Guest wowpow Posted December 8, 2007 Posted December 8, 2007 I am not sure how the end of the heading got mangled into incomprehensibility but it has and I cannot change it. The General Election is on Sunday 23rd December which will be a public holiday - as is 24th December ( yes Christmas Eve! ) to allow people to travel back from their homes where they have to go to vote ( Shades of Mary and Joseph having to go to Bethlehem ). ATMs will be working. If you need to cash any travel checks, do it in plenty of time. Presumably the banks at the airports will be open. IF - yes it's a BIG IF - things go as usual - bars will close at midnight on Saturday 22nd and probably re-open after the polls, mid evening 8 - 9 p.m. on Sunday 23rd. On the Monday 24th banks and govt offices will closed and probably Embassies. After the astonishing situation in Pattaya of the King's Birthday closures by the Police in contravention of the request that they be open by The Palace and after they were open last year on H M's birthday anything could happen My thoughts are that: 21st and 22nd: buses, planes and trains will be very busy with Thais going home to vote. Expect bars to close early on 22nd. Stock up with cash to cover the next couple of days. With the Christmas rush ATM's can run out of cash. Small shops and market stalls may close. 23rd Election Day, Banks and Govt Offices closed but shops and restaurants open. Bars should be open as usual in the evening as the polls finish at 5 p.m. 24th Public Holiday, Banks and Govt offices closed and probably Embassies. Transports will be very busy with the Christmas rush and Thais returning to work after voting. 25th Christmas Day is not a holiday in Thailand and things should be open as usual but many Embassies will close. If anyone has more information on events please advise. Quote
Guest gwm4sian Posted December 12, 2007 Posted December 12, 2007 What about this coming weekend? 13/14th. I heard that bars would also be closed then for the advanced voting. Anyone know if this is correct? Quote
Guest wowpow Posted December 13, 2007 Posted December 13, 2007 BANGKOK: -- No alcohol will be served to expats, tourists or local residents in bars and restaurants over the next two weekends nationwide due to the oncoming election. he first dry days will be 14, 15 and 16 December, pre-election days for a few million Thais who registered to vote early. Thaivisa has been informed that no alcohol is allowed to be served nationwide between Friday 14th at 6pm until Sunday 16th at midnight. Elections on the 23rd will mean no alcohol will be sold from 6pm on the 22nd till midnight on the 23rd of December. Practically this means two or three dry days in the two weekends ahead, although some tourist areas tend to be lenient once it's past 7pm on election day. Please be aware that local rules could apply. Big hotels are not likely to be affected. --thaivisa.com 2007-12-13 http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=158328 Could be serious for Jomtien International Streetparty and Topman openings Quote
Guest painai Posted December 13, 2007 Posted December 13, 2007 According to my source from a prominent gay bar, the bars in Boyztown WILL be open Dec. 14, 15, 16, however alcohol will not be served. Quote
Gaybutton Posted December 13, 2007 Posted December 13, 2007 alcohol will not be served. At my age, a prune juice or Pepto Bismol on the rocks would be perfectly adequate. Quote
Gaybutton Posted December 15, 2007 Posted December 15, 2007 Last night (Friday) I received a call from a friend who was in Sunee Plaza. He said all the bars were closed. That means they probably will also be closed Saturday and Sunday night, at least this week. I have not yet heard whether the Pattayaland bars were open. Quote
Guest painai Posted December 15, 2007 Posted December 15, 2007 Last night, Friday the 14th, Nearly 100 percent of the Boyztown bars were open--no alcohol. I know, I was there with friends. Quote
ChrisUK Posted December 15, 2007 Posted December 15, 2007 Last night, Friday the 14th, Nearly 100 percent of the Boyztown bars were open--no alcohol. I know, I was there with friends. That was true until about 9pm, when two policemen walked down the street telling all the bars that were open to close. So much for an alcohol ban, it's turned out to be a fun ban. unless you've pre-ordered your takeaway, this is definitely the time to cuddle up next to your Christmas tree and read that book gathering dust on the table, or check out that video you spent 100Bt on at the beach. Quote
Maple Posted December 15, 2007 Posted December 15, 2007 I heard from some friends that the bars in Boyztown WERE OPEN last night, serving soft drinks. (Boyztown is located on Pattayaland 3 from Funny boys and around the corner to Amor Restaurant.) However, the bars on Pattayaland 1 (Gentleman's Club, Sawatdee, 777, etc.) were open, but quickly closed down around 9 p.m. after a visit by the police. Also heard that eight bars in Jomtien Complex were visited by the police and closed after receiving a fine of 50,000 Baht. Any confirmation? Quote
Gaybutton Posted December 15, 2007 Posted December 15, 2007 Also heard that eight bars in Jomtien Complex were visited by the police and closed after receiving a fine of 50,000 Baht. Any confirmation? I heard the same thing, but I have no confirmation of that. Last night I and some friends ate dinner at Sammy's in Sunee Plaza. As far as I could tell, the only bar that was open was TopMan. I didn't go, but my friends did. I did not check any of the Pattayaland bars. Expect the bar scene to be the same next weekend as well. The nature of this alcohol ban has earned a place on my "I Don't Get It" list. At least regarding the gay bars, the clientele is virtually 100% "farang." "Farang" don't vote in Thai elections. A great many bar employees are too young to vote in the first place and for those who are old enough to vote, voting has ended for the day by the time the bars open. So, what's the problem? I don't get it. There is confusion from among the bar owners as to whether they are even allowed to open at all, provided they sell only non-alcoholic beverages. The following appears in the PATTAYA CITY NEWS: _____ Police Enforce Alcohol Ban During First Phase of Voting in General Election Pattaya Police were on the streets on Friday Night to enforce National Regulations relating to an Alcohol Ban during the first phase of voting for the General Election. Venues are not permitted to sell Alcoholic Beverages until Sunday Night at Midnight and any venue found to be flouting these regulations are subject to a possible 60 day closure notice. We joined the Police as they toured the City. Walking Street was very quiet with the majority of indoor bars deciding not to open. Many Beer Bars were open but were selling only soft drinks. Police did find some bars selling beer and spirits and the owners of the bars were arrested and taken to the Police Station for questioning and further action. Bar owners have been left confused as to whether they are allowed to open or not over the weekend, assuming they sell only soft drinks. There were reports of some Go-Go Bars being shut down by Police despite them selling only soft drinks, whereas other bars were allowed to remain open after Police checked them and found that no alcohol was beings served. The confusion is likely to continue over the weekend as holidaymakers and bar owners come to terms with the alcohol ban. Quote
