bars closed today and tomorrow

[Kevin Colts 4-0 :D]

no surpise for me, but maybe for a lot of newbies or tourists (as everybody knows, election is tomorrow, so why close bars today?):

In what is probably the most important and relevant election news for foreign residents of Phuket it has been announced that alcohol will be banned this weekend. No alcohol will be allowed to be sold before and during the election period, said Wisut Romin, Deputy Chief of Phuket Administration and Justice Enhancement Group.
All kinds of alcoholic beverages are prohibited from sale. Entertainment venues will still be allowed to open but the selling of alcohol will not be permitted. The ban will be in force from 6pm on April 1 to 6pm on April 2. Anyone found selling alcohol will be arrested under section 112 of the Election act. The maximum penalty is six months imprisonment, a 10,000 baht fine or both.

as if we farangs in Patong would go into a wild, drunken rampage over elections 1,000 kms away :mad2:

 

[techrockstar]

Believe it, or not, Thai residents in Phuket are allowed to vote, as well

 

[Pompal 09.]

I'm a bit confused here, are the bars still open and non alcoholic beverages are still allowed or are the bars totally shut up!?
I visited one bar in Soi Eric last night they said that they are all closed today and wont open until 00.00 on Sunday midnight!? plahgat

 

[Smoked Ham]

They will be closed.

 

[Zilog32]

Shit!!!
This will be the 2 longest and most boring days this trip!
At least we still got some sun today! plahgat

 

[Abey c]

What about restaurants Are they allowed to serve alcohol with your evening meal ?Not an april fools joke then

 

[forgiven490]

Bars facing Bangla are still open at this moment (17.00) and serve alcohol!
:cheers: plahgat

 

[anonymous?girl]

The ban is from 18:00 onwards... We will see what happens later on.

 

[toilltoft]

my trip last year clashed with the elections..all bars in bkk shut but heard in pattaya you can drink in bars but from mugs so it looks like you drinkin tea!! clever these thais!!

 

[Askonly]

Not too clever if you get caught serving alcohol, unless you wanna go for a vacation to BKK hilton for 6 or so months.

 

[Blah B]

its always just a fine or possible closure (month) if you really abuse a buddha or king day..

They just arrest the manager and then discharge for 10 - 25k down here..

 

[alcor69_69]

Have to respect the law, so Angels closed Sat & Sun night.

 

[Nikki H]

Kev........you dont need to close on Sunday......bars are alowed to sell alcohol from 6pm................So Sunday night will be just normal

Geir

 

[Irrepairable]

No mate .... not allowed to sell until MIDNIGHT Sunday night ..... (the 6pm is tonght - Sat). Thats only about 3 hours or so .... still recovering from last night so dont mind this little break.

 

[Nuge]

Must be a bad surprise for Dawsey and IJ who arrive this weekend .... Especially for IJ, I think, after 10 weeks without an ice cold beer

 

[aronbayarea]

suzy and crazy ago-go will be open not sure about the alcohol. but the girls will be there...hope you open too kev.

 

[Mathan]

Its really confused this year most written reports I have read and the impression of bar owners I was with on Nanai was 6 - 6 closure.. After 6pm election polling is done..

The gazette listed it as 6 - 12 but I think that was the only one..

 

[crtbryn]

Unluckily it is Thailand and there is the law -- and then the law.

I guess everybody knows that by law even on Buddhist holidays bars do NOT have to close; still police will crack really hard down on places that stay open.

I guess they use it as a little reminder who has the power and that they can wield it any time (not a bad bargaining chip when demanding the next round of tea money??).

 

[Suzanne]

Did I see somewhere that crusty said he would be opening faulty towers from 6pm, are u open tonight nicke?

Was looking forward to a beer with me ol mate IJ, even stayed in last night to prepare for a good sess.

 

[j t]

6 months!!! bloody hell didnt know it was that harsh!