Obviously Svein66 you are another from the peanut gallery who has tunnel vision and Thailand can do no wrong, missing the point totally as expected. Where did I refer to myself needing and wanting a drink every day? A typical smart ars-d reply, I am talking about tourists coming for expensive holidays and tourist zones providing there entertainment as you would expect, a lot of people enjoy a drink when on holiday and it should be catered for, its about getting tourists to return again and again if Thailand is to continue as a tourist destination even though it continues to shot itself in the foot over and over. Svein you are obviously retired and living here so take your glasses off and think of the tourists not permanent residents, if possible!

Retired wrote,
and we don't have a vote here, we cannot change things, Just accept them and move on but then I guess in your case its a business thing.
If I wanted life here to be like it is in the west 100% there would be little point in living here and you wouldn't be riding around without a crash helmet for 200 Baht fines (despite the law that is based on safety) :-"[/quote]

It's obviously to me that you don't know ----.
Official fine for no helmet is 5000B, based on safety, my ass, they let you drive away after paying 200B
It's about money! Like everything.
This topic is about forcing things. FORCED NON ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE DAYS.
Not about voting, drinking, having a business.
But you're a happy chappy, so stop writing nonsense and listen to your wife, and stay in your corner and pay that bill.
Because maybe one day you see the other side of the coin, and I wonder how much they have to force on you before you start questioning the system and start thinking for yourself.

And if I want your opinion I'll give it to you, just accept that and move on!!
End of discussion for me, to much excitement for one day

Los Amigos wrote:

Retired wrote: and we don't have a vote here, we cannot change things, Just accept them and move on but then I guess in your case its a business thing.
If I wanted life here to be like it is in the west 100% there would be little point in living here and you wouldn't be riding around without a crash helmet for 200 Baht fines (despite the law that is based on safety) :-"

It's obviously to me that you don't know ****.
Official fine for no helmet is 5000B, based on safety, my ass, they let you drive away after paying 200B
It's about money! Like everything.
This topic is about forcing things. FORCED NON ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE DAYS.
Not about voting, drinking, having a business.
But you're a happy chappy, so stop writing nonsense and listen to your wife, and stay in your corner and pay that bill.
Because maybe one day you see the other side of the coin, and I wonder how much they have to force on you before you start questioning the system and start thinking for yourself.

When I start to question and want to change the rules of a country I Choose to live in then thats the day I will pack my bags, but you keep banging your head against the wall mate, If I hated the rules and laws here as much as some I certainly wouldnt stay!!
And if I want your opinion I'll give it to you, just accept that and move on!!
End of discussion for me, to much excitement for one day

Not a problem in the culture rich, holiday destination of Ban Dung and surrounding Tambons. Just another day with business as usual. --Burp--

Ideally Thai politicians will be emphasizing more what they perceive as the interests of Thais rather than tourists and ex-pats in enacting their liquor laws. This would include a consideration of religious opinions (and other opinions). These kinds of laws evolve hopefully in response to the electorate's views and evidence of the relative successes and failures of the law. Seems Ban Dung is the destination on the alcohol free days.

Am I missing something here?

When did Buddha ever say "thou shalt not drink alcohol" on my special days?

Probably at the same time as Jesus Christ was turning water into wine and a POLITICIAN or POLICE CHIEF in UK was saying you can't open the pub on Sundays and Xmas/Easter etc because "I THINK" THAT'S WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN

I suggest stocking the fridge the day before, or getting the win the day before, and perhaps having a picnic or a quiet Valentine's Day at home.
In Nong Khai there were a few venues selling beer in the daytime hours, but everything seemed coca cola and water at night.
A few bars kept their lights out and served behind mostly closed doors.
It's a strange contradiction to Christmas or Easter, where alcohol is absolutely necessary in the western world.

Lord Buddha didn't. I used to frequently go to a Buddhist temple linked to Ajahn Chah in farangland, Sometimes we'd take the 5 precepts (one being not to drink alcohol). Now being westerners taking this precept concerned the alcohol drinkers including me.

The then abbot, a westerner, who had been a monk around 15 to 20 years, said just abstain from alcohol on the days we actually took the precepts. I guess he reasoned it was more important to take the precepts than not just because we sometimes consumed alcohol. I think the Buddha and Buddhism is a practical religion. May be another abbot might have taken a different approach.

