Let the fun begin

Vital Spark · Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 10:51 pm Post subject:

All the more reason for the 'rule makers' to stop bringing in stupid alcohol bans, and for the supposed rule/law enforcers to perhaps prosecute people who kill other people - whatever the motive.

A litttle bit of law an order wouldn't go amiss here. Otherwise (as Richard says) Cambodia and Vietnam are going to clean up on not only the tourist numbers, but also possibly ex.pats looking for a hassle-free, and relatively comfortable place to retire to.

VS
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'Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana' -Groucho Marx

margaretcarnes · Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2008 10:30 am Post subject: Let the fun begin

This alcohol 'ban' over election times has gone on for yonks. Yes it upsets tourists who are not forewarned because a) they wouldn't book in the first place or b) travel agents don't have the faintest idea what goes on in LOS anyway and don't give a flying you know as long as they get their fee.
Bar owners were, and probably still are, always called to meetings at the police station before these closures. In most cases the mama san or cashier will go to the meeting, and fail to convey the regulations to the farang owner.
In rare cases where the farang holds the licence they will be summoned to the meeting, and sit there like a dumbo while the cops rabbit on in Thai. I know. I was that dumbo.
At the end of the day its a small loss to bar trade overall and a good opportunity for bar keeps to have a night off. If tourists have a real problem with it they aren't suited to LOS longer term.

lomuamart · Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2008 10:47 am Post subject:

Well, I just returned from my local shop and had absolutely no problem buying some beer. Then again, the owner probably dosn't know anything about the elections anyway. (Think there was a news thread recently that said some 60% (?) of those questioned didn't know elections were on).
Bars will be a different matter though. For the general election, the same shop served my wife on the first day, but forewarned that there would be no way on the second.
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"I spent a lot of my money on booze, birds and fast cars - the rest I just squandered". George Best.

buksida · Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2008 12:40 pm Post subject:

Was in a little bar on soi 80 last night, it was like a scene from WWII France, shutters down, gossip about the beer Gestapo from the Resistance, rumours of big fines in town, beer in coffee mugs ...

Only in Hua Hin where the poor excuse for a police force can extort money from people trying to run a business, the rest of Thailand just gets pissed as usual as they dont really care about politics anyway.

Shoot em up

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Named must your fear be before banish it you can.

KelpieKiss · Specialist Joined: 17 Oct 2007 Posts: 223

I saw a bunch of drunks drinking Tiger from a teapot. A bit like a surreal Mad Hatters tea party. Weird thing was, they all seemed to be quite enjoying it. Very Happy

News · Rookie Joined: 14 Oct 2007 Posts: 15

STEVE G · Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 12:00 am Post subject:

A friend of mine was staying in the Hyatt during the ban in December and they wouldn’t even give him a drink in the bar there, only room service. It’s a pretty lousy deal for tourists.

Norseman · Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 2:35 am Post subject:

HHTel · Professional Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Posts: 300

My regular beach bar in Takieb had no problems. Went there on Thursday and asked if it was okay to have a beer, "Of course you can, you're not Budhist". Many farangs there enjoying the night.

Friday night I was there with my family for dinner. Over 30 farangs in the place drinking beer etc. Thai owner says, "No problem. You can't vote". Followed the same pattern on Saturday and Sunday.

Sensible interpretation of the law.