As you may or may not know the funeral for the head coach’s sister will take place in November. Parts of the ceremony and processions will be spread out between Nov 14-Nov 19. Not sure what happens on each day but that is not really the topic of this post. Our police contacts have been telling us for a while that we may have to close the bars or not serve alcohol from Nov 14-17. As you can imagine given the current economic climate that losing 4 days worth of business would be pretty dismal. Being able to open and not serve is helpful but generally a bar or pub will lose >50% of normal business trade. Either scenario is bad since things have been so slow.
Well the general slowdown in tourism and local consumption does have a trickle down effect. Seems the police are starting to feel it. Many police deals at clubs and after-hours places involve some percentage of the door take - or it is based on how many people enter on a given night. Various beer bars and bars tend to try and reduce their payouts when business is bad. Surprisingly many of the police go with this since they don’t want to see places go out of business - for the record it is landlords that seem to not care. Anyway there has been quite the rumblings from bar owners already dealing with a record low season and oncoming waning high season. Word is some of the hotels have also made it known to the powers that be that the randomness of the no drinking days is having an unwanted consequence as well with tourists choosing other Asian cities since they want to drink whilst on holiday. Imagine that.
Long story short. Seems there may not be any demands for the bars to not serve except for possibly 1 specific day. The talk is the rest of the days bars can serve but need to tone it down a bit. It has yet to be determined what they might require of the red light areas and the after-hours scene. They may take a hit but looks like it should be easy to get a drink.
We will update more as we go.
This whole “we don’t allow citizens to drink alcohol in public places on certain days” stuff is just plain bullshit. I will arrive on Nov. 14 in BKK and would be seriously pissed if my freedom to party and drink would get oppressed by some morons in the Thai government.
For me as a (sex-)tourist, these closing/non-serving policies are fucking ridiculous. Sorry for the cursing, I am mad already. I don’t want to waste one single day of my short time in LOS because some retards in Thailand have nothing better to do with their precious time than to create stupid ideas to hassle not only me, but mainly their own population.
View all comments by Phoenix
So Phoenix…. what are you saying?
View all comments by Daywalker
p = i agree
even in muslim countries during ramadam u can get a drink
it looks like they are edging off this a bit due to the drop in tourism
View all comments by sideshowBOB
Im probably gonna get slated for this, but people bitching about no drinking during religious holidays etc have no place.
I can understand its a cunt for bar-owners as taking will take a hit, but after all your a guest in their country so live with it
View all comments by Young Penfold
YP… if it wasn’t for us ‘guests’.. the Country would have gone to shit. (even more shit)
Fuckers should be bending over backwards to keep us happy.
But if it makes you feel better, I’ll ensure you never get served at the Mango during religious holidays?!!
View all comments by Daywalker
Yeah whats the big deal? Most civilized countries have holidays when bars and liquor stores are closed, why shouldn’t Thailand? I dont think alot of first time tourist to Thailand know about the none drinking days. Maybe the regular sex tourist(alcoholics) are annoyed at this but I dont if it has a huge affect on tourist coming to the country, can you source that it does?
View all comments by Mr Right
The “rules” here in Thailand are so backwards and inconsistent that there is no possible way to get your head around them either as a business owner or citizen. This is obvious with all of the current issues facing the country but the flip side of this is that the inconsistency and craziness is exactly what allows all of the great things about Thailand to carry on. Can you imagine what would happen if the laws that are on the books here were actually enforced? We can’t have it both ways and if given a choice, I will give my liver a break for a week so the rest of the year I can do damn near whatever I want.
View all comments by billybobbkk
sorry. name me some countries that randomly and without warning have no drinking days? I can;t really think of any.
why are there no drinking days for tourists during voting when tourists dont vote?
I am not a guest here. I pay taxes, employ scads of people and contribute to the service industry.
I am looking for consistency, warnings and some fairness.
I would like thailand to print in their public tourist literature a year before hand all the days where they will not allow drinking. watch the tourism operator backlash from that…
dw - agreed. they will send stupid money on consultants wondering why tourism is dropping but pull the ostrich approach on no drinking days, early closings and uneven laws about nightlife. makes no sense.
