Thailand - Two W/E's Alcohol Ban

Thailand's citizens and tourists can now satisfy their thirst as the two week-ends' alcohol ban was lifted at midnight on the 23rd December - high season for visitors.

Finally, bars, restaurants and hotels can now get back to satisfying tourists' desires for a glass of wine, a bottle of beer or a pre-dinner cocktail without the fear of the heavy hand of the law descending.

The alcohol ban has been the cause of much grousing on the part of both locals and tourists, not to mention the bar owners, restaurants owners and hotel managers who saw their taking plumet over two of the high season week-ends. Most bars were forced to close, as without customers to serve, what was the point.

Fines were draconian. The fine for breaking the non-drinking law was 3 months immediate imprisonment plus about 1500 Euro fine - which would break most small businesses here, especially in the high season. Imprisonment now until March would mean their livlihood gone most probably.

Of course, there were places that broke the law. I know of one establishment where it was possible to have campari and soda in a tea-cup, but only this one drink, because it looked like bush tea, and other people told me of having wine served at some establishments who had "good relations" with the police. However, most places stuck by the rules and it was a quiet week-end.

Now that the election is over and the outcome nearly decided, the fear is that conflict may arise due to the dislike the two main parties' supporters have for each other. The man who claims he will be the next Prime Minister, the leader of the PPP party, Khun Samak Sundaraavej, is still under investigation from his time as Governor of Bangkok two years ago. The fear that hangs over everything, is that the military will have to intervene and seize power again. Next time they may not go so quietly.