To Drink or Not to Drink? Chiang Mai Alcohol Laws this Songkran

[webfact]

To Drink or Not to Drink? Alcohol Laws this Songkran
by CityNews

CityNews – Tassanai Buranupakorn, Mayor of the city of Chiang Mai told CityNews that there will be strict rules and enforcement relating to the sale and consumption of alcohol this Songkran in the city.

Three areas will be heavily patrolled by authorities: the moat, Tha Pae Gate and Three Kings Monument.

Any stalls or businesses illegally selling alcohol will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

If a business already has an alcohol license, they are allowed to sell but there will be spot checks throughout the period to make sure that no minors under the age of 18 are sold any alcohol [Ed. We believe the mayor misspoke, as the legal drinking age is 20].

Full story: http://www.chiangmaicitylife.com/news/to-drink-or-not-to-drink-alcohol-laws-this-songkran-2/


-- Chiang City News 2016-04-05

[khwaibah]

[maoro2013]

It sounds like some places have been selling without licences, and this is known and nothing done about it, excpt maybe at Songkran.

[Sealbash]

Or do they mean a license to sell during Songkran?

[terminatorchiangmai]

They forgot to tell ; sale only before 2 pm and after 5 pm.

Like last year the first day everything was ok , the second day all the bars got finned for selling alcohol before 5 pm.

14th of April will be collecting day again me thinks.

Edited April 5, 2016 by terminatorchiangmai

[chrissables]

They really know how to throw a party! Restricted water and drinking times. Pathetic really.

[TheSiemReaper]

That's fair enough. It is the law after all. It's funny to see how many people complain when the laws they want enforced aren't enforced (smoking bans, traffic laws, etc.) but when the ones that they want to be ignored are enforced - they're complaining again.

If anyone is worried about being thirsty, all they have to do is pay for their drinks before 2 p.m. they can continue to consume them all the way to 5 p.m. quite legally.

[anto]

Best keep out of the Moat area then .

[WinnieTheKhwai]

That's fair enough. It is the law after all. It's funny to see how many people complain when the laws they want enforced aren't enforced (smoking bans, traffic laws, etc.) but when the ones that they want to be ignored are enforced - they're complaining again.

I agree this is not unreasonable.

Selling alcohol everywhere also wouldn't be fair to all the bars, who have trouble enough as it is to get people to actually buy something, even though they're big party enablers.

[Merylhighground]

Why is there always some self important stuffed shirt looking to wave his willy and ruin the fun of his potential voters?

I think someone needs to have a word in this fool's ear as he may not be heading for a second term as people don't want 'officials' crawling all over the place, enforcing archaic 'laws' to satisfy one man's ego while they're trying to enjoy themselves, another indication of Thailand's rapidly increasing downward spiral....

[Chicog]

Best keep out of the Moat area then .

Unless you want a mouth, nose and/or ear full of ameoba, bacteria and rat piss, I'd advise that every year.

[gandalf12]

They really know how to throw a party! Restricted water and drinking times. Pathetic really.

If you want drink go to Saudi. One of the highest alcoholic rates per capita in the world

[connda]

They really know how to throw a party! Restricted water and drinking times. Pathetic really.

I'm sure the Chiang Mai elites will have their water trucked in and their alcohol provided 24/7 right along with the catering. Restrictions are only for the "little people."