Nationwide Ban On Alcohol This Weekend

[warfie]

Now would be a good time to review this policy of alcohol bans at election time to determine whether it actually results in Thais electing better quality politicians than they would if they could go to the polls plastered. Tests under laboratory conditions could be organized. Comparisons should also be made between voters under the influence of various substances ranging from opium, marijuana, chlorform, barbiturates to cocaine, yaa baa etc with follow ups analysis on politicians' performance to see which substances produced the best politicians compared to voting while paralytic on booze and those voting without any chemical assistance. Whatever yields the best results should be made compulsory for elections and police should be at polling stations to conduct random tests to ensure voters have taken the prescribed dosage before casting their ballots.

That's got my vote!

[jdinasia]

32 minutes and counting .... Better rush out and get your bottles NOW!

[Arkady]

I was told it was to reduce drink driving.... Which is just as stupid, so Somchai can't buy a can of beer from 7-11 to enjoy at home, so he goes to a bar (possibly an unlicensed bar in a market) and gets hammered before driving home...

This explanation is not possible because it was actually an old revolutionary decree from a bygone military junta that had fallen into disuse but, like 90 day reporting, was revived during the first Thaksin era. There were no specific drunken driving laws in Thailand when the law was originally promulgated but I think the reintroduction was related to Purachai's social order campaign.

If you remember, the Thaksin government at about the same time reintroduced another old revolutionary law that prohibited women from going out after dark without a male chaperone. That one lasted only a week as it was immediately defied by gangs of gay women who aggressively invited the police to arrest them. However, I think it is still on the books like many quaint old laws that no one had ever bothered to repeal. Another one that might come back under Thaksin II is Pibul's law requiring citizens to wear hats and shoes when visiting government offices and encouraged the people to wear Western dress. His law requiring the wearing of proper shoes, rather than flip flops, at horse races is still actively enforced, witness the many shoe rental stalls outside the Sports Club and Turf Club on race days. In case the Culture Ministry decides to reintroduce the Pibul dress laws under the PT government, here is a picture showing acceptable dress on the right and unacceptable dress on the left. I am not sure how mini skirts and spaghetti straps would be classified as they obviously qualify as Western dress.

Pibul dress pic.docx

[Bkkorupcountry]

I think that you are missing the point here somewhat, and by a fair margin.

I like a drink, but I rarely get drunk, I can quite easily not have a beer if I choose not to, I can quite easily not have a beer in certain places if there is a good reason for it.

Having some holier than thou prat in a uniform with a chest full of undeserved fruit salad telling me that I can't because he doesn't like it is not a good reason.

You are missing the point! You are a guest in this country and as such shall comply with whatever rules and laws are imposed here. If you cannot do that or really mean that Thailand shall make different rules to suit your ideas and thoughts, then you are in the wrong place. I suggest you relocate somewhere where the authorities can have understanding for your needs and make their rules accordingly. Here, you only show your complete lack of intelligence and understanding what this is about.

And you sound like a table banger that freaks out at the first sniff of a wine-gum.

If your obviously superior intellect can spare the time, please point out where I said I wouldn't comply with any laws or rules of this country.

I have absolutely no problem with adhering to any and all laws that exist where ever I happen to be, but I will always stand by my right, and everyone's right for that matter, that if I think something is wrong I should be able to say so without some moralistic bombastic cretin calling me dumb.

As foreigners (my apologies to you if you are a Thai citizen), I don't think we have any right to criticize. We either accept or get out. We can discuss and comment, that's all.

[Bkkorupcountry]

Personally I find the removal of anyone's basic rights in ANY country is a vile thing.

LMAO -- better get Amnesty International to take a look at this situation.

Who says it is your basic right to come to Thailand and go to a bar anytime you want regardless of the laws? Is it a violation of your rights when a bar is forced to close at 2am? How about no being able to buy heroin at the 711 is this too a violation of basic rights?

What is vile is being a guest in a country and making accusations that this country is violating basic rights because somebody cannot go to a bar whenever they want because the country, like just about all others, have laws dictating when, where and to whom alcohol can be sold.

You appear, with each subsequent post, Nisa, to be missing the point by a wider and wider margin. The gist of the posts is that it is a totally irrational and illogical ban - not 'law' - and that its 'target market' is a fraction of that that is actually affected . . .

I disagree. I think Nisa's posts makes complete sense and shows sensitivity towards the current situation.

IMO, the decision to ban alcohol sales is to avoid any trouble. Everyone knows that alcohol can fuel aggression and in case some of you have not managed to get your heads out of your drinking buckets, there is an election going on. The authorities naturally do not want any altercations between the various parties supporters and banning alcohol if merely one of many steps being taken. Pretty much the same reasons as why alcohol sales are banned on certain match days.

