Phuket alcohol sales ban for Visakha Bucha Day

The birth of the Buddha, depicted on the walls of a wat in Laos.

PHUKET: -- Friday (May 24) is Visakha Bucha Day, a public holiday. Because it is a holy day, shops, bars and restaurants are barred from selling alcohol for 24 hours from midnight on Thursday night.

On Visakha Bucha Day, Buddhists mark three important moments in the life of the Buddha: his birth, his enlightenment and his death.

Devout Buddhists will rise early and go to the wat to make merit and listen to sermons on the Buddha’s teachings. In some temples Buddhists will perform “Wien Tien” in the evening, circling the bodh, or main hall, carrying candles, incense and lotus flowers.

Establishments such as schools will also hang yellow Buddhist flags for the day.

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-alcohol-sales-ban-for-visakha-bucha-day-39516.php

-- Phuket News 2013-05-21

On a related story .. alcohol sales are expected to increase on the 23rd

Crikey, another Buddhist holiday with a ban on alcohol sales.

What to do? This is serious, unless of course one stocks up on booze if it is a critical need.

I'm a Muslim, get me out of here....

Ha, another lets tell the plebs what to do and say it is religion ploy... Why? because we can

On a related story .. alcohol sales are expected to increase on the 23rd

That or brown paper bags.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Ha, another lets tell the plebs what to do and say it is religion ploy... Why? because we can

It's a fair point laddie. You can rest assured the PM and her cab will all have their Cab on Friday, but it's only one day.

Have a big party at home instead.

If you need 'company', book her for 2 days instead of one.

Ploblem solved.

No need to carry on this thread now....

The monks should be busy on Friday. Right then, I think I'll just go down to Pantip and browse porn DVDs.

There are 5 common rules that Lord Buddha announced for Buddhists to follow;

1.No killing to any live creatures.

2.No stealing

3.No commit adultery

4.No lying.

5.No drinking alcohol.

(And 227 rules for monks!!!)

Anyway, Visakha is the most important day for Buddhisms which is not good to say a joke.

Thailand is a funny country.

So be it; truly.

The monks should be busy on Friday. Right then, I think I'll just go down to Pantip and browse porn DVDs.

Yes, you probably will......

There are 5 common rules that Lord Buddha announced for Buddhists to follow;

1.No killing to any live creatures.

2.No stealing

3.No commit adultery

4.No lying.

5.No drinking alcohol.

(And 227 rules for monks!!!)

Anyway, Visakha is the most important day for Buddhisms which is not good to say a joke.

And of course all Buddhists adhere to these rules...Thai or otherwise....

Jai yen dee gwaa folks.

You're lucky enough to be living in a country where you can get around the rules.......if you can't live without your alcohol for one day you'll still be able to find your fix without too much trouble.......

Another aspect of Thai " culture " that is spelt hypocracy. Bars are not allowed to advertise various alcoholic drinks if near a school yet beer companies sponsors major sporting and general events and their logos are everywhere.

Quite close to my home is a store that sells 24/7/365 although they are cautious on certain days if Thais they don't know are close by. The lady who runs the store told me the police only want to catch her not to take legal action but to be paid off for not doing so. TIT.

The monks should be busy on Friday. Right then, I think I'll just go down to Pantip and browse porn DVDs.

Yes, you probably will......

Good that they kept that section open in Pantip on Friday. Glad you see the point!

Edited May 21, 201313 yr by Morakot

Great I arrive at 6 am on Friday

The monks should be busy on Friday. Right then, I think I'll just go down to Pantip and browse porn DVDs.

Yes, you probably will......

Good that they kept that section open in Pantip on Friday. Glad you see the point!

I saw the point but you missed the irony......

Edited May 21, 201313 yr by somchai jones

Great I arrive at 6 am on Friday

Who makes these rules?

If you are a Budhist then enjoy your day and don't drink alcohol.

If you aren't then enjoy your day as you would normally.

