Soldiers uncover illegal bar opening on referendum day - but the cops had all gone home!

 

Image: Daily News

 

BANGKOK: -- Soldiers raided an illegal shisha den in Bangkok on Saturday night - and had to call the cops to come and make an arrest.

 

They were all out together Saturday evening at a popular bar area making sure that no one was serving alcohol ahead of Sunday's vote but the cops, seeing no laws being broken, appear to have given up and gone back to the station leaving the soldiers to it.

 

But observant military men noticed a side door being used at a premises and went inside to investigate. They found 50 tourists smoking shisha pipes and drinking, reported Daily News.

 

That was when they phoned the cops telling them to come back! On Sunday regional chief Sompong Chingduang said there was no wrong doing on the part of police and no one would be transferred.

 

The man looking after the Thet Bar in Coko Walk near Rachathewi BTS was charged with several offences relating to being open during forbidden hours and having shisha tobacco and shisha pipes. Police found nine pipes, alcohol and a kilo of tobacco. 

 

The man is called Salaporn Hiranpradit.

 

The tourists were given a stern talking to for an hour about Thai law before being allowed to go home. Other bars in the area were reportedly complying with the law that forbade the serving of alcohol from 6pm on Saturday ahead of Sunday's referendum.

 

Source: Daily News

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2016-08-08

 'and no one would be transferred'

 

The 'inactive post office' is full to the brim, no more vacancies ! 

The tourists were given a stern talking to about how Thai people have to be sober and go vote on Sunday so tourists cannot be allowed to enjoy a few drinks on a Saturday night......

 

Why not just ban Thai people from drinking? 

The law wasn't strictly enforced, perhaps the police indeed have gone home early. I was dining at a japanese restaurant on Saturday. At first they said no alcohol would be served, this was at 6pm. Later the servers came and said its available, but would they would need to collect beer mugs and switch to cocktails quickly - thinking police/soldiers won't tell if alcohol is in cocktail glasses.

39 minutes ago, webfact said:

 

The tourists were given a stern talking to

 

 

lol

Now don't do that again, you naughty tourist!!   

 

Surely anyone with a foreign passport and who was born outside of Thailand should be allowed to have a drink on election days.

A stern talking to on Thai law for an hour  !

I think to explain how the law works here would take little more than a minute or two.

4 minutes ago, NongKhaiKid said:

A stern talking to on Thai law for an hour  !

I think to explain how the law works here would take little more than a minute or two.

 Probably in Thai too!!!

Taking about alcohol laws, I may have missed the announcement but it seems the alcohol law as been amended.

 

It used to be possible to buy during prohibited hours (supermarkets and such) if buying more than 10 liters.

Saw an announcement yesterday at Rimping supermarket: that exemption as now been cancelled

It's a bit of a metaphor for all things Thai really...

 

Winnie

1 hour ago, CantSpell said:

Taking about alcohol laws, I may have missed the announcement but it seems the alcohol law as been amended.

 

It used to be possible to buy during prohibited hours (supermarkets and such) if buying more than 10 liters.

Saw an announcement yesterday at Rimping supermarket: that exemption as now been cancelled

 

CantSpell

 

See http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/restriction-liquor-sale-time-takes-effect-today/

I am glad the army did not come to the bar where I was supping Tiger Tea from mugs.

Why are shisha pipes illegal;  it's just tobacco in those things isn't it?

I also saw a restaurant that served alcohol. You could spot the beer bottles easily when you came closer, just not from the soi. :-)

I managed to get beer on Saturday to take home. To be honest it is a joke here as they try to show they are holier than thou but it is just a smoke screen to scam, rob and get away with anything they can.

The po-lease were off having a beer.

How TIT can LoS become...ever changing and semi surprising standards in the TIT factor.

20 minutes ago, Rob13 said:

Why are shisha pipes illegal;  it's just tobacco in those things isn't it?

 

Business isn't controlled by an important Thai family.

The night before an election about 4-5 years ago. I went into a 7/11 on Sukhumvit( 1 of 650 ).

They were selling beer to anyone who wanted to buy. People paid cash, but they did not key into the cash register.

The girl I was with asked why and they said they would ring in another day.

I did not buy any because I was afraid of getting a stern lecture.

 

6 hours ago, webfact said:

The tourists were given a stern talking to for an hour about Thai law before being allowed to go home.

So, the tourists could all go voting the next day?

This has the traits of a typical event in Thailand and a typical news story in Thailand.

 

- a pointless scattergun law or regulation that has long since ceased to have any rationale and the populus can no longer remember why it was introduced in the first place. It has become ritualistic.

- Those in power and the press who are reporting on it never question the reasoning for the actions of those in power.

- The army doing things that really should be left to others.

- Blaming foreigners.

- Hyping minor events and stories whilst failing to talk about the elephant in the room.

- Authority (backed by guns and muscle) trump all else.

An off topic post has been removed. 

4 hours ago, Cuchulainn said:

Now don't do that again, you naughty tourist!!   

 

Surely anyone with a foreign passport and who was born outside of Thailand should be allowed to have a drink on election days.

The junta wants you sober to enjoy their glorious victory. 

Nice to see the Army still allow the customer's to sit relaxly to empty their glasses.

33 minutes ago, chowny77 said:

I managed to get beer on Saturday to take home. To be honest it is a joke here as they try to show they are holier than thou but it is just a smoke screen to scam, rob and get away with anything they can.

Just have one run into you and see how soon they point the fickle finger of fate at you your fault. 

A stern talking to - delivered by soldiers in combat kit, because they were enjoying a drink whilst on holiday.

If they weren,t on the next available plane out I should imagine they won't be making a return visit.

Spin that TAT.

On days like these I usually have tea with dinner.

 

At least there is a teapot and a cup on my table! 

6 hours ago, Bung said:

The tourists were given a stern talking to about how Thai people have to be sober and go vote on Sunday so tourists cannot be allowed to enjoy a few drinks on a Saturday night......

 

Why not just ban Thai people from drinking? 

The soldiers should have apologised to the tourists, explained that it wasn't their fault and refunded them their drinks. But what can you expect from banana republic knuckle draggers.

6 hours ago, Bung said:

The tourists were given a stern talking to about how Thai people have to be sober and go vote on Sunday so tourists cannot be allowed to enjoy a few drinks on a Saturday night......

 

Why not just ban Thai people from drinking? 

 

"Why not just ban Thai people from drinking? "  Why not just ban under 20's from buying alcohol between 2 & 5 pm every day ?

I think most countries ban alcohol on election days until polls close.

 

I agree that the night before is a little strange closing at midnight might have sufficed

This is too funny.  Went to my local mom & pop shop Sunday lunch.  They could not sell me any booze as they had completely sold out on Saturday evening.  Not even a wee tot of Lao Khow was to be had, the shop was totally dry.  Saw the morning news today and it showed several polling booths that had problems with drunks and the police were there giving breathalisers to potential voters to check they were sober enough before they were allowed to vote.  Would make a grezt Monty Pythons sketch !