[cardholder]

As foreigners (my apologies to you if you are a Thai citizen), I don't think we have any right to criticize. We either accept or get out. We can discuss and comment, that's all.

Wrong again !

Whilst freedom of speech exists we have every right to voice our opinion against ill-thought out decisions such as these.

What we have to do is live with those laws/decisions. I don't think anyone said they wanted to get out.

I suppose you are someone who sits with your thumb up your ar5e, saying nothing, whilst observing appalling Thai driving. Obviously, you will put up that as well or get out of the country.

(A few of us are currently enjoying a few Bloody Mary's - the thought police can't quite fathom that drink)

[jdinasia]

Personally I find the removal of anyone's basic rights in ANY country is a vile thing.

LMAO -- better get Amnesty International to take a look at this situation.

Who says it is your basic right to come to Thailand and go to a bar anytime you want regardless of the laws? Is it a violation of your rights when a bar is forced to close at 2am? How about no being able to buy heroin at the 711 is this too a violation of basic rights?

What is vile is being a guest in a country and making accusations that this country is violating basic rights because somebody cannot go to a bar whenever they want because the country, like just about all others, have laws dictating when, where and to whom alcohol can be sold.

You appear, with each subsequent post, Nisa, to be missing the point by a wider and wider margin. The gist of the posts is that it is a totally irrational and illogical ban - not 'law' - and that its 'target market' is a fraction of that that is actually affected . . .

I disagree. I think Nisa's posts makes complete sense and shows sensitivity towards the current situation.

IMO, the decision to ban alcohol sales is to avoid any trouble. Everyone knows that alcohol can fuel aggression and in case some of you have not managed to get your heads out of your drinking buckets, there is an election going on. The authorities naturally do not want any altercations between the various parties supporters and banning alcohol if merely one of many steps being taken. Pretty much the same reasons as why alcohol sales are banned on certain match days.

I have disagreed with Nisa in the past and ......

I don't disagree now. Drinking alcohol is not a basic human right.

[Bkkorupcountry]

As foreigners (my apologies to you if you are a Thai citizen), I don't think we have any right to criticize. We either accept or get out. We can discuss and comment, that's all.

Wrong again !

Whilst freedom of speech exists we have every right to voice our opinion against ill-thought out decisions such as these.

What we have to do is live with those laws/decisions. I don't think anyone said they wanted to get out.

I suppose you are someone who sits with your thumb up your ar5e, saying nothing, whilst observing appalling Thai driving. Obviously, you will put up that as well or get out of the country.

(A few of us are currently enjoying a few Bloody Mary's - the thought police can't quite fathom that drink)

Whilst freedom of speech exists we have every right to voice our opinion against ill-thought out decisions such as these.

I believe I said that we can voice our opinion, just not criticise. I would also like to point out that while you may have freedom of speech in the UK, you don't necessarily have that here in Thailand. Just friendly advice.

I suppose you are someone who sits with your thumb up your ar5e, saying nothing, whilst observing appalling Thai driving. Obviously, you will put up that as well or get out of the country.

No need to get personal, and really no need to resort to vulgarities, unless you come from a society where it's acceptable to interject swear words in every sentence. Don't understand your reference to Thai driving either.

(A few of us are currently enjoying a few Bloody Mary's - the thought police can't quite fathom that drink)

And this is relevant to.....? I'm currently enjoying a Scotch on the rocks but that has no relevance to this topic either.

[techboy]

I still fail to equate the imbibing of a few drinks with the ability to vote...

Another step in the removal of the Thai people's civil liberties.

Thailand will be like Saudi if this silliness continues.

BS! BS! BS! I have been in many countries where alcohol sales are banned during voting. It does not take much in the way of brains to figure out that it is hoped that the alcohal ban will remove a distraction which would make people less inclined to take the time to vote. DUH! But you think this is another step in a sinister conspiracy to remove Thai people's civil liberties? ooohhh how perceptive!

[chooka]

JDINASIA you state " I don't disagree now. Drinking alcohol is not a basic human right"

Well I guess eating fish is not a basic human right either.

I am over 18 and alcohol is legal and it is my basic human right to drink it whenever I want.

[kevbap]

Nisa wrote:

The funny thing is that I doubt you will hear too many Thais complaining like this

Have you actually asked any?

I somehow doubt it, or you would find that they are far more p**sed off at having not just one weekend but two screwed up....but thank you for speaking up for the nation.....

