Phuket two-day booze ban for Buddhist holidays to include hotels

[webfact]

Phuket two-day booze ban for Buddhist holidays to include hotels
Supatra Sutham


Phuket Provincial Police Commander, Maj Gen Pachara Boonyasit, the top-ranking police officer on the island, confirmed the expanded booze ban.

PHUKET: : -- Bars and restaurants across the island will be forced to refrain from selling alcohol on Thursday and Friday (July 30-31) as the nation marks the Buddhist holidays Asarnha Bucha Day and Khao Phansa (Buddhist Lent).

But this year the ban will extend to include hotels and resorts, said Phuket City Police Superintendent Col Kraitong Jantongbai.

“Last year, the ban was not fully enforced on both days and it did not apply to hotels registered under the Hotel Act,” he told The Phuket News.

“But this year the only places that are allowed to sell alcohol on these two days are duty-free shops at airports.”

Phuket Provincial Police Commander, Maj Gen Pachara Boonyasit, the top-ranking police officer on the island, confirmed the expanded booze ban.

“It is the law. There will be no alcohol sales during those two days; this includes hotels,” he told The Phuket News.

Col Kraitong explained that the ramped up enforcement is to support a call by Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha for Buddhists throughout the country to abstain from drinking alcohol during Buddhist Lent.

“PM Prayut announced on February 5 that the sale of alcohol will be banned on these religious days,” he said.

“Also, the Thai government has launched a campaign called Ngod Lao Khao Phansa (No drinking alcohol during Khao Phansa).

“The campaign encourages locals to abstain from drinking alcohol for the full three months of Buddhist Lent, since avoiding intoxicants such as alcohol is one of the five major Buddhist precepts.”

Asarnha Bucha Day and the beginning of Buddhist Lent have been mandated “National No Alcohol Days” since 2009 by an order that also banned the sale of alcohol on the major Buddhist holidays Makha Bucha Day and Visakha Bucha Day.

Under the order, anyone caught breaking the ban faces a prison sentence of up to six months, a B10,000 fine or both.

Asarnha Bucha day is the full-moon day of the eighth lunar month, commemorating the Buddha’s first sermon to his first five disciples after attaining Enlightenment more than 2,500 years ago.

As part of making merit to honour the day, Buddhists attend evening candlelit processions called wien tien at temples across the country. Visitors are welcome to respectfully join the event.

Buddhist Lent day, or Khao Phansa Day, is the start of a period of three lunar months during the rainy season when monks are required to remain in one particular place or temple and undetake deep meditation.

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-two-day-booze-ban-for-buddhist-holidays-to-include-hotels-53303.php

-- Phuket News 2015-07-27

[johng]

Col Kraitong explained that the ramped up enforcement is to support a call by Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha for Buddhists throughout the country to abstain from drinking alcohol during Buddhist Lent.

And what about the non Buddhist's why are they made to abstain too ?

[NongKhaiKid]

Phuket Welcomes Tourists.

[Khun Paul]

Talk about shooting yourself in the foot, Thailand is at the top of the tree in that respect. if I am on a holiday and the hotel cannot or will not supply me with what I want they have broken their contract with me.

Go figure

[ChrisY1]

It's a comedy of errors daily with these guys........so tourists who spent their money on a Phuket holiday.....will have to drink coke for 2 days??

Can't see that happening on Koh Tao or other islands down that way!!

[Sydebolle]

Guess what; bookings in Pattaya are getting cancelled by the bus load - people travel to Cambodia and the Philippines instead. Nice thing about it is that Cambodia is considered also a Buddhist country. Guess police needs a proper cash increase and hence quite a few watering holes are just prepared to pay as some bars are increasing the drinks prices while we speak.

Lord, forgive them for they don't know what they are doing (to their own country). Expect the booze distributors doing a thriving business until Wednesday evening

[Monkeyrobot]

Good excuse to dry out for a few days , there are no elections for the next 5 years so you get a few booze days back. And yes I did say 5 years.

