Phuket bars asked to abstain for Buddhist holiday

Police are "asking" bars in Phuket not to serve alcohol this Friday and Saturday

out of respect for Buddhist holidays Asarnha Bucha and Khao Phansa (the start

of Buddhist Lent).

PHUKET: -- The Phuket Provincial Police have requested that all nightlife entertainment venues refrain from selling alcohol this weekend out of respect for Asarnha Bucha Day on Friday and the start of Buddhist Lent (Khao Phansa) on Saturday.

Capt Thapakorn Hanumard told the Phuket Gazette that such venues are not legally obliged to close, but are being asked not to sell alcoholic beverages on both days to show respect for two of the holiest days in the Buddhist calendar.

The last of the five precepts that form the basis of Buddhist morality is to avoid alcohol and other intoxicating substances.

The request has been well adhered to by local publicans in years past.

However, this year’s two-day de facto ban will hit venue owners particularly hard.

It not only falls on a weekend, but comes just two weeks after the alcohol-free general election and the early voting that preceded it on June 26.

This will make it the third weekend out of four that alcohol sales will be either legally banned or advised against by authorities.

-- Phuket Gazette 2011-07-13

such venues are not legally obliged to close,

so i presume they will stay open then ....... esp after 2 weekends lost

1. these bars are selling beer non-stop from dusk 'til dawn with no break from 2 to 5pm.

2. why not ask mom & pops or other bars (owned and managed by thais) to comply with the law in the first place?

Why is it only booze? Again. How about asking people to refrain from eating meat? 1. Do not Kill Do not Kill

One must not deliberately kill any living creatures, either by committing the act oneself, instructing others to kill, or approving of or participating in act of killing. It is a respect to others' lives.

One should not deprive others (animals not excluded) of the right to live. If one is hurt or killed, one's family, relatives, friends will suffer. It is the cause of rebirth in Three Evil Paths. The effect of killing to the performer are brevity of life, ill health, handicapped and fear.

In observing the first precept, one tries to protect life whenever possible. Furthermore, one cultivates the attitude of loving kindness to all beings by wishing that they may be happy and free from harm. lying/gossiping (rightness of speech) together with all the other the other Bhuddist precepts.

Why is it ALWAYS only booze, hmmmm ...

This means its all open?

Why is it only booze? Again. How about asking people to refrain from eating meat? 1. Do not Kill Do not Kill

One must not deliberately kill any living creatures, either by committing the act oneself, instructing others to kill, or approving of or participating in act of killing. It is a respect to others' lives.

One should not deprive others (animals not excluded) of the right to live. If one is hurt or killed, one's family, relatives, friends will suffer. It is the cause of rebirth in Three Evil Paths. The effect of killing to the performer are brevity of life, ill health, handicapped and fear.

In observing the first precept, one tries to protect life whenever possible. Furthermore, one cultivates the attitude of loving kindness to all beings by wishing that they may be happy and free from harm. lying/gossiping (rightness of speech) together with all the other the other Bhuddist precepts.

Why is it ALWAYS only booze, hmmmm ...

You seem to forget that most Thais don't understand true Buddhism.

Talking to bar owners in Chalong, they will all close on Friday and are going to see if other bars open on Saturday. If one opens, they will all open.

Seems like all public offices, like Immigraton, makes it a 4 day holiday, by closing

Friday 15th to Monday 18th

Bars and sale of alcohol are asked to be closed Friday 15th and Saturday 16th

I wonder what happens to those that were "asked" to close don't close. Music license checks for the next 6 months, enforced closing time from the bibs, tea money asked so no infractions are found in said establishment?

Why is it only booze? Again. How about asking people to refrain from eating meat? 1. Do not Kill Do not Kill

One must not deliberately kill any living creatures, either by committing the act oneself, instructing others to kill, or approving of or participating in act of killing. It is a respect to others' lives.

One should not deprive others (animals not excluded) of the right to live. If one is hurt or killed, one's family, relatives, friends will suffer. It is the cause of rebirth in Three Evil Paths. The effect of killing to the performer are brevity of life, ill health, handicapped and fear.

In observing the first precept, one tries to protect life whenever possible. Furthermore, one cultivates the attitude of loving kindness to all beings by wishing that they may be happy and free from harm. lying/gossiping (rightness of speech) together with all the other the other Bhuddist precepts.

Why is it ALWAYS only booze, hmmmm ...

You seem to forget that most Thais don't understand true Buddhism.

I'm gathering your reply is either rhetorical and/or sarcastic?

I am very well aware of the FACT that Thais practice a combination of Animism (primarily) and Bhuddism, thus giving the Thai style 'opt out' of anything within a set of 'rules' regarding absolutely everything here.