Thai's are not so daft when it comes to drinking, they laugh at us farangs getting so stupid about the lack of beer in the desert! want to drink beer? follow the Thais!

[ginjag]

Personally I find the removal of anyone's basic rights in ANY country is a vile thing.

LMAO -- better get Amnesty International to take a look at this situation.

Who says it is your basic right to come to Thailand and go to a bar anytime you want regardless of the laws? Is it a violation of your rights when a bar is forced to close at 2am? How about no being able to buy heroin at the 711 is this too a violation of basic rights?

What is vile is being a guest in a country and making accusations that this country is violating basic rights because somebody cannot go to a bar whenever they want because the country, like just about all others, have laws dictating when, where and to whom alcohol can be sold.

You keep mentioning about the BARS and ex pats, and seem to have a thing about the two. I get the impression as you do mention them so much you forget to realise that normally the bars tend to be in Tourist areas, and few are EX PATS drunk in them, Ex pats are scattered all over the kingdom for your info-and not all are whiskey or beer swillers, that doesn't stop them having a voice on the subject. We really must not tar everyone with the same brush, and because foreigners have an right to have an opinion, doesn't mean that they they are always not satisfied, or as you say many times' why are you here'

So because of 1% in Phuket have a vote logic is for a blanket closure. The 6% of Thai gdp re tourism is way out, keep this silly stat, in the real world look at from the Airport down to transport resorts hotels-food alcohol wives and girl friends/boyfriends-houses businesses bars and bar persons attractions national parks temples boats islands I could go on for ages, one has to look at the whole thing rather than pick the lowest stat ever to highlight your point of view.

[cardholder]

Whilst freedom of speech exists we have every right to voice our opinion against ill-thought out decisions such as these.

I believe I said that we can voice our opinion, just not criticise. I would also like to point out that while you may have freedom of speech in the UK, you don't necessarily have that here in Thailand. Just friendly advice.

Last time I looked freedom of speech was guaranteed by the 1997 Constitution.

It is something that I believe I enjoy as someone living in Thailand.

Surely freedom of speech allows for criticism to be made ?

[Bkkorupcountry]

JDINASIA you state " I don't disagree now. Drinking alcohol is not a basic human right"

Well I guess eating fish is not a basic human right either.

I am over 18 and alcohol is legal and it is my basic human right to drink it whenever I want.

You have the right to drink whenever you want. The ban is on the sale of alcohol, not the consumption of it. I am willing to give JDINASIA (with whom I disagree vehemently on another thread) the benefit of the doubt that he actually meant purchasing rather than drinking.

[kevbap]

funny debate and very amusing, just like to say that i went to Big C today for my shopping and whilst the other half did her thing i settled down in the restaurant area, for my last drink of this weekend, at around 4.30pm, When asking for a tower of beer the guy in charge of beer dispensing announced 'sorry cannot, i have to go and vote tomorrow'??? now rather confused and stuttering at this point i tried to point out that beer consumption stops at 6pm, giving him ample time to vote and me ample time to consume......the outcome was a big smile and a sorry, no can do !

Big C is now a Big C..........consumer place that i will never return to !

Red Horse beers chilling in my Fridge now, so happy weekend everyone and look forward to next weeks mass debate about the 'proper' election !

[MILT]

Wow! It's amazing less than 24 hrs and all the crying. Show's just how much folks need to pickle their brains everyday. It's a sad statement reading some of these post's on TV. Don't get me wrong I could give a sh*t how people want to self medicate and that's right I do not partake in the devil's soup and to be around mindless repeaters of endless sentences that make no sense re. pickle brains is not my idea of a fun time. It's just sad to see such a killer drug (long and short term) legal. Anyways I guess no matter what "Let the party begin"

[A_Traveller]

I'm a bit puzzled by the animosity in this thread. The decision is in place, many who've been here long enough knew about it/expected it, so what is it with all the 'shock horror', and as to the Human Rights lobby, you've got to be kidding [or off your face already]

By the by busy doing something else but just had a quick interweb trawl and came up with a document which purports to list by US state the alcohol ordinances, either at the state level or at the district level. A review shows states such as Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Minnesota, South Carolina, and West Virginia all have some extant state or district restrictions on alcohol sale during an election day.

So it's not quite an 'only in Thailand' issue is it.

Regards

PS Yes I know today is absentee voting provision.

/edit for clarity which was lacking//

Edited June 25, 2011 by A_Traveller

[planemad]

Amazing, 8 pages and still going strong! Debates around the cause of the “dry” days, the election, has seldom run past 4 pages. That must say something about TV members. Very few of us have the right to vote, and if the honoured TV members are to be believed, Thais are not interested in what we have to say anyway! We can therefore change nothing; this is simply a vehicle for individual rants and another avenue with which to lambaste Thailand.