[Tchooptip]

Phuket Welcomes Tourists.

Every tourists are not drunkards that cannot stay two days without drinking!

Those ones will have more story about their exotic holidays to tell back home

Maybe I'm wrong

[zakk9]

... and the sky is falling

This is soooo predictable. Every time there's talk about alcohol restrictions in Thailand, the usual suspects will come up with statements about why this will mean the death of tourism as we know it in Thailand. Guess what. Most tourists don't care, and they are still coming by the millions. Tens of millions actually.

Edited July 27, 2015 by zakk9

[slapout]

One of these days one of these wannabe god figures is going to stumble and all those edits that they pretend are cast in stone will be dropped and it will shatter into little bits of rock.. These little bits will be kicked down the road with the same concern as stepping on a cockroach. Its a good thing Thailand has such clear boundries marking their territory.

There are a lot of people outside the thai marking who would laugh and defy the announcments such as this as a challange to show their total distaste for a pronouncment which sounds like another N. Korean edit.

[madmitch]

... and the sky is falling

This is soooo predictable. Every time there's talk about alcohol restrictions in Thailand, the usual suspects will come up with statements about why this will mean the death of tourism as we know it in Thailand. Guess what. Most tourists don't care, and they are still coming by the millions. Tens of millions actually.

You are right. Most tourists are now Chinese and they don't care.

But a lot of Europeans do care and this already diminishing market will shrink further if alcohol sales restrictions are expanded, as this "Government" appears to desire.

[MrBrilliant]

... and the sky is falling

This is soooo predictable. Every time there's talk about alcohol restrictions in Thailand, the usual suspects will come up with statements about why this will mean the death of tourism as we know it in Thailand. Guess what. Most tourists don't care, and they are still coming by the millions. Tens of millions actually.

People do care actually, especially about having their holiday time eaten into by archaic laws....

Nice of you to speak on behalf of 'tens of millions' of people.....though I strongly suspect you made that bit up.....

[Rimmer]

Inflammatory post removed

[freebyrd]

Guess what; bookings in Pattaya are getting cancelled by the bus load - people travel to Cambodia and the Philippines instead. Nice thing about it is that Cambodia is considered also a Buddhist country. Guess police needs a proper cash increase and hence quite a few watering holes are just prepared to pay as some bars are increasing the drinks prices while we speak.

Lord, forgive them for they don't know what they are doing (to their own country). Expect the booze distributors doing a thriving business until Wednesday evening

I live in Cambodia, don't drink as a rule. I used to live in TL, never understood these restrictions then or now. TL is supposed to be 'superior' to Cambodia, at least in the eyes of Thais that is. None of this nonsense here for those who who wish to imbibe.

[Lopchan]

This thread will be good for a laugh. All the expats bemoaning not being able to have a drink for TWO. WHOLE. DAYS! Oh NO! the tragedy, the injustice. The humanity of it all!

Here's a quick fix for you:

You have advanced notice, so trundle off down to your local.

Stock up on your favourite tipple.

Settle in.

Relax and enjoy being "an outlaw" or "rebel" for a couple of days.

Then, you'll be able to write your memoirs of when you were a "leading prohibition breaker"...or at least dribble them to the poor bloke on the stool next to you when the pubs open again.

[TEFLKrabi]

It's not that tourists are alcoholics it's just nice to have a choice of a cold beer or a coffee in the evening, rather than being told. You can imagine the poor travel agents in the UK being asked if there are any Buddhist holidays during your holiday to Thailand!

[lavender19]

This thread will be good for a laugh. All the expats bemoaning not being able to have a drink for TWO. WHOLE. DAYS! Oh NO! the tragedy, the injustice. The humanity of it all!

Here's a quick fix for you:

You have advanced notice, so trundle off down to your local.

Stock up on your favourite tipple.

Settle in.

Relax and enjoy being "an outlaw" or "rebel" for a couple of days.

Then, you'll be able to write your memoirs of when you were a "leading prohibition breaker"...or at least dribble them to the poor bloke on the stool next to you when the pubs open again.

