MrWorldwide Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 Most will know where I got this, and most of the regulars are familiar with the raid that he refers to - the interesting part is the assertion re 'No alcohol between 2pm and 5pm' They have a padlocked chain on the fridge in the Family Mart near Nana Hotel in BKK, but all I've seen in Pattaya convenience stores is a few signs which seem to be ignored. I'm guessing that too much tea money changes hands for this to be enforced in Pattaya, but quite a few bars here seem to do much better during the day than they do at night - telling your customers that the best they can hope for is a coke from 2 till 5 would see most of them heading for the door. I rarely drink before sundown, but its good to know that you have the option of having a beer with a late lunch. I can only assume that you have the option of paying for different hours when you apply for a liquor license and our friend didnt bother getting the appropriate license. Hopefully this was simply a case of the authorities (I seem to recall the Army were also involved in the recent raids) making an example of this bar owner rather than something they would be silly enough to enforce in a town struggling through a particularly tough high season. Its not hard to find bars which have been completely abandoned - contrary to what some might believe, it's not an improvement when the staff leave an open air bar to the elements and rats the size of cats. The cops must have really wanted to make a point at M Club because in what was a first - I have NEVER heard of this happening before - the owner, who was held in police custody for more than 24 hours, was also given grief over the sale of alcohol between 2 PM and 5 PM. It was my understanding that the law prohibiting the sale of alcohol between 2 PM and 5 PM only applied to retail outlets like supermarkets and convenience stores. The licensing authorities say otherwise. If the sale of alcohol really is not allowed for 3 hours each afternoon it could cause mayhem for bars open at that time. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petercool Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 I think a lot depends on what the bar's licence says. Some are not supposed to be open at all at certain hours let alone sell alcohol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post SidJames Posted February 24, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted February 24, 2015 Wine Connection are now locked during those hours & Villa won't sell you booze either. There are no loopholes for the responsibly run businesses. I understand the law was first introduced to stop students buying booze straight after school but that's now stopped me buying a cheeky pinot for dinner later in the evening. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pattaya46 Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 the interesting part is the assertion re 'No alcohol between 2pm and 5pm' // but all I've seen in Pattaya convenience stores is a few signs which seem to be ignored. I'm guessing that too much tea money changes hands for this to be enforced in Pattaya What are you talking about?? Delirium? Most of these places, like 7/11 or Family Mart, have this hour range register in their system and the machine just refuses an alcohol drink in the wrong period. I already saw the staff saying to some customer that he would have to wait X minutes to buy his beers... . Same things happen in bigger shops (Tops, Lotus, BigC ...) . This law certainly is *not* ignored. It was my understanding that the law prohibiting the sale of alcohol between 2 PM and 5 PM only applied to retail outlets like supermarkets and convenience stores. Here you are right. Bars are not concerned, but the problem for many of them is that their license authorises alcohol sell from 6pm only and that they open earlier in the afternoon... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrWorldwide Posted February 24, 2015 Author Share Posted February 24, 2015 the interesting part is the assertion re 'No alcohol between 2pm and 5pm' // but all I've seen in Pattaya convenience stores is a few signs which seem to be ignored. I'm guessing that too much tea money changes hands for this to be enforced in Pattaya What are you talking about?? Delirium? Most of these places, like 7/11 or Family Mart, have this hour range register in their system and the machine just refuses an alcohol drink in the wrong period. I already saw the staff saying to some customer that he would have to wait X minutes to buy his beers... . Same things happen in bigger shops (Tops, Lotus, BigC ...) . This law certainly is *not* ignored. It was my understanding that the law prohibiting the sale of alcohol between 2 PM and 5 PM only applied to retail outlets like supermarkets and convenience stores. Here you are right. Bars are not concerned, but the problem for many of them is that their license authorises alcohol sell from 6pm only and that they open earlier in the afternoon... OK - i'm not an authority on the convenience stores but I'm sure I've seen people buying alcohol from the Big C on Klang in the afternoons. Personally, they could ban it from 10am till 8pm in convenience stores and it wouldnt bother me - I rarely drink at home - but I just dont see how anyone could be expected to run a restaurant in this town with that crazy restriction in place. Do they have to renew their licenses every year ? