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OPINION: An eminently sensible cocktail
The Phuket News


On Buddhist days of major spiritual and cultural significance, sales of alcohol are prohibited in respect of the Kingdom's principal faith.

PHUKET: -- Mother’s Day gave rise to the familiar old “no-alcohol day” issue, one that is close to the hearts of many on this fun-loving island, and which spawns a variety of views.

First and foremost, it has to be considered that Thailand is a predominantly Buddhist nation. And the Kingdom’s principal belief system – while being inclusive and flexible – does, when strictly interpreted, have issues with alcohol on the grounds that it biochemically alters the perception of the miracle of life. This view is shared more vigorously by Thailand’s large Muslim minority, and also others of other faiths.

Hence on Buddhist days of major significance, sales of alcohol are prohibited in respect of this faith.

Detractors say such days hurt tourism. Well, yes and no. Certainly revenue is lost. But the spiritual fabric of Thailand is kept intact and its traditions respectfully honoured. And Thailand’s multi faceted spirituality is a major tourism draw.

There’s also another consideration. As moves are afoot to put warning labels on bottles and cans of alcoholic beverages, we are reminded of the reality that alcohol is a potentially dangerous product, especially when consumed in excess, either in binges or on a continual daily basis.

Such warnings on bottles will likely have limited impact on tourists who over-imbibe and end up paying for their recklessness by ending up in an accident or fisticuffs.

But the warnings will provide a day-to-day reminder that alcohol needs to be respected. As a rule of thumb, once booze starts having more fun with you, than you are having with it, then it’s time to leave the bar and go home. Not as good as quitting while you’re ahead, but still a useful adage.

No-booze days are a feature of Thailand that reflect its faith-driven psyche and meet no opposition from the overwhelming majority of Thais, especially the Buddhist majority.

Warnings on bottles of alcohol and a sprinkling of no-booze days through the Buddhist calendar year and on election days is a sensible cocktail for a land where there is no shortage of places to drink socially, especially with increasing public awareness of the dangers of alcohol.

So enjoy, but enjoy responsibly. And stock up the day before a no booze day if you really have to. Alternatively, enjoy this vibrant land and society without any ethanol in your bloodstream. It won’t do you any harm.

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/opinion-an-eminently-sensible-cocktail-47874.php

[pn]2014-08-15[/pn]

[BigBadGeordie]

Blah Blah Blah, another non story.

[Payboy]

I stopped reading at the mention of spiritual fabric. I'm gonna go and get some spirits for my fabric now.

[DoctorB]

"On Buddhist days of major spiritual and cultural significance, sales of alcohol are prohibited in respect of the Kingdom's principal faith."

And what precisely has this to do with Mother's Day?

Mother's Day is not a "Buddhist day of major spiritual and cultural significance". It is celebrated world wide by most cultures, religiously inclined or not. Admittedly in Thailand it is also linked to reverence for the Monarchy, and in particular the role of HM The Queen as Mother of the Nation.

However, people are quite able to show both their love for their parents, and respect for the Monarchy, in their own way, without the interference of the police.

I would suggest that the annoyance generated in Phuket had less to do with "hurting tourism" than the fact there was simply no legal basis for shutting places of entertainment on that day. It had less to do with "respect of the Kingdom's pricipal faith", and more to do with a bit of "brown-nosing" on the part of the police top brass to try and score points for their loyalty.

A bit like this editorial really. Just moralizing rubbish.

Edited August 15, 2014 by DoctorB

[manhood]

Mhhhh wondering about these many off bullshit stories thai newspapers publishing!

Lucky everyone can buy tons of alcohol before "specific" days and so they do!

 

Wont´keep anyone hold back of drinking if he want drink; same with restricted hours to buy that stuff!

[ChrisY1]

Ethanol in the bloodstream????/What the ***k are they on about?

Spiritual fabric???? There's just been reported a brutal slaying and serious injuries to a few people by some idiot with a meat cleaver in Phuket.....great example.

I know.....this stuff can happen everywhere....

And this from Phuket...!!

[Mudcrab]

Mothers day and Fathers day is just  the commercial fabrication originally designed to sell greeting cards...nothing else..and has developed from there, nothing to do with religion.

[Traveler19491]

Obviously, no one read the headline........"OPINION".  Chill, people.

[Jimi007]

Mothers day and Fathers day is just  the commercial fabrication originally designed to sell greeting cards...nothing else..and has developed from there, nothing to do with religion.

 

Maybe that is true from where you are from. Mother's day here is a celebration of the Queens Birthday, I've never seen a greeting card for her birthday, have you? Father's Day here is the celebration of the King's Birthday. They are not Hallmark Holidays here in Thailand, in case you didn't know….

[Halion]

Like everything else in Thailand this is pure hypothetical nonsense. In thirty years there has never been a day when alcohol was not available and you need not look to hard. If you try to polish a horse turd it is still a horse turd.

[Krataiboy]

If you are one of the many millions of impoverished Thai struggling to feed a family on slave-labour wages, I would imagine that anything that "biochemically alters the perception of the miracle of life" is to be welcomed. Hence the huge sales of alcohol and other drugs.

 

The poor have always had their opiates, be they Budda or Budweiser, and the rich will make sure, in the interests of preserving the status quo, that they always will.