Dry Songkran

[thrillbill]

So will this REALLY be enforced during Songkran?

News ┬╗ Local News

Alcohol may be banned for Songkran
By: Bangkokpost.com
Published: 13/02/2009 at 07:47

PM Public Health Minister Witthaya Kaewparadai is at odds with his deputy over the banning of alcohol sales during Songkran this year.

Mr Witthaya on Friday said he wanted to be certain that any regulations announced for curbing alcohol sales during long holidays would not affect the hotel industry.

"I don't want the anti-alcohol campaign to worsen the tourism industry,'' he said.

But his deputy Manit Nopamornbodee fully supported such a ban, saying the campaign has to be undertaken in a bid to reduce deaths and road accidents.

Mr Witthaya said he would discuss the issue with his deputy before making any decision on alcohol regulations. He would also listen to the Alcohol Watch Network's proposal aimed at reducing the number of road accidents during long weekends.

Mr Manit, who oversees the anti-drink-driving campaign, earlier said the sale of alcohol would be prohibited during Songkran holidays.

The official holiday for Songkran is between April 13 and April 15.

Alcohol deprivation is trivial beside the sheer bad manners of being frequently attacked because one is a foreigner.

[x in pattaya]

Alcohol deprivation is trivial beside the sheer bad manners of being frequently attacked because one is a foreigner.

Presumably this relates specifically to Songkran rather than some campaign of physical abuse to which you find yourself regularly subjected?

While I try to limit the amount of time I'm out and about in Pattaya during Songkran, it seems that people get drenched without regard to race, creed or national origin. If anything, the ones who are most responsible for the relentless attacking tend to be farang, generally those who are well & truly inebriated and especially those positioned along Beach Rd.

Alcohol deprivation is trivial beside the sheer bad manners of being frequently attacked because one is a foreigner.

Presumably this relates specifically to Songkran rather than some campaign of physical abuse to which you find yourself regularly subjected?

While I try to limit the amount of time I'm out and about in Pattaya during Songkran, it seems that people get drenched without regard to race, creed or national origin. If anything, the ones who are most responsible for the relentless attacking tend to be farang, generally those who are well & truly inebriated and especially those positioned along Beach Rd.

Sorry. I didn't realise that discussion on this board is limited to Pattaya. My perception and experiences of Songkran extends beyond Pattaya and I do perceive that many Thais seem to think they gain greater merit for soaking Farang.

Anyway, It's not an experience I will be widening; there is no way, I will ever spend Songkran in Thailand again.

[x in pattaya]

Sorry. I didn't realise that discussion on this board is limited to Pattaya.
Of course it's not limited to Pattaya. I was merely sharing my observations from Pattaya where I experience Songkran each year. Songkran in Pattaya is generally considered to be more extreme than elsewhere.



My perception and experiences of Songkran extends beyond Pattaya and I do perceive that many Thais seem to think they gain greater merit for soaking Farang.

Anyway, It's not an experience I will be widening; there is no way, I will ever spend Songkran in Thailand again.

Awww. Why don't you make a list of all the things about Thailand that offend your sensibilities. I see a new TAT campaign in the making! :salute:

I guess some foreigners are more foreign than others.

Awww. Why don't you make a list of all the things about Thailand that offend your sensibilities. I see a new TAT campaign in the making! :salute:



I have.

[quiet1]

"Songkran" = that one time of the year that my 91-year old mother in America can be assured of my visit for at least a week.

[thrillbill]

... I think the irritation of Songkran depends if 1) you are here for the first time as a tourist 2) what city you are staying. I can handle a couple days of Songkran (not working then) but in Pattaya (live here because of job) it lasts for over a week--so it gets a bit tiring to walk everywhere for over a week and get "baptised" by some laughing Thai or farang. So, I usually fly out of LOS and go elsewhere.

The problem with highway deaths during Songkran is due to drunks driving on the road and idiot bystanders who throw water at cyclists. Most (not all) of these injuries and deaths are with the Thai population. True, the vacationing farangs are also throwing water and acting like idiots but (the majority) would be on foot, not driving a car.

I have 6 weeks today and i be in LOS ...I be in Phuket for the songkran
i never been in thailand while it there songkran
this Post sounds like a warning

[krobbie]

I also have yet to experience Songkran. I look forward to reading the posts mid March though. They consistently make my month due to the varying protestations/joy from all.

IMHO I would think it would be a better idea to have more of a crackdown on people drink-driving or acting in a dangerous fashion by throwing water at motorised transport, especially motocy riders.

Limiting alcohol sales just discourages tourism even more. It's not just the fact that you can't but alcohol at your local bar. The point here is ... it is enforced prohibition. With so many religious and other auspicious alcohol free days (prohibition) it is just one more trap that the unwary traveler may fall into. Yet another reason NOT to spend money in Thailand.

I myself am not bothered much as I am just happy with tea or gingerale these days and therefore not open to all sorts of abuse from people saying "can't you go without for 3 days". Not the point. Choice should always be with the individual, which is why we choose democracy ... IMHO.

