MOPH making sure alcohol sale ban is observed on Makha Bucha

BANGKOK, 4 March 2015 (NNT) – Relevant agencies have been asked to stringently enforce the ban on liquor sale on Makha Bucha Day, said Minister of Public Health Prof. Dr. Rajata Rajatanavin.

According to Dr. Rajata, the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act, BE 2551 prohibits the sale of alcohol on Makha Bucha Day. He also noted that End of Buddhist Lent has very recently been added as one of the days in which alcohol sales are banned.

To ensure that the ban is enforced, Dr. Rajata said the public health offices nationwide and provincial governors have been asked to stringently ensure compliance with the law, meaning that no alcoholic beverages are allowed to be sold, either in retail or wholesale form. The police force has also been asked to help monitor against any breaching of the law. Public Health Ministry officials will also be making random inspections.

The ban is effective throughout the entire 24 hours of March 4. Violators may be subjected to a maximum of six months imprisonment and up to 10,000 baht fine; or both.


-- NNT 2015-03-04

I guess this is hurtin' 7-11 and Tesco Lotus, all the other small retailers is jumping for joy. Sales went up 250%.

Its all about face! but who are they fooling?

The ban is effective throughout the entire 24 hours of March 4. Violators may be subjected to a maximum of six months imprisonment and up to 10,000 baht fine; or both.

So there. Petty rules will be enforced by nit picking big brother. Whilst the country drowns itself in alchol paid for by I owe you slips of paper and "Put it on my tab" one liners.

"Public Health Ministry"

Now is it a religious thing, because Lord Buddha told ban alcohol and punish everyone who don't follow me. Than we should have a Minister for Religion who is checking it. Or is it a Public Health issue than we have to discuss how the ban of sale on a few days will improve health. Well it might train people to better plan their lifes ahead...

There are many more Buddhist tenets more worthy of observance on this day other than simply getting piss3d.

Edited March 4, 201511 yr by tif

Its all about face! but who are they fooling?

There goes that ridiculous "face" comment again. This is nothing to do with "face", it's about the observance of a law, where does face come into it?

Its all about face! but who are they fooling?

There goes that ridiculous "face" comment again. This is nothing to do with "face", it's about the observance of a law, where does face come into it?

Maybe he meant the "about face" which means "wrong way around", ie the law should be concentrating on something important.

Wife picked up three cases of Leo for me today - strictly enforced - HAHAHA

Just bought two bottles of Leo from the old Chinese lady downstairs. Situation normal.

Just drink a beer at a restaurant in Central LadPrao

Is there an alcohol ban today? Weird, my wife just bought me 2 cold pilsners. Guess I better not open them tonight.

In my observation most Thais are voluntarily observing this. In my wifes mini mart (read mom and pop shop) not one customer has asked for alcohol today. Normally its Lao Khow and Chang like there's no tomorrow.

Its quiet as well, I would call our village a ghost town except for the lack of spirits 555

Wife picked up three cases of Leo for me today - strictly enforced - HAHAHA

You gota good lady,God bless her.

Everybody in our village is drinking today, the monks are having there whisky in empty water bottles as usual. I have just come back from the shop with three Leo's. All is well in rural Thailand.

In other news.. Myriad Pattaya farangs wandering bewildered along the coconut bar, not knowing what to do with their day!

Im sat looking at 12 bottles of lao kaow umteen leos and a full selection of 7/11 whiskys purchased tonight for a monk style house warming...? What alcohol ban?

Like everything else here this is useless drivel and serves little or no real purpose except to have a 24 hour moral high ground simply for show.

Like everything else here this is useless drivel and serves little or no real purpose except to have a 24 hour moral high ground simply for show.

Everybody in our village is drinking today, the monks are having there whisky in empty water bottles as usual. I have just come back from the shop with three Leo's. All is well in rural Thailand.

I don't believe drinking alcohol today is banned, just selling/buying it.

Great fun for tourists who have saved up to come to Thailand to enjoy themselves. They are getting too aggressive at enforcing the religion. Not all Thais are Buddhists most are not offended if people drink on holy days. This year's Makha Buddha year is expected to see the lowest spending of teh last 5 years, according to the Thai news.

On my daily walk yesterday, if I had been a cop, could have made a fortune

Well all I can say is........they failed miserably in Phrachuap in broad daylight five minutes from both the airforce base and police station one local shop on seafront owned a by a lovely middle aged and I would assume devout Buddhist lady with about 20 of us drinking as per normal . No attempt was made to hide either the sales or bottles