View all comments by sideshowBOB
SSB- If you do get consistency, fairness and warnings then what will be next? Where will the government draw the line when it comes to the laws and their enforcement? I am definitely NOT in favor of the no drinking nights that pop up whenever there is an election or holiday but we should be careful asking for rules and order because before you know it Thailand will look like the UK or the US and I really do not want to move to Cambodia quite yet.
View all comments by billybobbkk
You just have to laugh when people like Phoenix and Daywalker get their shorts in a twist over things like this.
Why would any foreigner who had spent more than fifteen minutes in Thailand imagine Thais have the slightest interest in what any of us want? They don’t much like us; they don’t give a flying fuck what we think; and, on the whole, they’d be just as happy if we all packed up and left and never came back again. You’re the [n word omitted] here, whitey, and there ain’t gonna be no civil rights legislation coming down the pike anytime soon. So get used to it.
View all comments by Old Asia Hand
Handjob: ‘Shorts in a twist’? Not really.
You talk shit. The Thais would be happy if we all packed up and fucked off eh? Of course, none of them rely on our cash injection do they?
There would be dying buffalo everywhere.
View all comments by Daywalker
…and I’m pretty sure I could get hold of booze any day of the year.
- I was thinking of the people that spend hard earned cash to go on vacation to Thailand and get told they can’t have a drink because of an election is taking place that they have no part of.
View all comments by Daywalker
SSB: “I would like thailand to print in their public tourist literature a year before hand all the days where they will not allow drinking. watch the tourism operator backlash from that…”
That’s my point. Would I have known earlier of this crap I would have scheduled my vacation differently.
I understand OAH’s point of view to some extend. But even if “they” don’t care, I can still complain about it.
Mr. Right: You are wrong.
Daywalker: Did you say something?
View all comments by Phoenix
To be fair, the tourist authorities could hardly have predicted the death of the princess a year in advance.
Most no-drinking days ARE known in advance - Asahara Bucha, Macha Bucha, Visakha Bucha, etc and so on.
Obviously election dates are rather less predictable, but there’s not much the tourist authorities can do about that.
View all comments by Bangkok Bad Boy
Phoenix - The Princess died in January, I think 10 months notice is quite substantial……and also, knowing that the Thais like to prohibit alcohol-consumption (whether it’s ridiculous or not, let’s leave that in the middle) on days like these, this does not come as a surprise. Sucks for tourism though….but I agree with YP, one should respect the country’s Bhuddist- (and Royal-)traditions.
View all comments by Paraquat
Sure there are known holidays but it’s rarely known until a few days before whether or not we can serve. Plus, there are always areas that serve even on holidays while other areas can’t. This is the more frustrating part.
View all comments by pmmp
Yeah, easy enough to get a drink if you’re a customer but not so much fun for the barowners I guess, assuming they’re not in the “lucky” area on the given occasion.
View all comments by Bangkok Bad Boy
p - no offense but look around at all the little sois during these respectful no drinking days and watch all the thais getting hammered. about the only people that are forced to enforce the law is the hotels, the licensed bars and restaurants. meaning tourists get prevented from drinking but the thais rarely do. so sorry to rain on your respect parade.
View all comments by sideshowBOB
ssB - what do I know? I’ve heard of, and have experienced the double standards of the Thais myself…. I agree, it sucks for the bar-owners like yourself, especially when you see Thai-people get away with it as you stated. Me myself, I can easily do a couple of days without the alcohol, even when I’m on vacation in LOS.
View all comments by Paraquat
In fact, it’s not a drinking ban but a serving ban which is not equally enforced and declared only on short notice.
If the sister has her funeral it does not neccessarily mean that there will be a drinking ban. Most tourists coming to Thailand (and also most Thais) will not know anything about it for sure even if they know of the funeral.
Plus, I can still buy gallons of alcohol at any super-market or 7-11, sit down on any street corner of BKK and have my private party with singing and dancing. So what’s the point of it? Reminds me of a measure typical for a totalitarian regime…. maybe that’s what the LOS partly is?
