I am planning on coming to Pattaya (from Bangkok) for the long weekend this coming Friday (4th December) and I was wondering whether anyone has heard anything on the grape-vine yet as to whether alcohol will be banned in Pattaya on Saturday for the King's Birthday? I don't really want to spend one night of the mini-break cooped up in a hotel room watching a movie because all the bars are shut!

http://www.boomboomme.com/resources/holidays/thailand/

This page reckons a high chance of being a booze ban, apparently there was some bans last year..

Can always drink beer from a coffee mug in some shop.

Edited December 3, 201510 yr by rws85

http://www.boomboomme.com/resources/holidays/thailand/

This page reckons a high chance of being a booze ban, apparently there was some bans last year..

Can always drink beer from a coffee mug in some shop.

Thanks for that link rws85! Amazing website and really useful, but how utterly pathetic does it makes the country look?

Drinking beer from coffee mugs is not my idea of fun.

December 7th - Monday, substitution day for the King's birthday, and December 10th - Thursday, Constitution Day are public/government holidays. As such immigration, schools and other government offices will be closed. Main branches of banks will also be closed (BOT site) but as usual the satellite branches such as malls will be operational. So prepare in advance your activities.

Either the 5th (King's birthday) or the 7th (substitution day) has a high probability of a no alcohol day, not clear yet. Constitution day has no prohibition.

It seems like a blaster on Friday night is called for, and a few Heinekens purchased on Friday, stashed in the hotel fridge for Saturday night along with take away kebabs, followed by a serious session on Sunday. Ah the joys and pitfalls of holidaying in this country!!

December 7th - Monday, substitution day for the King's birthday, and December 10th - Thursday, Constitution Day are public/government holidays. As such immigration, schools and other government offices will be closed. Main branches of banks will also be closed (BOT site) but as usual the satellite branches such as malls will be operational. So prepare in advance your activities.

Either the 5th (King's birthday) or the 7th (substitution day) has a high probability of a no alcohol day, not clear yet. Constitution day has no prohibition.

Let's hope the ban (if there is going to be one) is on the Monday, as we'll be driving back to Bangkok that day!

EDIT, hide my pessimistic outlook

If this is the truth, then no ban on Dec 5 and 7:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/875411-no-booze-ban-on-hm-the-kings-birthday/

But thats Phuket?

Edited December 3, 201510 yr by KhunBENQ

OMG- Just stock up your frig with beer the day before. You will have the cool refreshment whenever you want it. Better than sitting at a boring bar paying double for the price. Some of the Beach Chair vendors will sell beer while you are renting a beach chair and umbrella but you need to be discreet and hide the bottle on the sand or up your butt.

so you reccomend getting pissed in the hotel room rather than a boring bar.

your advice begs the question "why leave home?"

It's not the law to ban booze sale on their majesty's birthday, how else are you supposed to toast to their good health....

places like 7-11 and supermarkets will still sells you alcohol

the local police might go around and ask seedier place to cooperate and close out of respect

but no way tourist traps discos will be closed

I suppose there is nothing else of interest in Pattaya?

You might want to reschedule.

It's not the law to ban booze sale on their majesty's birthday, how else are you supposed to toast to their good health....

places like 7-11 and supermarkets will still sells you alcohol

the local police might go around and ask seedier place to cooperate and close out of respect

but no way tourist traps discos will be closed

Places like 7/11 and supermarkets are the 1st to restrict sale on these days

OMG- Just stock up your frig with beer the day before. You will have the cool refreshment whenever you want it. Better than sitting at a boring bar paying double for the price. Some of the Beach Chair vendors will sell beer while you are renting a beach chair and umbrella but you need to be discreet and hide the bottle on the sand or up your butt.

Some of us like to go out and socialise.

It's not the law to ban booze sale on their majesty's birthday, how else are you supposed to toast to their good health....

places like 7-11 and supermarkets will still sells you alcohol

the local police might go around and ask seedier place to cooperate and close out of respect

but no way tourist traps discos will be closed

Places like 7/11 and supermarkets are the 1st to restrict sale on these days

On the Buddhist Holidays that's been declared by law and subsequent official addition by declaration from the Prime Minister's Office to be booze free, yes.

NOT on the 5th December or the 12th August on their Majesties birthday,

IT IS NOT THE LAW

There will be places that closes yes, but sales of alcohol on the day is not illegal

Bars and venues that closes do so because it's a holiday and they feel like letting their staff take the day off, or being asked by the police to keep it down on the day, or because of general ignorance and the misconception that the day is supposed to be 'dry'

If you really can't go for ONE day without booze, just get a water bottle and re-fill it with vodka!

December 7th - Monday, substitution day for the King's birthday, and December 10th - Thursday, Constitution Day are public/government holidays. As such immigration, schools and other government offices will be closed. Main branches of banks will also be closed (BOT site) but as usual the satellite branches such as malls will be operational. So prepare in advance your activities.

Either the 5th (King's birthday) or the 7th (substitution day) has a high probability of a no alcohol day, not clear yet. Constitution day has no prohibition.

