Is The Writing On The Wall?

[Mobi]

Read this:

ATTA reports drop in Thailand tourism

The Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) said there was an 8.5 percent drop in tourists handled by its member companies at Bangkok International Airport last year.

ATTA members served 2,457,548 travelers at the airport last year, down from 2,688,455 in 2004.

The association said the decline was mainly the result of economic concerns such as rising fuel prices and strong competition from other destinations. Security concerns in Thailand’s restive South and the tsunami fallout were also contributing factors behind the fall. (TTG Asia)

Pattaya Mail

Now this, (lifted from the press clippings forum)

Drinking hours in hotel pubs?

BANGKOK: -- The Public Health Department drops a bombshell on THA members with a new proposed law that introduces strict drinking hours at hotel pubs.

New regulations proposed by the Public Health Department could cut drinking time in hotel bars and restaurants to 11 to 1400 and 1700 to 2300, Thai Hotels Association members were told at their meeting yesterday.

Although the regulations still need to be fine-tuned before they are presented to the Minister of Public Health for approval, hoteliers expressed dismay claiming the rule would rob the country of its tourism capital status.

Already facing stiff competition from Singapore , which relaxed rules and allows virtually around-the-clock drinking and entertainment, Bangkok hoteliers said the proposed rule was “contrary to the country’s objective to position the city as a tourism capital in Asia .”

It would also rob the hotels of revenue and could force some properties to cut back on staff if drinking hours are introduced in hotel restaurants and pubs.

The proposed rules are similar to the strict opening hours that were in place in the UK until they were relaxed three years ago.

An argument against the 1700-2300 opening hours is it encourages what the British call binge drinking when customers line up several pints of beer on the table as closing time approaches.

--ettrdaily.com 2006-02-01

Neither of the above is specific to Pattaya, but as Pattaya is a major tourism hub, maybe it's worth discussing in this forum.

There are some self appointed missionaries in the Toxin government that will eventually succeed in killing the golden egg... if they ain't stopped - soon!

[FlyingDutchman]

These drinking hours are ancient British rules. I hope for the bartenders, that these rules will not be applied, otherwise they'll have to seek other jobs. What does the Thai gov.even care about ? The most of them (visiting hotel bars) are farang; why should they care for them healt ?

...

[britmaveric]

If the laws were ever enforced, yes there would be smth to worry about!

[Sexy Beast]

These drinking hours are ancient British rules.

I haven't been home in years. But someone told me that now in the UK there is 24 hour drinking in most pubs in 'zones' in the city centres.

True or is it a load of bull?

S B

[MisterFingers]

I'm sure the tsunami itself could account for most if not all of that drop in tourists. The tsunami happened about a week before 2005. So the number would have started to drop just about when the New Year rang in. 200, 000 or so sounds about right.

[Rinrada]

These drinking hours are ancient British rules.

I haven't been home in years. But someone told me that now in the UK there is 24 hour drinking in most pubs in 'zones' in the city centres.

True or is it a load of bull?

S B

Bit of Info on the new laws in England and wales....

Generally it has been considered to work well........No Meltdowns... SO...

The new licensing law allows Britain's pubs, clubs, bars, supermarkets and service stations to apply for the new longer opening licenses. Critics of the new law fear the extension of the licensing hours will create a breed of drunken yobs bringing havoc to quiet residential areas.

The government and supporters of the new law believe this is a good strategy to reduce booze-related crime and anti-social behaviour.

They say the changes will reduce the problem of post-pub brawling associated with hordes of people leaving different venues at the same fixed closing time.

What does the new law say?

T

here will be flexible opening hours for bars and pubs, with the potential to open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Venues will be able to apply for a licence, but have to inform the local community and police to give them 21 days to object.

Any pubs that become disorderly as a result of the new opening hours will be given two months to sort out the situation or they will be billed for the extra policing costs.

What is likely to actually happen?

At the time when the change in the law took effect, just over 60,000 outlets could sell alcohol for longer.

But only about 1,000 outlets were granted the 24-hour license.

Fewer than 400 of these are pubs and clubs, and the rest are supermarkets and service stations. Some of the outlets that have received the 24-hour license may not even use them. A survey carried out by The British Beer & Pub Association has shown that the only days most venues will extend their licenses are Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with the majority expecting to close at 1 or 2am.

[opothai]

relaxed laws on drinking seems to be relaxing people's attitudes, less problems in the our town since the laws were introduced,

if these laws are enforced in los then it is the thai people in the tourist industry that will definately feel the pinch.

[Guest endure]

The way that the new UK laws were framed means that even if you only want to open extended hours 2 or 3 times a year you have to apply for a 24 hour license so it's not likely that many pubs/clubs will actually open 24 hours.

[sadman]

relaxed laws on drinking seems to be relaxing people's attitudes, less problems in the our town since the laws were introduced

I think your town may be the exception rather than the rule. My company runs part of the duty solicitor call centre and since the inroduction of the new licensing laws, alcohol-fuelled disorder has increased sharply. Yes, it tends to be low-level disorder, but it impacts on peoples' lives nonetheless.

Going back to closing in the afternoons etc would be a disastrous step in the UK, primarily for tourists, so I hope LOS doesn't go down that route, as it will present problems.