SSB: So any recommendations of “underground” Thai bars to go on such days? Any info welcome! I would be eager to check out some places and share my whisky with some drunk Thai dudes that I would sooner or later not understand even if they spoke English
View all comments by Phoenix
Quite a few of the beer bars of Patpong 2 are usually open on “dry” days. Don’t know what their deal is.
Are there *that* many tourists who absolutely must get drunk every single day in order to enjoy their holiday?
View all comments by Bangkok Bad Boy
BBB, I think I am posting too much by now.. but anyway: It’s not only about drinking, it’s also about bars opening at all, having fun, playing pool, chatting, hugging, dancing,… All this also mainly ceases to be availiable in case of a serving ban. The fun is gone, not only the alcohol.
I also don’t drink every day, even when in Thailand
But I want to be able to decide for myself on which days I want to party.
Thanks for the Patpong hint. Any other info for bars outside Patpong, maybe around Lower Sukh?
View all comments by Phoenix
@Phoenix: Oh, the girls will still want your money, whether drunk or sober.
If the lower Sukhumvit bars are closed, Patpong’s usually open, and vice versa.
It’s very rare that all 3 major farang gogo areas are completely closed, and even if that’s the case the streets will be full of freelancers who’ll know where you can buy them a drink.
I have never, ever failed to get a beer in Thailand on the dry days when I’ve decided that I’d like one.
If all (and I mean ALL) else fails, ask a taxi driver. They’ll usually take you somewhere crap, but it will have girls and booze. I have never needed to do this.
If you want to be on the safe side, get a few hot gogo/beer bar girls’ phone numbers before the ban comes in.
It’s really not the drama (for the customer, at least) that it’s made out to be.
View all comments by Bangkok Bad Boy
BBB, thanks, sounds good. Thanks for the info!
View all comments by Phoenix
No it’s official:
“The government has declared three days of national mourning during the cremation ceremony for Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana, from Nov 14 to 16.
People are asked to dress in black and entertainment venues asked to cooperate and cease entertainment activities during that period.”
I will arrive on Nov. 14 and can’t party for three days. I am throwing up.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/051108_News/05Nov2008_news07.php
View all comments by Phoenix
I would take that with a large pinch of salt.
View all comments by Bangkok Bad Boy
phoenix - yes - I am sure everyone will wear black. probably hand out black outfits to tourists on arrival.
point is they always have to pretend they are creating some enforcement. word on the streets is they are asking people to tone it down and may close red light areas but that they are not asking bars to close or stop serving.
we will keep monitoring it…
View all comments by sideshowBOB
SSB: I see. How about After Hour Clubs - my most important party grounds: Will they open as usual? What do you think?
View all comments by Phoenix
My best source for the “closed or open?” game is a Nana Plaza go go dancer who seems to be right 100% of the time.
She alerted me yesterday that NEP **might** be closed on the 15th. ON that basis I tried to make plans with her for that day but she said that the closure wasn’t certain yet, and she’d have to get back to me later in the week.
From our discussion it sounded like she was sure NEP would be open on the 14th and 16th.
For clarity, her bar is often open even on days when they can’t serve booze, so it sounds like the 15th is the day to circle on your calendar and do a little advance stocking up on beer, whiskey and LBFMs.
View all comments by Werewolf
ww - it is all up in the air but heard from a few contacts that they will shut down red light areas completely. Big Dogs ha already gotten their 3 day closure letter. But who knows. always up in the air until the day off really…
oh the joy.
View all comments by sideshowBOB
Issued by the company (multinational) I work for yesterday:
Dear all,
The following announcement has been authorized by XXXXXX.
In order to comply with the government announcement regarding the mourning to HRH Princess Kanlayaniwattana, it is requested that XXXXXXXX Thailand employees and contractors who work in Bangkok office should wear the mourning dress code on Friday (Nov 14).
Males should wear a white or black shirt with a black necktie or to wear a white or black plain t-shirt with black or dark color trousers.
Females should wear a white or black shirt or blouse or a white or black plain t-shirt with black or dark color trousers or skirt with black stockings.