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThaiBob Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 the interesting part is the assertion re 'No alcohol between 2pm and 5pm' // but all I've seen in Pattaya convenience stores is a few signs which seem to be ignored. I'm guessing that too much tea money changes hands for this to be enforced in PattayaWhat are you talking about?? Delirium? Most of these places, like 7/11 or Family Mart, have this hour range register in their system and the machine just refuses an alcohol drink in the wrong period. I already saw the staff saying to some customer that he would have to wait X minutes to buy his beers... . Same things happen in bigger shops (Tops, Lotus, BigC ...) . This law certainly is *not* ignored. It was my understanding that the law prohibiting the sale of alcohol between 2 PM and 5 PM only applied to retail outlets like supermarkets and convenience stores.Here you are right. Bars are not concerned, but the problem for many of them is that their license authorises alcohol sell from 6pm only and that they open earlier in the afternoon... OK - i'm not an authority on the convenience stores but I'm sure I've seen people buying alcohol from the Big C on Klang in the afternoons. Personally, they could ban it from 10am till 8pm in convenience stores and it wouldnt bother me - I rarely drink at home - but I just dont see how anyone could be expected to run a restaurant in this town with that crazy restriction in place. Do they have to renew their licenses every year ? I was at the Big C mentioned 2 days ago and witnessed customers trying to buy liquor but were refused. The clerk simply set those items to one side and rang up the other items. The big retailers play by the rules but I am sure a few mom and pop shops bend the rules. In America, both the retailer AND the sales clerk would be subject to fines. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petercool Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 A libellous post was removed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooked Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 I am usually in town around 07.30 and that's the time I went to buy beer. The car park was already pretty full. Since this regulation was enforced I would say that the car park is 60 % emptier than before. 50 metres further on there is a small store that sells Chang beer for the same price. Now THERE, it is very difficult to find a parking space. So instead of buying to boxes of beer at a time I now but 10 boxes, which probably doesn't do anything to reduce my consuption. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pi2005ni Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 i am assure you this is happening in pattaya . i was speaking with a canadian bar owner in pattaya city police station two weeks ago that had just been arrested for selling alcohol in his bar between 2pm and 5pm . he was wearing handcuffs at the time so it was being taken seriously . he was trying to get released on bail. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alocacoc Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 the interesting part is the assertion re 'No alcohol between 2pm and 5pm' // but all I've seen in Pattaya convenience stores is a few signs which seem to be ignored. I'm guessing that too much tea money changes hands for this to be enforced in Pattaya What are you talking about?? Delirium? Most of these places, like 7/11 or Family Mart, have this hour range register in their system and the machine just refuses an alcohol drink in the wrong period. I already saw the staff saying to some customer that he would have to wait X minutes to buy his beers... . Same things happen in bigger shops (Tops, Lotus, BigC ...) . This law certainly is *not* ignored. It was my understanding that the law prohibiting the sale of alcohol between 2 PM and 5 PM only applied to retail outlets like supermarkets and convenience stores. Here you are right. Bars are not concerned, but the problem for many of them is that their license authorises alcohol sell from 6pm only and that they open earlier in the afternoon... OK - i'm not an authority on the convenience stores but I'm sure I've seen people buying alcohol from the Big C on Klang in the afternoons. I confirm this as i saw it too. Also at Foodland and many convenience stores. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beardog Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 Looks like the general is just continuing to make friends for everyone's concerns. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thefactoryoutlet Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 Looks like the general is just continuing to make friends for everyone's concerns. Yes he is making everyone happy and he will have confirmation during the next election, if there is one ever... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pattaya46 Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 OK - i'm not an authority on the convenience stores but I'm sure I've seen people buying alcohol from the Big C on Klang in the afternoons. Don't know the exact words of the law, but I think only retail sell is forbidden in these afternoon hours. It is still possible to buy alcohol (even in 7/11 or BigC) if in quantity enough (in bulk). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrWorldwide Posted February 24, 2015 Author Share Posted February 24, 2015 OK - i'm not an authority on the convenience stores but I'm sure I've seen people buying alcohol from the Big C on Klang in the afternoons. Don't know the exact words of the law, but I think only retail sell is forbidden in these afternoon hours. It is still possible to buy alcohol (even in 7/11 or BigC) if in quantity enough (in bulk). Thanks - that was the blogger's assumption too and as he indicated he was very surprised that the bar owner was nailed for something which anyone walking down Suk Soi 4 (the main focus of his lens over the last two decades) in the afternoon would assume doesnt apply to bars and restaurants. I didnt know about the bulk ruling in supermarkets, but for me its not something I'm willing to lug back from Big C. If I do become that keen on alcohol I'll just move to Cambo and be done with it 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PattayaPhom Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 Wine Connection are now locked during those hours & Villa won't sell you booze either. There are no loopholes for the responsibly run businesses. I understand the law was first introduced to stop students buying booze straight after school but that's now stopped me buying a cheeky pinot for dinner later in the evening. I always thought this was the reason until speaking to an official from Excise dept. The law was introduced through the Ministry of Health on concerns of alcoholism. Similar to to UK hours 20 years ago. no schools at weekends but the 2-5 is still