Cheers
krobbie

[Patexpat]

Agree with ThrillBill on this one - as a business owner in Pattaya I close for the week as it is impossible for me to carry on my type of business with drunken falangs throwing water everywhere. The three days celebration in Phuket or ChiangMai is much more to my personal taste, for the celebrations in Pattaya are NOT fun unless you area tourist or newbie.

Banning alcohol of course is NOT a solution to this drunken behaviour as you can still get beer and whisky from mam and pop type shops at any time, whilst the negative effect on what tourism is left would be one more knife in the Thai economy that is already in intensive care.

Having said that, whilst I cower in the safety of my home for most of Songkran I do venture out on the last day. meet up with Thai and falang friends in Jomtien and have a whale of a time ... and SO many cute boys soaked to the skin !!! :sunny:

[colmx]

Just booked my flights for my next trip to Thailand...
52 days togo... just in time for songkran!

This will be my 6th songkran... for me every year gets better and better :thumbright: :thumbleft:

As others have posted having an alcohol ban will have no affect... people will just stock up in advance or "persuade" some shopkeepers to sell to them...

Just booked my flights for my next trip to Thailand...
52 days togo... just in time for songkran!

This will be my 6th songkran... for me every year gets better and better :thumbright: :thumbleft:

As others have posted having an alcohol ban will have no affect... people will just stock up in advance or "persuade" some shopkeepers to sell to them...
Does this mean the Bars are closed over the songkran

[DamienZ]

Alcohol deprivation is trivial beside the sheer bad manners of being frequently attacked because one is a foreigner.

Presumably this relates specifically to Songkran rather than some campaign of physical abuse to which you find yourself regularly subjected?

While I try to limit the amount of time I'm out and about in Pattaya during Songkran, it seems that people get drenched without regard to race, creed or national origin. If anything, the ones who are most responsible for the relentless attacking tend to be farang, generally those who are well & truly inebriated and especially those positioned along Beach Rd.

Sorry. I didn't realise that discussion on this board is limited to Pattaya.
My perception and experiences of Songkran extends beyond Pattaya and I do perceive that many Thais seem to think they gain greater merit for soaking Farang.

Anyway, It's not an experience I will be widening; there is no way, I will ever spend Songkran in Thailand again.
Don't take it personally...but your going to get wet! Tum from Chiang Mai

I was thinking about how F#*king hot it's going to be again this year and should I bother at all...Why?
At the last minute I found myself making arrangements to my surprise and dismay, and it's done. I will again be soaking up the brilliant, hot, April sun around the moat in beautiful Chiang Mai, a place I truly love.
I think I had so much fun during Songkran last year that I don't recall any inconvenience there might have been from having buckets of ice cold water thrown on me in near 100F heat.
I also felt truly welcomed by the Thai people in the spirit of friendship and brotherhood. There was food-lots of food, fun, and water everywhere..it was a blast! And lots of farang getting into the spirit and having as much fun as anyone there. It all brings a smile to my lips as I think about it now....but that's me.
As well as being soaked, which was very refreshing, there were many Thai that came up behind me and gently poured lustral waters over my shoulders and head, gently whispering in my ear and wishing me a happy Songkran-a new year, a chance to start anew and wash away our mistakes from the previous year. What a marvelous thought!
My wish for you this New Year is that you do not take Songkran and the spirit of sanook so personally...because it isn't really.
Just good clean fun! :happy7:

[pong]

not a new thng-and als applies to the normal new year at 1/1. its aimed to reduce the DEATH toll on the road carnage in this yearly exodus run to get home. So then that se-hwen (7-11 for the nonThai speaking) cannot sell alco-and thus a nice lady sets up shop beside it at the gaspump to cash in). same as when I get to buy bia Leo for BF when 7 cannot sell-thats 4 mts furher on and 1 bt cheaper!

I also have yet to experience Songkran in Phuket 2 years ago
I now live in Pattaya ( not for much longer )
I will be in the uk for Songkran thank god, I don't know anyone that likes it.

It's madness no alcohol how insane is that more reasons why many people are selling up and getting out

The bars are a ripe off boys town is expensive

Stop all children from going on moterbikes with or without helmets

More police to stop and test drivers for alcohol and drugs.

Stop police doing bad thing in pattaya we have no trust in them to help if we have problems
I believe all go go bars need to be closed, we don"t need them
plus all the lady on the beach looks so bad who is going to come with here with family's to pattaya and let them see all the sex industry.

stop shops selling porn dvd's on the beach road , so open I don't want my kids seeing this
strange because porn Is is illegal in Thailand.
I have a 24 years Daughter but she would never come to pattaya, we both love Thailand but not Pattaya
The days of falange chucking money away are coming to an end for the Thai's
I really don't think they watch the news
anywway I'm having a bad pattaya day I'm pissed of at feeling like an ANT to Thai's and them so lazy

they had it to good for us for to long
Oh my they might have to get out of bed in the day time and get a dam job

[x in pattaya]

is that more reasons why many people are selling up and getting out



I can only wish more people would sell up and get out. Unfortunately when someone sells up, someone else buys up to replace him and the sounds of remodeling, refurbishing and new construction fill the air, only slightly muffled by the shuffling flip-flops of the unwashed masses filling the streets.