Phuket unaffected by new drink regulations, for now
Matt Pond


The police are waiting for a provincial order to see how the new regs effect Phuket.

PHUKET: -- Following the announcement on Friday (January 23) of the new regulations on restricted alcoholic beverages sale times, The Phuket News has been trying to get some clarification as to how this actually affects the Island, especially with regards to entertainment venues.

The new regulations state that Alcohol beverages can now only be sold from 11.00am – 2.00pm and from 5.00pm – 12.00pm every day.

The only exception to the new regulations is international airport terminals, meaning that while entertainment venues which in the past were allowed to sell alcohol from 9.00 pm – 2.00 am, can only do so up to midnight. If this is the case, it will have a huge effect on Patong, Kata etc.

When asked about the new regulations today (January 25), head of the Entertainment Association of Patong, Weerawit Kuresombut, said, “Nothing has changed or been adapted according to the new regulation.

“We spoke to Patong Police today, and they said we have to wait for a provincial order.

“This issue is sensitive. But the police are happy to help follow the regulations,” he said.

The police reaffirmed to The Phuket News that they are awaiting the provincial order.

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-unaffected-by-new-drink-regulations-for-now-50727.php


-- Phuket News 2015-01-25

Obviously everyone is a little shocked by this and is calling Bangkok to find out what they really mean.

Just like any stupid law it needs a little clarification. In fact they managed to take the original booze law and make it even more stupid.

No clarification necessary. Local authorities love the ambiguity created by poorly written legislation and regulations. They are salivating at the opportunity to extract tea money to favorably interpret the law for generous donators.

The law has always been 12.. And its always been ignored..

Special entertainment zones, which include cowboy, RCA, Patpong IIRC but not nana.. Are allowed by law an extra hour to 1am..

Routinely this is ignored but in chiang mai and udon, foced midnight closure has been in effect since the coup and curfew.

The law has always been 12.. And its always been ignored..

Special entertainment zones, which include cowboy, RCA, Patpong IIRC but not nana.. Are allowed by law an extra hour to 1am..

Routinely this is ignored but in chiang mai and udon, foced midnight closure has been in effect since the coup and curfew.

Except in Chiangmai for the large Karaoke Clubs on Changklang Road that are open until late in the morning. I wonder who owns those Clubs !

Same same but different........

Yes..........'off sale' liquor sales have been restricted those hours. Only the large stores.......aka Makro, Tesco, Big C etc. follow them. Privately owned liquor stores ignore those rules. If they are speaking about 'on sale' or those sold in bars, beer bars etc. that will cause a ruckus and should. And for 'gawd's' sake.........Phuket is for tourism. Tourists drink at all hours.......day and night. They are on vacation. They don't have hours or responsibilities of work.

I think you will find that the new law on nonselling from 2 / 5pm exempts on premises sale & consumption of alcohol in LICENSED bars

Tourists come to places like Thailand on holiday and many like to drink alcohol at all hours. They don't go to places like Saudi Arabia. Even the UK which until a few years ago had some of the most ridiculous licensing laws in Europe have relaxed their rules. The powers that be bemoan the fact that tourist numbers are dropping and they then go and hammer another nail in the coffin. Words fail me.

Looking forward to see how they can enforce the rules when there is literally countless Mom&Pop Stores selling alcohol at any time

Top priorities for the Government in Phuket, alcohol beverage sales times and beach loungers and on TV we keep discussing accidents, crime, less tourists, rain season and a new demography of tourists

They must mean 5pm to 12am. 5pm to 12pm makes no sense.