applicable Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDGRUEN Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 I have been in Thailand since mid January 2014 and the 2 to 5 rule has been in effect since the day I stepped off the plane ... so I am bit confused by the posts here... I have noticed that side Soi Thai 'Mom and Pop' shops have ignored the law for the most part -- but for 15 months going now the big players Big C., Tesco, 7-11 and the like have been enforcing this rule for - again - 15 months already.... So - What are you guys talking about? ... Has the entire area of Pattaya and other resort areas been ignoring the law and now it has been reinforced by the Government? I am talking about retail stores and big wholesale outfits such as Makro... not sure what Bars have been doing... Quite frankly - reading these post makes me feel like I am in a time warp as 15 months of experience tells me this is not news for retail stores. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KhunBENQ Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 (edited) OK - i'm not an authority on the convenience stores but I'm sure I've seen people buying alcohol from the Big C on Klang in the afternoons. Don't know the exact words of the law, but I think only retail sell is forbidden in these afternoon hours. It is still possible to buy alcohol (even in 7/11 or BigC) if in quantity enough (in bulk). To me it seems that this simple "buy in bulk" is now over (from studying signs at Makro). In the past buying more than 10 liters, was enough for one to be assumed as beeing a "reseller" (kind of a legal loophole). This seems to be over. Now one has to show his alcohol selling license (Thai shop owners, bar operators) to buy "off hours". Last week at our Makro: small queue waiting for the clock to move to 5 pm. At my mom&pop: no prob Signs: at Lotus there are signs with a long text in Thai (I did not try to read) and very short in English (... 11h to 14h and 17h to 24h). Guess the Thai text tells more detail (for resellers). Edited February 24, 2015 by KhunBENQ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jixuso Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 Sadly M Club was raided again today and 20 foreigners were hauled to soi 9 for photographing and visa checks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrWorldwide Posted February 24, 2015 Author Share Posted February 24, 2015 I have been in Thailand since mid January 2014 and the 2 to 5 rule has been in effect since the day I stepped off the plane ... so I am bit confused by the posts here... I have noticed that side Soi Thai 'Mom and Pop' shops have ignored the law for the most part -- but for 15 months going now the big players Big C., Tesco, 7-11 and the like have been enforcing this rule for - again - 15 months already.... So - What are you guys talking about? ... Has the entire area of Pattaya and other resort areas been ignoring the law and now it has been reinforced by the Government? I am talking about retail stores and big wholesale outfits such as Makro... not sure what Bars have been doing... Quite frankly - reading these post makes me feel like I am in a time warp as 15 months of experience tells me this is not news for retail stores. Ok - breathe - I admitted earlier that I got it wrong re my 7-11 and Big C : simply seeing Farang with alcohol doesnt mean they were successful in purchasing it. My mistake, and I apologise to those who do obey the law here. We did get sidetracked for a while, but let's focus for a moment. The focus of this thread was always supposed to be the bars - let me elucidate: - if you go down to Maxx Central / M Club, the bar gentlemen's club mentioned in my OP is a stone's throw from several Thai karaoke joints out on Third Road which operate with impunity from dusk till dawn and beyond. Absolutely no attempt to turn down the PA at any stage of the night, Thais out on the footpath drinking - it's clear they have no fear of being visited by the local police - if you go to Buakhow next Visaya Bucha Day, I'm guessing you'll see many of the same Farang I saw seated there the last time every other bar in Pattaya closed for one of the holiest days on the Buddhist calendar - the bars might be dark, but they serve alcohol. Again, no fear of being visited by the people who are supposed to enforce the law. When I mentioned this to a Thai bar owner on Made in Thailand the following night, her response was simply 'They have to pay big money to Police' : right from the horse's mouth. For both of the above to operate so blatantly outside the law, I'm guessing that any crackdown ordered by the junta and enforced by the BiB is going to be, at best, a PR exercise. Again, nothing new here - its just a discussion around the fact that whatever the General's intentions, he will always be up against it when he has to work with a culture this heavily invested in corrupt practices. There was a news item here a month or so back where the new chief of Pattaya Police urged his men to stop taking money - it was met with derision by many here and a few who felt we were being cynical old buggers : I would put it to those folk that they are well-meaning but naive. Life goes on, and I expect that this blip on the radar will mean nothing to anyone operating a bar or restaurant legally - or whatever passes for legally - at least on this side of Sukhumvit. Closing bars for (possible) licensing infringements would mean shooting themselves in the foot - I just dont see it happening but I guess time will tell. I'm off to Pussy Bar in 20 minutes - see you there. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrWorldwide Posted February 24, 2015 Author Share Posted February 24, 2015 Sadly M Club was raided again today and 20 foreigners were hauled to soi 9 for photographing and visa checks. Thanks for the heads up on this - I've usually got my passport with me but I'll make sure I have it tonight. Slim chance of being asked for it, but I'm guessing most of the 20 you mention felt the same way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
