BYO on days of alcohol ban.

[dudu]

Hi all, does anyone know for sure, if customers can bring their own alcohol and drink it at the restaurant, on the days where it is forbidden to sell, i hear conflicting stories and many customers even bring their own beer on these days, so any help would be very appreciated??

[aussiebebe]

Depends on the restaurant, why not phone up the one you want to go to and ask? A respectable restaurant wouldn't let you openly drink alcohol on their premises on a day when it wasn't allowed to be served. However, McDonald's staff would probably turn a blind eye to you slouching in the corner and brown-bagging it like an alky.

[stoneyboy]

Alcohol ban,where ?

[dudu]

Depends on the restaurant, why not phone up the one you want to go to and ask? A respectable restaurant wouldn't let you openly drink alcohol on their premises on a day when it wasn't allowed to be served. However, McDonald's staff would probably turn a blind eye to you slouching in the corner and brown-bagging it like an alky.

Ah, i am the restaurant, and i can't get a straight answer from anyone, we can not sell or serve it, i know that, but people turn up with their own supplies, so??

[h90]

Depends on the restaurant, why not phone up the one you want to go to and ask? A respectable restaurant wouldn't let you openly drink alcohol on their premises on a day when it wasn't allowed to be served. However, McDonald's staff would probably turn a blind eye to you slouching in the corner and brown-bagging it like an alky.

Ah, i am the restaurant, and i can't get a straight answer from anyone, we can not sell or serve it, i know that, but people turn up with their own supplies, so??

Wouldn't try it...I think in some cases there is up to 6 month jail for selling alcohol and I wouldn't want the discussion with the police if I just drink it or if I sell it, so they have a reason to collect some money.

[FritsSikkink]

Depends on the restaurant, why not phone up the one you want to go to and ask? A respectable restaurant wouldn't let you openly drink alcohol on their premises on a day when it wasn't allowed to be served. However, McDonald's staff would probably turn a blind eye to you slouching in the corner and brown-bagging it like an alky.

Ah, i am the restaurant, and i can't get a straight answer from anyone, we can not sell or serve it, i know that, but people turn up with their own supplies, so??

Ban alcohol if you don't want any trouble with the police.

[Mossfinn]

If it is no alcohol it means no alcohol. Obviously some do not adhere to the rule for varying reasons, your choice really. Strangely, recently most premises were adhering to the two day no alcohol rule, but my hotel was administering alcohol, so I asked the question why. Khao pun sa ( spelling!!!) Lunar lent!! Was the response, still didn't make any sense to me, so I just had a beer and practised my Thai badly, my advice abstain unless you want to possible repercussions.

[dudu]

When people come in with their own bottles,they say,there is only a ban on serving or selling,not drinking, this is why i am asking, i do not serve or sell on these days, this is where it gets confusing, i really need advice from someone who actually knows the law on this,because hotels and resorts are apparently allowed to sell on these days, thank you.

[jbrain]

I thought restaurants were exempted from the ban ?

[FritsSikkink]

I thought restaurants were exempted from the ban ?

No they are not, only hotels

[Thanyaburi Mac]

Perhaps ask at your local police station? And, if they say OK, see if you can get it in writing.

Mac

[NanLaew]

I hope as a restaurateur, the OP gets the definitive answer but it probably won't come on this forum. Maybe he should ask his lawyer, assuming that he has registered as a trading business. As I understood it, standalone alcohol sales (7-eleven and retail) and bars are banned from selling on the dates in question, whereas restaurants, hotels (with restaurants) can sell to patrons ONLY when food is ordered. I think because it is such a grey area with the higher likelihood of the local police to extort money, most restaurants, Thai and foreign owned, just don't sell it in order to play safe.

In the meantime, I would err on the side of a caution and suggest to those patrons who cannot manage without booze for one day, that they not indulge on your premises and don't offer them an extra glass if they ask for one. It would be interesting to know (and also fuel for a sh!t storm) if it is local Thai customers or farangs that are the BYO types.

[dudu]

I hope as a restaurateur, the OP gets the definitive answer but it probably won't come on this forum. Maybe he should ask his lawyer, assuming that he has registered as a trading business. As I understood it, standalone alcohol sales (7-eleven and retail) and bars are banned from selling on the dates in question, whereas restaurants, hotels (with restaurants) can sell to patrons ONLY when food is ordered. I think because it is such a grey area with the higher likelihood of the local police to extort money, most restaurants, Thai and foreign owned, just don't sell it in order to play safe.