For myself May 24th is my birthday so will not be able to celebrate the same.

I am not young so haven't many years left now so thank you Thailand.

I seem to remember an article on this forum saying that Alcohol would be banned/restricted in areas of Bangkok for Songkran (Such as Silom and Khaosan)... Believe me, that never happened!

Will these things be enforced? Is it just Phuket, or will other parts of Thailand observe this?

I saw the point but you missed the irony......

Apologies for this oversight here.

Edited May 21, 201313 yr by Morakot

Phuket alcohol ban for Visakha Bucha on Friday
Phuket Gazette

Patong Police Deputy Superintendent Lt Col Akanit Danpitaksat says venues may remain open, but warns the sale of alcohol after midnight on Thursday may bring stern penalties. Photo: Gazette file

PHUKET: -- Bars, restaurants and other retailers across Phuket are required to refrain from selling alcohol from midnight Thursday night to sunrise Saturday morning as a total ban on alcohol sales comes into effect nationwide for the Buddhist holy day Visakha Bucha on Friday.

“Visakha Bucha Day is one of the four annual religious days on which the sale of alcohol is banned,” explained Lt Col Akanit Danpitaksat, Deputy Superintendent of the Patong Police.

“We always receive good cooperation from people and alcohol retailers. They know they are not allowed to buy or sell alcohol on this day,” he said.

Lt Col Akanit explained the ban will come into effect at midnight on Thursday.

“We are not asking venues to close, but they will not be allowed to sell alcohol from midnight on Thursday,” he said.

“The ban will continue until sunrise on May 25,” Col Akanit added.

“Anyone found breaking the law will face up to six months in prison or a fine of up to 10,000 baht, or both,” he warned.

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2013/Phuket-alcohol-ban-for-Visakha-Bucha-on-Friday-21106.html


-- Phuket Gazette 2013-05-21

Payboy, on 21 May 2013 - 10:27, said:

The monks should be busy on Friday. Right then, I think I'll just go down to Pantip and browse porn DVDs.

Yes, you probably will......

Good that they kept that section open in Pantip on Friday. Glad you see the point!

I saw the point but you missed the irony......

Apologies for this oversight here.

All this misunderstanding would ne'er have happened if I'd used my real name and pic like Somchai Jones.

There are 5 common rules that Lord Buddha announced for Buddhists to follow;

1.No killing to any live creatures.

2.No stealing

3.No commit adultery

4.No lying.

5.No drinking alcohol.

(And 227 rules for monks!!!)

Anyway, Visakha is the most important day for Buddhisms which is not good to say a joke.

Since Thais don't pay any attention to the first FOUR, why is the fifth rule so important?

Also note: we are talking about a government ban on the sale of alcohol, not a ban on consumption. Go figure.

So really, rule five is ignored anyway.

Amazing Thailand, indeed.

Edited May 21, 201313 yr by WhizBang

“Anyone found breaking the law will be shook down for as much as we can squeeze out of them face up to six months in prison or a fine of up to 10,000 baht, or both,” he warned.

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2013/Phuket-alcohol-ban-for-Visakha-Bucha-on-Friday-21106.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2013-05-21

Now I understand. I just got back from Big C and everyone except me had shopping carts of beer and booze. Looks like I'll be home for the weekend. You folks look out for the drunks.

On a related story .. alcohol sales are expected to increase on the 23rd

Nobodies is waiting. They are stocking up now, by the case.

There are 5 common rules that Lord Buddha announced for Buddhists to follow;

1.No killing to any live creatures.

2.No stealing

3.No commit adultery

4.No lying.

5.No drinking alcohol.

(And 227 rules for monks!!!)

Anyway, Visakha is the most important day for Buddhisms which is not good to say a joke.

And of course all Buddhists adhere to these rules...Thai or otherwise....

I can handle all 5. I quit drinking 4 years ago.

I dont drink alcohol so that doesnt concern me ..... but I still can have an opinion .