topt Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 (edited) I have been in Thailand since mid January 2014 and the 2 to 5 rule has been in effect since the day I stepped off the plane ... so I am bit confused by the posts here... I have noticed that side Soi Thai 'Mom and Pop' shops have ignored the law for the most part -- but for 15 months going now the big players Big C., Tesco, 7-11 and the like have been enforcing this rule for - again - 15 months already.... So - What are you guys talking about? ... Has the entire area of Pattaya and other resort areas been ignoring the law and now it has been reinforced by the Government? I am talking about retail stores and big wholesale outfits such as Makro... not sure what Bars have been doing... Quite frankly - reading these post makes me feel like I am in a time warp as 15 months of experience tells me this is not news for retail stores. You are correct for all the main retail outlets - and it has been a lot longer than 15 months. I am (and have been) often in BIG C Extra in the afternoon and looking to see if they have any wine offers on and regularly see people being pointed to relevant times or simply told before the signs went up - often the lighting is dimmed or off as well. The wholesale exclusion was fairly recently changed and there were some posts about that and as khunBENQ says you need to show a licence to now to get that concession. The issue has always been with bar licencing and most people just "assumed" that they "must" be ok and nobody ever posted definitively. It would be useful to have a bar owners take on it - one who understands the small print of the licencing laws..... Edit - just seen OPs recent posts. Edited February 24, 2015 by topt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pattaya46 Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 Sadly M Club was raided again today and 20 foreigners were hauled to soi 9 for photographing and visa checks. The big question: will we have any official report this time ? A bit curious that absolutely no media talked about the previous raid when you see that a few days later another club (Club 4) got several newspaper articles + TV ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jixuso Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 Sadly M Club was raided again today and 20 foreigners were hauled to soi 9 for photographing and visa checks. The big question: will we have any official report this time ? A bit curious that absolutely no media talked about the previous raid when you see that a few days later another club (Club 4) got several newspaper articles + TV ... If you carry your ID, you are fine but you still get a free ride down to the station. It sucks for people who are just innocently enjoying an afternoon cold drink or having a swim in the pool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
koo wallety tourist Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 (edited) yes it was those despicable alcoholic farang who were the problem, that is why the junta stepped in and overthrew the elected government. now all those despicable farang are paying the price. good to see. should be more of it. oh and those laos bar girls too, they were the ones doing the bombing and killing of the children. glad they put a stop to those terrorists crossing the border. there is also convincing evidence that they were also involved in spreading radical islam in the south. despicable. Edited February 24, 2015 by koo wallety tourist Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Gonsalviz Posted February 24, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted February 24, 2015 Glad I live in Isan. There are no rules outside of Tesco or 7. If I want alcohol, I just go buy it. Never had to worry about what time it was or what day it is. In a truly free country, That is the way it is supposed to be. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chivas Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 (edited) Trust TQ1 will be rocking afternoons as per normal............. Edited February 24, 2015 by Chivas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bartender100 Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 Trust TQ1 will be rocking afternoons as per normal............. and Kinaree and a hundred other bars in pattaya that are afternoon places, seems like this particular bar has upset someone, no need to panic yet!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bender92 Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 Three hours, who cares? Unless you are an alcoholic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacko45k Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 (edited) Wine Connection are now locked during those hours & Villa won't sell you booze either. There are no loopholes for the responsibly run businesses. I understand the law was first introduced to stop students buying booze straight after school but that's now stopped me buying a cheeky pinot for dinner later in the evening. I always thought this was the reason until speaking to an official from Excise dept. The law was introduced through the Ministry of Health on concerns of alcoholism. Similar to to UK hours 20 years ago. no schools at weekends but the 2-5 is still applicable I thought that was a hangover from munitions workers and the war, some 70 years ago. An afternoon cold beer by the sea, in a tourist area, at 35+ DegC should be available, but it need not come from a 7-11. That wouldn't make anyone an alcoholic, just hot and thirsty. Edited February 25, 2015 by jacko45k 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Emster23 Posted February 25, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted February 25, 2015 The new Cromwell harps about "rule of law", but being a law doesn't make it right or proper. Argument about students buying alcohol: hey, how about enforcing legal drinking age (is there one?)? I don't drink, but if someone wants a beer in middle of a hot day, let them. Just seems another example of silly, economically damaging laws enforced while real crime is ignored. Much easier for BIB than catching teen gangs, illegal guns, traffic laws, ad nauseum... 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.png.3b3332cc2256ad0edbc2fe9404feeef0.png)
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now