Posted on 04/09/2020 6:17:20 AM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer
BANGKOK - People queued to buy wine, beer and spirits in Bangkok on Thursday after the Thai capital announced a 10-day ban on alcohol sales to try to limit social activities before the traditional new year and curb the spread of the coronavirus.
“The announcement prohibits the sale of alcoholic beverages at all shops … from April 10 to April 20,” Bangkok Metropolitan Administration spokesman Pongsakorn Kwanmuang told a news conference.
At supermarkets in downtown Bangkok, shoppers wearing facial masks crowded in to the alcohol section.
“I don’t know how long the ban will take, so I bought a lot just in case it extended,” said 39-year-old Tanawat Ruenbanterng, who bought 30 bottles of beer.
At Thai New Year, or Songkran, there are usually big water fights and people travel to visit their parents. Celebrations, often involving alcohol, have been scaled back to limit the spread of the coronavirus.
Thailand has confirmed 2,423 coronavirus cases, with 32 fatalities. More than half the cases have been in Bangkok, where a mobile testing system is being rolled out.
“The culture ministry has asked to stop all Songkran activities, traveling back to hometowns and pouring water for blessings with older family members,” said Taweesin Wisanuyothin, spokesman for the government’s Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration.
“Pay respect to elders from one to two meters … remember older people have the highest risk of dying,” he said.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
Ban cocktails?
When the restriction is finally lifted, I expect to sell out in one day, if the drunks can find an extra peso or two.
One night in Bangkok makes a hard man humble...
“Thai capital announced a 10-day ban on alcohol sales”
Wonder how long the lines would be if they had a sex trade ban for 10 days?
Bump for reasons yet unknown...
Who do they think they are? Pennsylvania?
Years ago I had a friend who was a closet hardcore alcoholic drinking more than just the beer I was see him drink. He would also down a fifth of vodka secretly. When he sideswiped a car on the way home and got 30 days in the pokey he died from alcohol withdrawal on the 10th day.
I only mention this because the article mentioned a 10 day ban. I wonder how many people will die there who are also secretly downing a lot more alcohol than their friends or family think they are. No doubt most will have a stash to get them through but some won’t and they will get deathly sick.
I was in Bangkok , off & on , throughout the height of the AIDS epidemic and I survived. This too will pass.
It’s hard to keep a Thai gal down...
I’ve got an Everton jersey with the Chang logo on it.
“In a way this would usually be an interesting time to visit Thailand, they play water.”
Over the years, this has gotten out of hand. These days, it’s a free for all that goes on for days and days. People throw dirty water, try to hit people on motorcycles in the face and douse people who are wearing nice clothing and going to work.
Some expatriates who live there leave the country for a week to avoid the madness. Many tourists behave very badly as well.
“Over the years, this has gotten out of hand. These days, it’s a free for all that goes on for days and days.”
Pattaya is out of hand, those blast water cannons can do damage. I was there once taking a baht bus from the bus station to the hotel, they intentionally tried to soak our luggagge. However, when riding a baht bus with rain gear they basically left us alone.
However, out in the Provences (specifically Buriram) I found it is almost dying out. The amount of traffic driving thru town in 2009 was jam packed. But I drove in 2017 and I would say it was down 70% from then. Instead people would gather at IMobile stadium.
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