The rules for monks were, of course, different. Their Saturday nights were spent at the monastery sitting on the floor trying to transcend the shxt we were enjoying or enduring down at the pub.

GT93 wrote:Lord Buddha didn't. I used to frequently go to a Buddhist temple linked to Ajahn Chah in farangland, Sometimes we'd take the 5 precepts (one being not to drink alcohol). Now being westerners taking this precept concerned the alcohol drinkers including me.

The then abbot, a westerner, who had been a monk around 15 to 20 years, said just abstain from alcohol on the days we actually took the precepts. I guess he reasoned it was more important to take the precepts than not just because we sometimes consumed alcohol. I think the Buddha and Buddhism is a practical religion. May be another abbot might have taken a different approach.

The rules for monks were, of course, different. Their Saturday nights were spent at the monastery sitting on the floor trying to transcend the shxt we were enjoying or enduring down at the pub.

Sounds like a very sensible Abbot GT93

I'm not sure what the Lord Buddha would have thought, if he knew that people were being told that they "had to do something" or "could not do something" in his name
I'm pretty sure he would have wanted people to look within themselves and make their own descisions

Yes, but I think he would have offered them some words to consider. I agree that the Buddha doesn't say you have to do or not do certain things. That wouldn't be his approach.

But I think he'd want to try and sell what the consequences of certain actions or thoughts are likely to be. I have always found Buddhism difficult to understand and I might be misinterpreting the old Indian.

Udon Map wrote: I was surprised to find out a few months ago that you can't buy alcohol until 5:00 in the afternoon. What's that about?

That is not strictly true.
The rule is 11.00am till 2.00pm & then 5.00pm until (I think) Midnight.
However I think that only absolutely applies to 7/11
The large supermarkets will allow bulk (wholesale) buying of alcohol between 2.00pm & 5.00pm. Bulk is interpreted as something like a case of large bottles, plus 3 extra bottles.
If a place is regarded as a wholeseller rather than a retailer then the hours also do not apply.

I believe that Mom & Pop stores are not part of this deal, it only applies to larger retailers. I was told that was enshrined in the law but would not swear to it... However, from experience, the practicality is that Mom & Pop certainly have little issue selling alcohol at any time of the day...

Every time a non alcohol day is announced this same discussion keeps coming up and I suppose it will continue for all eternity as I doubt Thailand will ever change the law.

In Topps I believe that you have to go to the Customer Service Desk first in order to bulk buy 'out of hours'. I don't think that you can just turn up at the till with it & pay & go.

In Makro & Tesco you can bulk buy at any time. Bulk buy is classed as at least 10 liters or 2 cases of beer.

BobHelm wrote:In Topps I believe that you have to go to the Customer Service Desk first in order to bulk buy 'out of hours'. I don't think that you can just turn up at the till with it & pay & go.

I believe you have to do this as the check out till is programmed not to accept alcohol sales during those times.
Once I arrived at the Tesco checkout at 14.00, by my phone time, with a bottle of vodka. I tried using my boyish charm to sweet talk the cashier as let's face it my days of being mistaken for an under aged Thai schoolboy are over and was told she literally couldn't scan it through as it was 14.00. "It no work" were more the words used as she tried to scan it through a few times in demonstration.

If I want booze on Buddhist or National holidays my local mom n pop shop always oblige and use a small black plastic bin bag to hide the "evidence" whilst I ***** my way home. A nice get around Thai style.
.

when i was living in phon phisai a few years back i lived across the street from the 7/11 when i wanted booze out of
hours the thai lady would just let me take it then come back and pay when the till alowed booze sales ,
i,m sure no body would let you do that in udon .

When and if a Day of Alcohol banned is coming over the horizon, one buys in advance. it is NOT rocket science neither do you need a degree, just a little bit of foresight and planning, Thais have neither but judging by some of the posters neither do they.

Khun Paul wrote:When and if a Day of Alcohol banned is coming over the horizon, one buys in advance. it is NOT rocket science neither do you need a degree, just a little bit of foresight and planning, Thais have neither but judging by some of the posters neither do they.

More bigotry.