Having spent a bit of time tracking alcohol bans for a number of years, including birthdays and Buddhist holidays, I have never seen a ban on a substitution day.

In both 2009 and 2010 fathers day were weekend days and bans then were on the actual day.

Substitution days seem to be a mere day-off compensation for schools/banks/government when the holiday fall during the weekend.

Based on the past couple or three years it would appear that Bangkok and Pattaya will be mostly in the clear.

Phuket, however, is any ones guess.

If you really can't go for ONE day without booze, just get a water bottle and re-fill it with vodka!

That is an utterly fatuous, if somewhat predictable post from someone who clearly hasn't even bothered to read my OP.

Edited December 3, 201510 yr by millwall_fan

What's wrong with an orange juice? But no, I have never known alcohol to be banned on the Kings birthday.

What's wrong with an orange juice? But no, I have never known alcohol to be banned on the Kings birthday.

Soi LK Pattaya 05 Dec 2014

In theory, just after the Wycombe game we will be in Sunday so a good few bears to celebrate

What's wrong with an orange juice? But no, I have never known alcohol to be banned on the Kings birthday.

Soi LK Pattaya 05 Dec 2014

Soi_LK_2014-12-05.jpg

Reading the above posts, it does seem that soi LK (wherever that is) is particularly susceptible to bans. We are staying on soi 7, no idea if that is any less likely to be targeted.

It seems like a blaster on Friday night is called for, and a few Heinekens purchased on Friday, stashed in the hotel fridge for Saturday night along with take away kebabs, followed by a serious session on Sunday. Ah the joys and pitfalls of holidaying in this country!!

Heineken?

Oh my god.

Good that you don't spend your holiday in Belgium.

We have a Heineken ban every day of the year.

We drink BEER.

What's wrong with an orange juice? But no, I have never known alcohol to be banned on the Kings birthday.

Soi LK Pattaya 05 Dec 2014

Soi_LK_2014-12-05.jpg

That might be 'self censoring' but not official requirement by law.

What's wrong with an orange juice? But no, I have never known alcohol to be banned on the Kings birthday.

Soi LK Pattaya 05 Dec 2014

Soi_LK_2014-12-05.jpg

That might be 'self censoring' but not official requirement by law.

The second most active Soi in Pattaya self censoring in its entirety, get real.

Besides I do know of a couple of bars that received "the letter" in that Soi.

To me it all seems to be a big cluster flip, for example one venue in Pattaya WS/Soi 15 received notice to close and other did not ... and yes the bar owner sent someone to the police station for verification ... verdict: Close.

Edited December 3, 201510 yr by MrDK

Thailand was always a dry day on the Kings birthday then some years ago the King declared it a normal day I did not think that the PM would go against that decision.

December 7th - Monday, substitution day for the King's birthday, and December 10th - Thursday, Constitution Day are public/government holidays. As such immigration, schools and other government offices will be closed. Main branches of banks will also be closed (BOT site) but as usual the satellite branches such as malls will be operational. So prepare in advance your activities.

Either the 5th (King's birthday) or the 7th (substitution day) has a high probability of a no alcohol day, not clear yet. Constitution day has no prohibition.

Let's hope the ban (if there is going to be one) is on the Monday, as we'll be driving back to Bangkok that day!

If there is a ban it will definitely be on Saturday, since that is the actual birthday. Monday is only a substitution day for those who work because the holiday is during a weekend.

It seems like a blaster on Friday night is called for, and a few Heinekens purchased on Friday, stashed in the hotel fridge for Saturday night along with take away kebabs, followed by a serious session on Sunday. Ah the joys and pitfalls of holidaying in this country!!

Heineken?

Oh my god.

Good that you don't spend your holiday in Belgium.

We have a Heineken ban every day of the year.

We drink BEER.

Which brand? Warm or cold?

It seems like a blaster on Friday night is called for, and a few Heinekens purchased on Friday, stashed in the hotel fridge for Saturday night along with take away kebabs, followed by a serious session on Sunday. Ah the joys and pitfalls of holidaying in this country!!

Heineken?

Oh my god.

Good that you don't spend your holiday in Belgium.

We have a Heineken ban every day of the year.

We drink BEER.

What's wrong with an orange juice? But no, I have never known alcohol to be banned on the Kings birthday.

Soi LK Pattaya 05 Dec 2014

Soi_LK_2014-12-05.jpg

That might be 'self censoring' but not official requirement by law.

The second most active Soi in Pattaya self censoring in its entirety, get real.

Besides I do know of a couple of bars that received "the letter" in that Soi.

To me it all seems to be a big cluster flip, for example one venue in Pattaya WS/Soi 15 received notice to close and other did not ... and yes the bar owner sent someone to the police station for verification ... verdict: Close.

It seems like I need a complicated zonal map of Pattaya to find out which sois incur Plod's displeasure and which don't. Fun weekend in prospect!

I'll be toasting the ol' boy from a safe distance with a few stiff vodkas .