Most expats will not be staying hotels and yes expats have the heads up but not the tourist who has just arrived and fancies a cold beer or wine with there dinner.Pathetic country

[stevenl]

Guess what; bookings in Pattaya are getting cancelled by the bus load - people travel to Cambodia and the Philippines instead. Nice thing about it is that Cambodia is considered also a Buddhist country. Guess police needs a proper cash increase and hence quite a few watering holes are just prepared to pay as some bars are increasing the drinks prices while we speak.

Lord, forgive them for they don't know what they are doing (to their own country). Expect the booze distributors doing a thriving business until Wednesday evening

I live in Cambodia, don't drink as a rule. I used to live in TL, never understood these restrictions then or now. TL is supposed to be 'superior' to Cambodia, at least in the eyes of Thais that is. None of this nonsense here for those who who wish to imbibe.

Yes, this proves Thailand is superior to Cambodia.

[DrDave]

I doubt that there will be much impact in the tourist areas.

Just as in past "no-alcohol" days, I suspect that alcohol will be served in an opaque plastic cup in many venues.

[SundayAfternoon]

Is it only Asarnha Bucha Day and Khao Phansa Day in Phuket...?

[KarenBravo]

"Col Kraitong explained that the ramped up enforcement is to support a call by Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha for Buddhists throughout the country to abstain from drinking alcohol during Buddhist Lent".

Could he please also ask the Buddhists not to lie, cheat, scam, thieve and do violence during these two days?

[JohnThailandJohn]

Do people really visit Thailand and not know anything about the culture here or realize it is governed by Buddhist traditions and that about 93% of the population identify as being Buddhist and another near 6% Islam?

For those that are here and year after year whine and moan about these bans as being wrong, that is even more silly. Stock up if you are so concerned otherwise get over it and accept it or leave if you find the culture and ways here unrelatable or unacceptable.

A couple days of attempted sober living for the population ... what an outrage.

[gyrosman]

What's the problem, simply stack up in mini frig and extra. Buy small form box, 7-11 stills ice. Go to the pool area. Stay off open streets. You have a balcony.

[ameadi]

As usual nonsense comments

[hhinhh]

... and the sky is falling

This is soooo predictable. Every time there's talk about alcohol restrictions in Thailand, the usual suspects will come up with statements about why this will mean the death of tourism as we know it in Thailand. Guess what. Most tourists don't care, and they are still coming by the millions. Tens of millions actually.

You are right. Most tourists are now Chinese and they don't care.

But a lot of Europeans do care and this already diminishing market will shrink further if alcohol sales restrictions are expanded, as this "Government" appears to desire.

Since when do Chinese tourst don't drink beer?

Such kind of prohibition may even push alcoholic consum later on (forbidden things always have a touch of becoming greedy) and are not good to prevent drinking alcohol generally. As long as you do not arrive at one of these days you can well fill your hotel or home fridge with a stock for two days.

There are always so many ways to go around laws that governemts all over the world think they must treat their sheeps with. Live would be easier without that.

[Jiggo]

Ban on sales......now a 2 day ban, think AA will move there base here....

[Bangkok Barry]

_{The law is only to prevent people selling alcohol. As far as I know there is no law that prevents you drinking it. Why the fuss? Get some in before the ban.}

[Shot]

_{The law is only to prevent people selling alcohol. As far as I know there is no law that prevents you drinking it. Why the fuss? Get some in before the ban.}

Are my eyes going bad?

[petedk]

We have booked a "club room" at a hotel for those 2 days. That includes free alcohol in the evenings.

I guess that is Ok as it is free. I will check with the hotel tomorrow. If there is a ban then... Yes, I am cancelling.

[petedk]

I was talking to a Thai family about Khao Pansa and the fact that it is recommended not to drink alcohol for 3 months.

They joked and said that the way things are going, maybe next year it will be illegal to drink forthose three months. I nearly fell off my chair.