a long story short: are these “dry days” just a lot of BS that apply to some and not to others? My friend, who works at the Novotel at the airport, told me that this particular law does not apply to them anyway as they are outside of the city???

[mahtin]

No ma and pa local Chinese shop will refuse to serve you.

Big chains observe the law, but normally a restaurant would be OK.

[gotlost]

Some yes and some no it is always that way.

[Lammbock]

Always puts a smile on my face when i get my beer in a coffee cup on those election days. :jap:

Edited August 31, 2010 by Lammbock

[Kilgore Trout]

this is the land of contradictions.

BTW, Chang; nectar of the gods... more like the piss of satan

[gotlost]

I' m good friends with the cop that owns the shop next door.

[Forethat]

I have several friends who are bar and/or restaurant owners and they all pay a small amount to the local upholders of the law and then they can serve alcohol openly.

[hanno]

Some yes and some no it is always that way

Now I understand why I always feel so at home in Thailand, coming from Cambodia .

BTW, Chang; nectar of the gods... more like the piss of satan

Depends on the quantity

[DP25]

No ma and pa local Chinese shop will refuse to serve you.

Big chains observe the law, but normally a restaurant would be OK.

Yup. Tiny mom and pop places and will always sell, so will many Thai restaurants. It's big places like 7-11, Tesco, Family Mart, tourist restaurants, etc that will obey. As for the hotel outside of the city, the elections were local in Bangkok only not national, so if you're outside the city the ban would not apply as there were no elections

[Peterbigeyes]

Always puts a smile on my face when i get my beer in a coffee cup on those election days. :jap:

Why you sneaky lil.......

[Richb2004v2]

I don't know why they even bother with any laws at all in this country.

[barsie]

I did love it in Pattaya where almost no bars were selling booze except one in the day time. They were clearly well connected and the place was packed

[mrbojangles]

I did love it in Pattaya where almost no bars were selling booze except one in the day time. They were clearly well connected and the place was packed

Wonderful news

[uptoyoumyfriend]

i have to say i really like the coffee cup thing too on the kings b day and so on.it is a ritual already to toast to his health with a "cappuccino" .somehow the beer tastes so much better when you're not supposed to have any.

[tabs053]

The best way to look at is that officially, on these days, alcohol cannot be sold, but some businesses get away with it. As long as you are in the know, then you can get around it. ,