I am a regular alcohol user (or abuser is closer to the truth), however, if the pub facility is withdrawn, I still have enough imagination to find something else to do and sufficient foresight to stock up before the pubs run dry. Those that feel so strongly as to vent so vociferously about the situation clearly lack both abilities.

I assume that very few posters have been actually forced to live in Thailand, in which case, closing the bars over election periods is hardly a new concept. It IS the Thai way, get used to it. They will continue to close the bars to observe their holy days, just as so many other countries do. Try living in a Muslim country where many forbid ALL alcohol sales and see how far your complaints will get you then. I actually work in a Muslim country, albeit a very liberal country where booze is readily available, this is MY choice, rather like YOUR choice to live in Thailand. Religious days over here all see the bars closed, wait until Ramadan which lasts for a month during which time eating, drinking and even smoking in public during daylight hours is forbidden regardless of your religion, and ALL bars are closed for the duration, NO concessions. Break the rules and risk a night or more in the cells.

Basically, get a hobby or find a few friends with which to share the hours that the pubs are closed and if it is too late for this weekend, plan ahead for next weekend. Life is just too short to worry about trivia like this.

Cheers!

PS, if you think Thai driving is bad, you need to get out more. Try India, the Middle East, Turkey or even Italy (to mention just a few).

[cardholder]

JDINASIA you state " I don't disagree now. Drinking alcohol is not a basic human right"

Well I guess eating fish is not a basic human right either.

I am over 18 and alcohol is legal and it is my basic human right to drink it whenever I want.

You have the right to drink whenever you want. The ban is on the sale of alcohol, not the consumption of it. I am willing to give JDINASIA (with whom I disagree vehemently on another thread) the benefit of the doubt that he actually meant purchasing rather than drinking.

i would have to agree that this is a remarkable irony.

For me, it is a good reason not to drink tonight. I am not sure how many habitual Thai drinkers will abstain tonight (I mean from drinking, not from buying )

[ginjag]

JDINASIA you state " I don't disagree now. Drinking alcohol is not a basic human right"

Well I guess eating fish is not a basic human right either.

I am over 18 and alcohol is legal and it is my basic human right to drink it whenever I want.

You have the right to drink whenever you want. The ban is on the sale of alcohol, not the consumption of it. I am willing to give JDINASIA (with whom I disagree vehemently on another thread) the benefit of the doubt that he actually meant purchasing rather than drinking.

The bad thing about most of these laws and bans are the law doe's not always apply in a vast amount of areas. We always look at the big venues where the law is applied, the problem is that the in most places you can purchase, meaning Thais can drink during the FAST. It doesn't mean to but it hits the tourist more than anyone who are on HOLIDAY not ex pats, or Thais. Like most things enforce the laws, and you will not get so many grumbles or problems, that applies to traffic-and transparency here. Mostly police problems.?

Edited June 25, 2011 by ginjag

[tombkk]

The 6% of Thai gdp re tourism is way out, keep this silly stat, in the real world look at from the Airport down to transport resorts hotels-food alcohol wives and girl friends/boyfriends-houses businesses bars and bar persons attractions national parks temples boats islands I could go on for ages, one has to look at the whole thing rather than pick the lowest stat ever to highlight your point of view.

Interesting. The 6% is the official figure, and it includes for example automotive assembly, garment manufacturing, oil exploration and refinery, to name just a few that come to mind. To cite you: "one has to look at the whole thing", assuming that you mean the GDP when you say "thing". I am most interested in your research about the tourist industry, many many THB were generated last year, compared to the total GDP?

I will recommend you to the academia too, as you are better informed than any of them.

[edwardandtubs]

On the bright side, instead of wasting money in bars this weekend we can amuse ourselves with inane arguments here on our beloved forum.

[phutoie2]

I will recommend you to the academia too, as you are better informed than any of them.

Once you have lived here a few years, not exactly difficult to achieve,

[overhaul38]

I feel safer, civilized and more democratic already.

[jdinasia]

JDINASIA you state " I don't disagree now. Drinking alcohol is not a basic human right"

Well I guess eating fish is not a basic human right either.

I am over 18 and alcohol is legal and it is my basic human right to drink it whenever I want.

Nope it is not. You may wish it to be, but there are many places and many times when drinking is not legal. Additionally legal drinking ages also vary. Eating is a basic human right. Consuming alcohol is not.