For those who play golf with XXXX on Sunday, the colorful dress should be banned. The appropriate dress should be a white or black plain t-shirt with dark color trousers or shorts.
Also, in order to avoid the heavy traffic congestion in Bangkok area on Friday evening (Nov 14) as the Royal Cremation Ceremony of the first day is scheduled to start at 5.30 p.m. and a number of roads will be blocked as well as some thousands or may be hundred thousands of people will attend the ceremony (coming from around the country, the company will close two hours early, at 3 p.m.
Please be informed accordingly.
Regarding the reference to golf on Sunday, we have a “friendship” game with a government department which basically means we invite a bunch of civil servants out and pay for their golf, food etc. so I guess that type of entertainment is ok this week-end.
View all comments by Riodon
1. Thais have every right to enforce whatever rules fit their cultural norms that don’t outright violate human rights, and the right to drink does not qualify.
2. The random and uneven enforcement is annoying but anyone who’s been here long enough knows that it’s part of the charm. If Thailand were clean, organized, consistent, and law-abiding, it would be Singapore. And that would suck.
3. The Thais don’t suffer any less than the tourists at the unevenness and capriciousness of their government, laws, and cops. They suffer more. They deal with it. So can you.
4. “We’ll take our tourist dollars elsewhere and this country will collapse” is wanker-ish newbie-speak for “I know nothing about Thailand or economics.” Tourism is less than 20% of foreign exchange income in Thailand. This isn’t Spain or the Maldives. Thailand’s biggest industries are agriculture, manufacturing, textiles, heavy industry, petrochemical, and services. And most tourists are not drunk sleazebags like us, they’re European and Asian couples, families, and retirees. So stop flouting clout you ain’t got. If every drunk sleazebag left town, the only economy that would collapse would be a dozen villages in Isaan.
5. As the other helpful old hands on the board have pointed out, you can still get a drink and a girl if you know where to look, and every Thai you ask will tell you where to look. Nice of them, no?
6. If a Thai came to New York and complained that “What? I can’t buy sex from a 19-year old for thirty bucks? Your country sucks.” You’d tell him to “Go back to Thailand, asshole.”
7. “And take me with you.”
View all comments by Franny the Cat
I agree with some of your points Franny the pussy cat ,points 1,2,3,5 i agree with, but your another person that thinks the lack of tourists does not effect normal Thai working people, how many people are employed in hotels,bars ,resturants, shops,taxi drivers. and many other jobs linked to the tourist trade, as you say not all are the sex addicted, piss head folk you mention.
But if they don’t sort there shit out it will drop and normal Thai people will be effected ie losing there jobs. Tourism is importamt for most countries esp now with the whole fucked up credit ,banking shit, and if you don’t think so you have your head in the sand. Also if tourists stop coming here who will be interested in buying these thousands of condos being built ?? all the Thais on 10,000 a month !! You say only 20 % income from it, your proberly right but its the normal people thats suffer if people stop coming here.
I agree with Old Asia hand; they could not give a fuck really, but i think thats the government who could not give a fuck because they are cunts to there own people also..
View all comments by Fish
fish - straight . tired of the tourism does not really bother thailand. please. one of the biggest employers by numbers.
let’s look at his list:
agriculture - let’s commodities are taking a beating and most ag products are dropping in price. Thailand being idiots stockpiled rice that they will have to dump on the market. Rubber also getting wacked.
manufacturing - global economic downturn. manu will get pummeled.
textiles - thailand been losing this battle for sometime and they claim there will be mass layoffs in this sector. especially with the fake strong baht.
heavy industry - not sure what this is. like making cars or what? cars getting wacked both on the export and local market.
petrochemical - oil dropping like a rock and demand dropping so this wont save tgem
services - partially linked to tourism but like thai crisis has been showing with the charts. general services dropping with thailand showing more money going out then in for 6 months. that’s not healthy.
so with all thailand’s mainstays getting screwed one would think you would try to prop up one of your sectors that if cared for might actually be a growth sector.
no - that would be too smart…
View all comments by sideshowBOB