Alcohol free Songkran this year

[Emanuel E]

I do laugh/cringe when I see the Thai alcohol laws. I was at Tesco Lotus a couple of days ago to buy a couple of bottles of beer at 4.50pm. Obviously they wouldn't let me, due to the law whose aim is to stop children drinking. I'm 44 and look it- so why not just make sure 24/7 you don't allow kids to buy alcohol, and let us old fogeys buy it when we want. It is the same here with the ban over songkran- why not allow alcohol sales but reinforce the drink driving. I just feel sorry for the bars, we'll just buy our beer the day before. TIT

 

[Rush is Right]

Day and night, but hotel restaurants can still serve drinks.

 

[LADY~S]

kind of sucks than......looks like no more enjoying sitting at a bar drinking and chatting with ladies..huh!!! feel like delaying the trip by 3 days

 

[Door Knob.]

if this is the case & bars are closed during songkran ?? i'll probably will wait till its over b4 heading 2 phuket/patong

 

[Adelle]

this will be my first songkran and am looking forward to it..... i can understand what they mean.... i dont know if there is too much trouble with people getting angry and all and had enough of copping it... But it will keep people more in control i guess....

With or without im still gona have my fun.....

 

[Mirroboy Nick]

SONGKRAN FESTIVAL
Govt in two minds over alcohol sales during Songkran

BANGKOK: -- The Public Health Ministry yesterday issued two options for alcohol consumption during the Songkran Festival from April 12 to 14.

Deputy public health minister Manit Nopamornbodi said the ministerial executives had come up with two ideas: ban all sale of alcohol during the entire period; or ban sale at stores but allow restaurants, pubs and hotels with an Excise Department permit to serve booze from 6pm to midnight.

The ministry will soon submit a report to the National Committee for Alcohol Consumption Control Policy for a final say, he added.

Disease Control Department chief Somchai Chakrabhand said the ministry came up with these options after listening to all sides, including anti-alcohol groups, academics, manufacturers and business operators. The idea was to control the impact of drinking rather than prohibit it altogether, he said, though allowing booze to be sold at convenience stores or supermarkets will only encourage drunk driving, he added.

Public Health Minister Witthaya Kaewparadai, who presided over the meeting, said the ministry wanted to save lives and reduce road accidents during the festival, and that it was not siding with manufacturers, traders or the anti-alcohol groups.

Stop Drink Network coordinator Khamron Chudecha said it was unacceptable for the Public Health Ministry to leave such loopholes in its guidelines, because the ministry's first duty is to protect the public, not favour businesses. He said the network would rally next week to call on Deputy PM Sanan Kachornprasart, chairman of the National Committee for Alcohol Consumption Control Policy, to clarify the issue.

-- The Nation 2009-03-12

 

[dinogirl69]

What an abortion of a second week I'm going to have.

They're not really going to stop selling booze for three whole days are they?? ARE THEY??

 

[The Coolest Guy]

this will be my 1st songkran as well ,i believe it goes for a few days-
so with this alcohol ban do bars have to be closed for the duration of songkran 2/3 days ??

 

[jack h]

Let them procrastinate. They probably won't come to a decision until the week after.

 

[Socrates]

Nicke or any other bar owners - are you closed during this perid? some say yes others say NO, you are the best ppl to ask

 

[Pompal 09.]

This is Thailand !

There are rules and people pay good money to break ,em!
You will NOT be arrested for walking around drinking, (cover your drink!) the shops/bars will be ordered for the 13th certainly not to sell alcohol, Im not 100% sure but I cant see em doing so for 3 days as there is only 1 official Songkran Day.
Even on that day, the hotels and restaurants will still sell it. Be prepared to eat 'in house' for 3 days or sit wet in the restaurant of your choice...
If you have to have a lady for the day, organize it the day before, and remember that the day will finsih at 12pm, about the time a lot of you will be fixing on going out for the evening!
You will not get soaked in restaurants...Thais value food way to much for that to happen...

