Thailand Alcohol Bans
Last Updated: 2008-02-23
Thailand is lucky to attract a broad spectrum of tourists but one thing they all have in common is that they are on holiday and are here to enjoy themselves.
In recent months, there have been so many days during which the sale of alcohol has been prohibited, the unsuspecting tourist may be forgiven for thinking Thailand was in a permanent state of semi-closure. We are currently observing political change, upheaval and elections and for some ill conceived reason, the powers that be have chosen to completely prohibit alcohol sales for days at a time and in such regularity, tourists unlucky enough to arrive for a two week holiday at just the wrong time, may find they cannot drink for half of their stay.
Add to this a number of Buddhist holidays, Royal occasions and other notable calendar events, when alcohol sales are also banned, a considerable part of the year is dry.
Right now, we are in the middle of the Thai Senate Elections. This weekend and next weekend, nearly every bar in the country will close. Wondering around Chiang Rai on Friday night, we noted comments from some tourists who were hoping for a fun night out on the town but were bemused to find a solemn atmosphere and closed doors...
"I don't understand" said Rob from England. "I didn't even know this was going to happen. I didn't even know there was an election. We just came out for a few beers to relax but there are police milling around making sure we don't"
Rob and his friends were not alone in their confusion. Expatriates who live here know only too well that you can still buy a beer but you will have to drink it out of a coffee cup. However, tourists have to make the most of a Coke... that's if they can actually find a bar that opened it's doors. Any bars that do open have regular visits from the police to make sure none of these naughty tourists actually try to enjoy themselves.
Doug from Australia commented: "I'd have chosen a different month for my holiday if I had known beer would be off limits like this. It's crazy, I'm a tourist, why should I have my holiday spoiled like this? I'm a grown up but I feel like I'm being treated like a child. Look at them (referring to the police) wagging their fingers at the bar staff for trying to sell beer to us. It's ridiculous."
Many bars attempt to please their foreign clientèle by serving them a beer in an alternative receptacle. For example, we were given a Singha beer after it had been transferred into a Sprite bottle. However, it's usually only the long termers that are aware of this 'work around'.
It's not only bars that are affected. Hotels cannot serve you wine with your meal. Restaurants cannot serve alcohol either... it's a complete, nationwide ban.
At least six days out of the next ten days will have alcohol bans and bar closures. It's fair to say that disillusioned holiday makers feel that this is contemptuous treatment of them. Many claimed they would not have come if this had been known before they booked their holiday... and some claimed they would think twice before choosing Thailand next time.
... Maybe that's what Thailand wants.
See also our Thailand alcohol ban forum topic.
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