No booze in Pattaya until April 30

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No booze in Pattaya until April 30

Post by Gaybutton »

Chonburi Governor bans all alcohol sales, drinking outside, transportation of alcohol until April 30

By Adam Judd

Saturday, 11 April 2020

The Chonburi Governor has released an order tonight stating that all alcohol sales are banned until April 30th in Chonburi province, which includes Pattaya.

The order also includes drinking outside which is firmly against the law in any outside locations.

Additionally, it also bans supply shops and transportation of alcohol in the province during the dates to avoid smaller shops or individuals attempting to sell out of normal license procedures.

This is designed to encourage social distancing and stop people from gathering for Songkran or in public areas.

Being caught breaking these rules, including having a drink outside, can result in fines of up to 100,000 baht and up to 1 year in jail under the emergency decree in place to stop Covid19. The order is effective immediately.

https://thepattayanews.com/2020/04/11/c ... -april-30/
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Re: No booze in Pattaya until April 30

Post by Trongpai »

Ch 3 just reported 47 provinces are dry as of NOW. 29 provinces are left wet. The closest one to Bangkok is about an hour and a half drive north. 47 bottles of beer on the wall if one if those bottles.......

There's a mom-n-pop store in our neighborhood off the main road that usually sells booze all the time and during the usual government imposed prohibitions. This ban is different and there's a sign on the door to not even think of asking about buying beer.

https://reason.com/2018/01/16/3-lessons ... h-started/

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Re: No booze in Pattaya until April 30

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Thailand has now banned alcohol throughout the entire country. Different provinces will allow alcohol again on different dates, but none until what would have been Songkran is over.
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Re: No booze in Pattaya until April 30

Post by Gaybutton »

We're only a few days away from April 30. If the alcohol ban is over on that date, I definitely will not be driving on the 30th or May 1. The BiB will probably have a field day dealing with all the drunk drivers.

Why do I think it will be like the night Prohibition ended in the USA in 1933?
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Re: No booze in Pattaya until April 30

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Booze industry urges govt to lift prohibition

Apr 27, 2020

Alcohol-industry organisations have asked the prime minister to lift the ban on selling alcohol, imposed as part of measures to curb the spread of Covid-19. The request came in a proposal from seven organisations – led by the Thai Fruit Wine and Local Spirit Producer Association, Thailand Bartender Association, and Thai Wine Association – to ease alcohol-related restrictions.

The alcohol associations asked the government not to prolong the prohibition on sales beyond April 30, and allow beer and liquor to be sold via take-away and delivery services.

They also asked the government to ease the tax burden and help manage the destruction of spoiled liquor amid the Covid-19 crisis, when entertainment venues have been closed.

Meanwhile the associations want the government to lift the ban on the wholesale trade of alcohol, which they said is preventing producers from transporting their products to retailers where stocks can be safely stored in refrigerated conditions.

They also asked authorities to inform them in advance before announcing future alcohol-related orders.

The Excise Department has collected Bt132.236 billion in tax on alcohol so far this year, including Bt70.090 billion from beer and Bt62.146 billion from liquor.

https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30386856
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Thai Government says no decision yet on suggestions of lifting of alcohol sales bans as Public Health Ministry says ban has been successful for stopping gatherings

By Adam Judd

Tuesday, 28 April 2020

The Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration or CCSA hasn’t agreed to postpone holidays or reopen businesses in May as of yet and will be addressing those issues at a meeting later today, Tuesday, with the Thai Cabinet. However, it is another issue…the controversial alcohol sales ban in effect since Songkran in every province country wide…that is drawing the most attention.

Multiple alcohol beverage organizations and manufacturers have also asked the government to either lift the current alcohol sales ban or at the very least allow limited purchase times and delivery in effect in every province in Thailand.

The CCSA noted that the ban is Provincial and instituted by the Governor’s, however came at the strong recommendations of the Ministry of the Interior and the CCSA over the Songkran period.

The CCSA along with several Governor’s have stated that they believe the ban on sales of alcohol has significantly helped reduce gatherings, crime and accidents during this period. The purpose of the ban is to discourage social gatherings and private parties which are often centered around alcohol, according to the CCSA.

The CCSA has not officially considered a proposal from liquor manufacturers and sellers to relax the present liquor ban. The proposal asks for the introduction of sales via delivery only between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m., or take away purchases only. It is unclear if they will do so at the Cabinet Meeting.

The Public Health Ministry, led by Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, meanwhile, made comments yesterday afternoon following the requests from the alcohol industry to lift the ban that it was “unlikely” to be lifted as it the effects on stopping parties and gatherings were in alignment with reducing the spread of Covid-19.

Further decisions on any potential lifting of the alcohol sales ban will likely come further in the week after any official recommendations from the CCSA to Provincial Governors.

https://thepattayanews.com/2020/04/28/t ... atherings/
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Re: No booze in Pattaya until April 30

Post by Trongpai »

Thai TV news channel 32 is reporting now that the nation wide alcohol ban will NOT be lifted on 01 May. The end date was not specified.

Update: 1355hrs now reporting an anticipated end date of 01 June.
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Re: No booze in Pattaya until April 30

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Thailand stands firm on alcohol sales ban as many social media users angered over decision, Alcohol Beverage Associations displeased

By Adam Judd

Friday, 1 May 2020

Thailand made the decision late Wednesday night to enact a section of the Emergency Decree that enabled all current issued orders to control the spread of the Covid-19 Coronavirus by Provincial Governor’s to stand past their expiration date, most May 1. This included the decision made in every province to ban alcohol sales. Thailand has now issued regulations and guidelines for each province to follow to slowly ease restrictions and re-open businesses-but alcohol sales were not one of the initial measures eased.