[sydneyjed]

Well you tell me (and every other international tourist wholesaler)why TAT are undertaking a massive Thai tax payer funded travel promotion launch over the next 6 months to tell us to tell the world that Thailand is 'Amazing'?...Let me guess...Is it to tell people that when they fork out 10.000 euros' to bring their family here or spend their honeymoon here ..or come on a golfing holiday,that they can't go to a bar on two consecutive Saturday nights and have a beer?F..king joke and you tell me seriously you'd be happy if it happened to you!!!!!

From a number of posts here it would seem many foreigners are simply bitter that this country doesn't revolve around their needs .. in this case their need to go to bar this Saturday & Sunday and next. However, it is helping me to understand the negativity towards Thais and Thailand that is so often voiced here. It would appear many people are simply upset that they are not somebody who is valued to Thais at the level they believe they should be. And that their worth to Thailand is never going to be what they believe it should be.

Tourism is an important part of the Thai economy but Thailand would not collapse without it .. especially with just the loss of the expat community who are the main complainers. Thailand has one of the fastest growing economies in Asia and tourism makes up about 6% of the GDP but at the same time the economy grew by 8% in 2010.

Bottom line is that it is time for many to realize they are just not as important here as they think and that the majority of tourist dollars are not coming from expats here.

Edited June 25, 2011 by sydneyjed

[ginjag]

The 6% of Thai gdp re tourism is way out, keep this silly stat, in the real world look at from the Airport down to transport resorts hotels-food alcohol wives and girl friends/boyfriends-houses businesses bars and bar persons attractions national parks temples boats islands I could go on for ages, one has to look at the whole thing rather than pick the lowest stat ever to highlight your point of view.

Interesting. The 6% is the official figure, and it includes for example automotive assembly, garment manufacturing, oil exploration and refinery, to name just a few that come to mind. To cite you: "one has to look at the whole thing", assuming that you mean the GDP when you say "thing". I am most interested in your research about the tourist industry, many many THB were generated last year, compared to the total GDP?

I will recommend you to the academia too, as you are better informed than any of them.

It was given out in forum that the figure was 10% and other people people said the official figure for tourism was part of a 47% under another umbrella. Manufacturing was near the top together with sea food and chicken exports/and not forgetting rice. but do you not think that it is IMPOSSIBLE to calculate the masses of hidden tourism spending. as all tourists here are not on 10 day holidays. The figures have to have many ????? and they have to be given whatever they fabricate. The whole thing is meant by all the other spending, do you think that all the money spent is given forward as tourists money (tourist income) Most Thais do not divulge monies collected. How on earth could anyone say these figure are correct, Knowing L.O.S. you would never get true stats.

[MILT]

Hay everyone I just heard a rumor that PTP is offering another vote for PTP Promise. If PTP wins they will get rid of this dastardly anti drinking law whilst voting. Of course it's just a rumor

Tin Pan Alley

Edited June 25, 2011 by MILT

[tombkk]

The 6% of Thai gdp re tourism is way out, keep this silly stat, in the real world look at from the Airport down to transport resorts hotels-food alcohol wives and girl friends/boyfriends-houses businesses bars and bar persons attractions national parks temples boats islands I could go on for ages, one has to look at the whole thing rather than pick the lowest stat ever to highlight your point of view.

Interesting. The 6% is the official figure, and it includes for example automotive assembly, garment manufacturing, oil exploration and refinery, to name just a few that come to mind. To cite you: "one has to look at the whole thing", assuming that you mean the GDP when you say "thing". I am most interested in your research about the tourist industry, many many THB were generated last year, compared to the total GDP?

I will recommend you to the academia too, as you are better informed than any of them.

It was given out in forum that the figure was 10% and other people people said the official figure for tourism was part of a 47% under another umbrella. Manufacturing was near the top together with sea food and chicken exports/and not forgetting rice. but do you not think that it is IMPOSSIBLE to calculate the masses of hidden tourism spending. as all tourists here are not on 10 day holidays. The figures have to have many ????? and they have to be given whatever they fabricate. The whole thing is meant by all the other spending, do you think that all the money spent is given forward as tourists money (tourist income) Most Thais do not divulge monies collected. How on earth could anyone say these figure are correct, Knowing L.O.S. you would never get true stats.

Of course. Why would nobody have ever thought of that? I will, nay I must recommend you to teach the lecturers at Thai and international universities! Your are a genius!

[rkidlad]

Most people who enjoy a drink on a Saturday night will not be happy that they can't. People who could take or leave a beer probably won't care. People who enjoy a beer on Saturday night might critisise this law (Thai or foreign) People who don't care are more likely to agree with this law or defend it.

People who believe in god, bhudda or whomever will say they're great. People who don't will say..........? Especially on TV.