Proposed alcohol ban for New Year and Songkran

[khounteen]

Is this a joke? This dr footandmouth in the dept of disease control caught the mad cow virus?

[John1thru10]

That will hurt their image badly

No, no, 'Fred!' - YOU were the one going off the other day about evil, riff-raff who would ever smoke dreaded marijuana. I say, take the 'evil beer drinkers' with 'em!'

I propose you are urine tested for it weekly, and any trace of alcohol in your system results in prison time.

After all, we need to make sure it's only 'quality tourists' in Thailand.

[Robert24]

Songkran no alcohol??? I don't think I've seen many people sober on Songkran.

what I find funny is that they tend to make a lot announcements but implement very little later. Remember the announcement in Chiang Mai to ban all beer girls and alocohol advertisement and alocohol promotions?

[wabothai]

Probably a deal with the Coke Company.

yeah, you asked for it. We will react.

[udonboy2907]

Brilliant ! My mate, my GF and me will be booking a flight to Phnom Penh for New year, we are not travelling all the way to Thailand for Xmas and New Year to drink coffee !

Another great idea to get tourism back on track - I think not !

[ezzra]

I have a better idea, how about cancelling new year and Songran all together? this way

there will be many less dead on the roads, what ya reckon geniuses at the whatever

ministry of stupid and useless ideas?

[whybother]

This is a ban on the CONSUMPTION of alcohol in PUBLIC PLACES. Which is different to the usual ban on the SALE of alcohol on Buddhist holidays and election days.

IMO, this is only a ban of drinking alcohol on streets, in parks, outside 7/11s, etc, not on buying and drinking alcohol in bars and restaurants.

[Fat Haggis]

As my Thai wife has just said " no way Thailand is drink drink drink for any party new year or Songkran "

[denby45]

too much to expect people to read beyond the headline, if they could manage all those words up to the opening sentence:

a ban on the consumption of alcohol in public places

and perhaps comprehend the intent . . .

eg

Chanthaburi city has had this form of ban, permanently, not for specific holidays etc - in place since late 1990s, as has our town in the same province.

In the years we've lived here, festivals, holidays etc, never been an issue.

Well-signposted and policed if required - though we've never seen any 'trouble'.

Keeps public parks etc free for families, year-round.

Alcohol remains on sale at bars/restaurants. As the article states ''public places"

I suggest they put up signs at every bar and ban the public then because it is no more a place which entertains THE PUBLIC will be within their rights to serve alcohol.

Great idea.

Den

[whybother]

Is the inside of a private motor vehicle a private place, where drinking will be allowed?

That's already not allowed.

[wabothai]

If this goes through, what are they going to do? Arrest 10.000 's of people?

Not enough police around, that is if there still is a police.

[John1012]

Good idea if public places are defined as parks, beach, street etc. NOT bars/restuarants. Why not make the rule applicable all year round. Does'nt stop people drinking to their full, in bars,restuarants, private gardens and homes, just not where , perhaps families are shopping, picnicing and generally enjoying a pleasant peaceful time together.

[PLW]

It seems something like this happens every year but does not go through and I hope this year is no exception. Tourists come to Thailand for many different reasons And, partying is always at the top of the list. If this goes through it will devastate Thailand.s 2015 tourist numbers. The kids and the punters will go elsewhere. Thailand has a lot of competition now.

[NamKAheng]

Banana republic!

[Gringogazzer]

As others have stated, this applies to public places only. Bars, clubs, restaurants, golf clubs, convenience stores etc will be selling alcohol as normal.

Not a bad idea IMHO.

i always take a few beers to the the beach and watch the fireworks on NY eve. alsways fun and never a problem. so what now, the police are going to be roming the beaches telling tousands of people to throw their booze away?

No, for you & me there will be the usual ฿5000 fine that can be reduced to ฿1000 or ฿2000 depending on your nogotiating skills.

[Expat Brad]

I'm sorry but I don't see the problem here, The articles opening sentence clearly states in big bold writing "Public places". So no problems if you drink in a Pub, Hotel, Bar, Restaurant. It is against the law to consume alcohol in public places in Australia 365 days a year. Australia also relies heavily on tourism.

[Jack Mountain]

Are they trying to divert the attention from certain case(s) with high placed/born ppl involved?

[crickets]

Works in australia.

[Sploosh66]

Hilarious, I do get a laugh with these do-gooders, I think whoever made that decision was already pissed as a fart, It will never happen, especially at Newyear & Songkran. Can't imagine they are trying to encourage tourism with <deleted> like this.

[Expat Brad]

i always take a few beers to the the beach and watch the fireworks on NY eve. alsways fun and never a problem. so what now, the police are going to be roming the beaches telling tousands of people to throw their booze away?

Why not, most other countries would not allow it either.

[Jim walker]

Was just looking forward to returning to Thailand for the Songkran let the party commence without alcohol so it’s going to be a drug fuelled week instead shocking and I enjoyed a Leo or 2 so only option now is crystal meth and yaba for the party lovers.

[Loles]

Yes, they will drink at home. All the same.

[Gringogazzer]

This sounds like a fun New years NOT !!

Read the full thread people. It clearly says PUBLIC places. That means on the street, in parks at the Zoo etc. It doesn't mean bars and clubs.

I thought Bars & restaurants were public places.

Private or non public places being open only to those invited.

[Fat Haggis]

This sounds like a fun New years NOT !!

Read the full thread people. It clearly says PUBLIC places. That means on the street, in parks at the Zoo etc. It doesn't mean bars and clubs.

Yes because Songkran is normally held indoors and not in public places right?

I guess you don't participate in these festivities then?

[DamienG]

Public places, so that means you can drink in a pub etc, yes or no?

Pub is short for public Bar, so the answer would be "NO" if they go ahead with this craziness.

[outsider]

These nitwits are really sitting on whatever is left of a brain.

[bangkoklasse]

I'm sorry but I don't see the problem here, The articles opening sentence clearly states in big bold writing "Public places". So no problems if you drink in a Pub, Hotel, Bar, Restaurant. It is against the law to consume alcohol in public places in Australia 365 days a year. Australia also relies heavily on tourism.

Do you see a lot of Thai people celebrate Songkran in bars, hotels and pubs ?

[EmptyHead]

It is definately needed during Songkran. They should also shorten it to 1 day too.

[fxe1200]

A great idea , this will have the numbers thru Swampy skyrocketing, unfortunately for TAT the increase will only be at the departure gates.

But hang on, maybe this is a joint venture WITH TAT to ensure that they do not miss their "projected" increase in Middle Eastern and Arab tourist, who as everyone knows never touch alcohol.

You are wrong my friend. There are a lot of "Muslim Lights" hanging around at the British Club in Bahrein enjoying their Scotch from as early as 10'o cock in the morning. All of them wearing a towel with a black ribbon around their head. See for yourself.

[jabis]

Thiis gets proposed every year but has not been implemented.....what I would propose is that anyone caught drunk driving or causing accident during these periods be sent to jail for a year...then there might be fewer accidents in holidays in the future,

Why ban alcohol for the 97% who are not driving drunk ?

3% out of 67 million (not counting farang) is still 2 010 000 pax