The alcohol sales ban was originally made by provinces in early to mid April and many government officials gave an original reason that the ban was to stop people from potentially partying or celebrating the popular Songkran festival, which is the Thai New Year. Despite the holiday formally being postponed and all events cancelled, the concern was still a prominent one to many leaders and every Governor in the country ended up banning the sales of alcohol, most only to the end of Songkran.

As Songkran ended however, many provinces extended the ban to the end of May, stating that there were concerns that allowing the sales of alcohol would cause people to go out and gather, socialize and party. Opponents of allowing the sales of alcohol pointed to many public stories of private house and bar parties being busted and stories of people being arrested drunk after curfew and drinking in public spaces like parks and beaches. Those opposed supported the government’s statement that by banning alcohol sales, parties and gatherings that could potentially spread the virus would be lessened or eliminated. Opponents also said that if some provinces allowed sales of alcohol people would cross from one province to another to purchase which is against the government’s current goal of discouraging travel.

Some opponents also said that by banning the sales of alcohol it ensured the millions of Thai people out of work did not waste or spend their money on liquor, which is not essential according to them, and instead spend it only on food and essentials, stating there were concerns some people would spend their entire 5,000 baht in financial aid given to the unemployed by the Thai Government on liquor. Finally, several opponents said that since bars and entertainment venues are still banned but restaurants are going to be allowed to open shortly, there was concern that even if restaurants were “told” not to sell alcohol people would still visit establishments that were primarily bars but sold a small selection of food to drink, pointing to examples in Pattaya after bars were closed but restaurants were not in late March.

Thailand, as an entire country, reported six cases of the Covid-19 Coronavirus yesterday, five of them in the deep South, Yala, near the border to Malaysia. The number of cases of Covid-19 have been steadily dropping for weeks due to tough government rules and restrictions such as nightly curfews, the alcohol ban, bans on international flights, closures of most businesses that were not deemed essential, domestic travel discouragement and other various measures.

Supporters of ending the alcohol sales ban state on social media that people will gather and socialize, especially around food, regardless of an alcohol ban. Many stated that a long term ban would also encourage illegal sales and potentially cause a “black market” to form. Supporters also said online that arguments about people spending money on liquor were null and void as an adult had the ability to decide for themselves what to spend their money on. Finally, the most common statement among those who support lifting the ban is that banning the sales of alcohol when the vast, vast majority of people simply want to drink at home, have a quiet drink with dinner or watching a movie vs. a small minority that drew headlines by throwing parties was not fair to the majority of responsible adults. There was also some concern on the health and mental issues of ending alcohol for long term alcoholics.

The Alcohol Beverage Associations which represent most of the major alcohol companies in Thailand have stated repeatedly they are disappointed with the decision of the Thai Government to continue the ban on sales of alcohol, which will continue at least until the current scheduled end of the Emergency Decree in May. The Alcohol Beverage Associations pointed out large amounts of product and stock that would expire and be unable to be sold, causing millions of baht of loss, to both private businesses and the alcohol companies, stating that adding this loss on top of force business closures to the entertainment and beverage industry was unacceptable for business owners who were already struggling. A much discussed two day “gap” was discussed to allow the Associations to sell old stock and for drinkers to “stock up” but was rejected by the Government.

The Covid19 Center for Situation Administration, or CCSA, spokesman Dr. Taweesin Visanuyothin stated yesterday at a government press conference that the risk of people gathering and socializing over alcohol was too great to risk allowing sales for the majority at this time.

The Permanent Minister of the Interior, Chatchai Promlert, told the press yesterday the alcohol ban would remain in effect until at least May 31. He stated that the ban of alcohol sales was “critical” to contain the Covid-19 virus nationwide.

Finally, Gen Somsak Rungsita, secretary-general of the National Security Council acting in his capacity as the head of the central coordination office of the CCSA, told the press today that the National Security Council would be ensuring every province in the country strictly followed the orders of not allowing the sales of alcohol and that the National Security Council agreed it was critical to stopping the spread of Covid-19. In the next several days he stated that the National Security Council would be speaking to each Provincial governor in turn to ensure they understood the importance of the alcohol sales ban.

The Government has made it clear on several occasions that the decision on the alcohol sales ban is not a matter of public opinion on the issue, in which the majority seems heavily against the decision, but rather protecting the health of the nation and potential spread of the Covid-19 Coronavirus.

https://thepattayanews.com/2020/05/01/t ... ispleased/
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Re: No booze in Pattaya until April 30

Post by Trongpai »

Ch 34 HD Thai news TV is reporting now that the ban will now be lifted nation wide on 3 May for the sale of alcohol from stores but not in restaurants. The governors in the provinces have the option to lift or restrict the sale and consumption of alcohol as they see fit.

I'm surprised that the Thai AUTHORITIES did a reversal in this given the reported posturing with out losing face. Perhaps there's hope for those 80 year old om brays who were playing cards in Pattaya. That is if anyone of them are still alive.
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Re: No booze in Pattaya until April 30

Post by Gaybutton »

Trongpai wrote: Fri May 01, 2020 7:14 pm TV is reporting now that the ban will now be lifted nation wide on 3 May for the sale of alcohol from stores but not in restaurants.
Huh? People will be able to buy alcohol in stores, but not in restaurants? I'm trying to make sense out of that - and I'm failing . . .
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Re: No booze in Pattaya until April 30

Post by gerefan »

Gaybutton wrote: Fri May 01, 2020 7:30 pm People will be able to buy alcohol in stores, but not in restaurants? I'm trying to make sense out of that - and I'm failing . . .
Allow me...
Police found, at the beginning of this crisis, that people were congregating in restaurants and using them as pubs. In other words ordering a meal and staying for hours afterwards drinking.

They obviously want to avoid this again as anti-social distancing is still in force.
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