Tips for enjoying Songkran Day.
Sort a more than adequate amount of cash out the day before, then you wont need to visit the ATM/ money changer.The banks will be closed.
Stock your minibar fridge up, now you wont run out of grog.
Acquire your super soaker as early as possible, prices skyrocket on the day for some reason?
Leave any wetables in your room, take out only cash, phone and if you must , a plastic card ALL in a plastic bag ....Ive even seen a Bangla Cop with his gun in a plastic bag...5555
AVOID ingesting the water in ALL cases. The thais arent gonna waste good clean drinking water on dousing you!! Ear and eye infections are easy to contract, my trusty speedo swimming goggles were invaluable last year, some water can hit you at great force.This year Im considering 'Blutack' ear plugs as well as I had a young lady fire a water pistol straight down me earol last year.
Worn out thongs (flip flops) are not adequate footwear for the slippery conditions, nor fleeing a posse of well armed drunken Bgs either.
An open helmet with a large drop down visor would be a useful 'borrow'.
Forget about a cheap raincoat, it just makes you more of a target.
Have plenty of changes of clothes available in yer loom and a jury rigged clothes line would come in handy....
Be prepared for ice filled water, and Prickly Heat powder slapped on you (which when wet kinda burns)
BE CAREFUL OUT THERE PEOPLE!!!

 

[Cheesman]

Some very valuable info Mai Chob, has any one ever been sick before from the bad water being trown around? It will be my first songkran and I am looking forward to it, I have stocked up on boardies and t-shirts for the occasion.
Does the water fights keep on strong into the night or do you get some grace in the evening to enjoy a beer or four?

 

[Bill P]

kamala crawl Songkran night!!!!!.....I need to see some big brown nipples!!!

ermm........and no not Khun danpah's!!!

and wear yer best loud (nipple hiding) shirt!!!

 

[pinkprincess]

You plan to waste beer by spraying it around at everyone that explains you board name.

 

[Pedro]

It slows down in the evening in that Bangla is not a closed to traffic free 'free for all ' like midday BUT you will still be soaked.
I know someone who got an eye infection and have heard of others with stomach bugs after.
I should add that old people should NOT be targetted, very poor form as they are well and truly sick of it, ladies with babies also.
Go easy on little kids as well, only 'open up' on em if hey shoot first, and then be gentle!!
For effective crossfire coverage, team up.
Nicke, Saffa and me had a full hour of fun picking off tall falangs all at the same time, a withering barrage of triple bursts of fire (well water!) in short barrages from behind the Thai melee on the footpath and road..
The call would go out, "FALANG, YELLOW HAT, 11OCLOCK!!" and the poor bast@ard wouldnt know what hit him....a great laugh.
Munitions can get in short supply late in the day, a plastic bottle can be useful then, better still, 2 tanks in a backpack rule the day....
I cant quite explain how fullon it is on Bangla! Massmoose, who used a divers housing on his camera , posted some great shots from last year...search it.

 

[TruthTeller]

From a few years ago when the Thais pulled out the really BIG guns.

 

[Pompal 09.]

Thanks for the info Mai Chob. Unfortunately we're self-catering so using the hotel bar isn't really an option. Do beach shacks that sell food qualify as restaurants or are they just "bars that happen to do food" (and therefore won't be allowed to sell booze)?

 

[Christopher H]

Sick ?? Try typhoid for weeks !! Was in a bad way as single then and no one taking care of me with a real illness, one point I passed out and didnt come round or remember anything anyway for 36 hours.. Dragged my carcass to a hospital when I realized how long I had been spun out for.

As for eye ear throat etc the week after a good % of people have sniffles, sore throats, ear infections etc etc etc.. I mean what do you expect when ya think about it.

 

[cobaltqueen478]

As TV states it, the ban is only for Thais, foreigners can still buy?????

 

[Pompal 09.]

On the ground here. Im not aware of any bans....so dunno Snakey but a flourishing black market will capitalize for sure, pst there prime ladies will have 'coolers everywhere and the expensive hotel bars will be full of wet folk...555