In the meantime, I would err on the side of a caution and suggest to those patrons who cannot manage without booze for one day, that they not indulge on your premises and don't offer them an extra glass if they ask for one. It would be interesting to know (and also fuel for a sh!t storm) if it is local Thai customers or farangs that are the BYO types.

Farangs mostly, who enjoy a wine with their meal,its mostly wine they bring seldom beer,though it has happened, i guess,sorry not today has to be the answer, the police only said we cannot sell, if they BYO,not your problem, but he wasn't sure either, i dare say.

[Slip]

You have to love the moral police who always weigh in about alcohol in these threads. My advice to them is to join the Jehova's witnesses, the Hari Krishnas, or possibly the Thai cabinet.

The OP asked about the law. Earlier posts suggest that it is perfectly legal for people to drink drinks they bought themselves. OP- You need to find out about specifically about this law and if it will be honoured by the local BIB.

[GrantSmith]

I'd be at least charging them for corkage..

[NanLaew]

I hope as a restaurateur, the OP gets the definitive answer but it probably won't come on this forum. Maybe he should ask his lawyer, assuming that he has registered as a trading business. As I understood it, standalone alcohol sales (7-eleven and retail) and bars are banned from selling on the dates in question, whereas restaurants, hotels (with restaurants) can sell to patrons ONLY when food is ordered. I think because it is such a grey area with the higher likelihood of the local police to extort money, most restaurants, Thai and foreign owned, just don't sell it in order to play safe.

In the meantime, I would err on the side of a caution and suggest to those patrons who cannot manage without booze for one day, that they not indulge on your premises and don't offer them an extra glass if they ask for one. It would be interesting to know (and also fuel for a sh!t storm) if it is local Thai customers or farangs that are the BYO types.

Farangs mostly, who enjoy a wine with their meal,its mostly wine they bring seldom beer,though it has happened, i guess,sorry not today has to be the answer, the police only said we cannot sell, if they BYO,not your problem, but he wasn't sure either, i dare say.

Ah yes... the know-it-all, doesn't apply to me, farang pest. They can't see their arrogance in believing that (for example) just because locals openly flaunt the poor enforcement of traffic laws, it somehow justifies their own breaking of these no-alcohol bans. Apart from elections, it is usually just for one night.

[stoli]

If it is no alcohol it means no alcohol. Obviously some do not adhere to the rule for varying reasons, your choice really. Strangely, recently most premises were adhering to the two day no alcohol rule, but my hotel was administering alcohol, so I asked the question why. Khao pun sa ( spelling!!!) Lunar lent!! Was the response, still didn't make any sense to me, so I just had a beer and practised my Thai badly, my advice abstain unless you want to possible repercussions.

Read in the Bangkok Post that certain tourist hotels are allowed to sell alcohol even on days when alcohol is banned. Can you imagine being a tourist in Thailand for a couple of days last month and the whole country was dry. Not a way to make a good impression. These people did not travel all of the way here for rituals at a temple with a Monk.

If you really need a beer during these periods, it is very easy to do on the dark side. That might be their only income for the day.

[GrantSmith]

Read in the Bangkok Post that certain tourist hotels are allowed to sell alcohol even on days when alcohol is banned. Can you imagine being a tourist in Thailand for a couple of days last month and the whole country was dry. Not a way to make a good impression. These people did not travel all of the way here for rituals at a temple with a Monk.

If you really need a beer during these periods, it is very easy to do on the dark side. That might be their only income for the day.

Was like that during the gubernatorial elections.. 2 days no booze anywhere in Bangkok.. Hotels included..

Hotels generally get a pass on the no alcohol days but they're not exempt from all of them..

[Spoonman]

I'd be at least charging them for corkage..

Could that then be considered as selling ?

[GrantSmith]

I'd be at least charging them for corkage..

Could that then be considered as selling ?

Probably a grey area but such is life here. More than 50 shades of it, that's for sure.

I don't think it would be considered selling, as corkage is generally considered more of a 'service charge'