Hauneman mentioned the anti alcohol movement in Thailand at the moment and we noticed a new ruling that went into effect from the previous time we were there in 06.
You cannot buy any alcohol before 11:00am in the morning, then you can buy it from 11:00 AM until 2:00PM, then you cannot buy any again until 5:00PM. Very odd, and it does nothing to keep the consuption down as people mob the liquor departments at 5:00PM each day.

I had not noticed a problem with alcohol amongst the Thais (the Farangs yes) however, Tong told us it was a very big problem in the country with the native population.
Sue

sue---i have often seen many of the street vendors, along sukhumvit and silom drinking whiskey right from the bottle---johnny walker comes to mind...

many thai men are drunk every nite...

What is this? A restriction on drinking during my holiday? This is blaphamous! There should be a law...oops, I guess there is a law! I will have to read more about this! My drinking must not be stopped! I have to interupt it long enough here at home by a nasty thing called WORK! I will not tolerate a terrible crime against humanity like this! I will just stock up on my first day in country, I guess. Avoid the lines at 5pm.
And FYI, there are many men who drink every night in my country too....they are called boyfriends...I mean drunks!
Happy Trails
Susie

Technically, that's not a new ruling, it's the enforcement of a very old law. Thailand has a lot of laws that are completely ignored until it suits someone's political agenda to enforce them.

On the same subject, it should be noted that Customs is now on the lookout for people bringing in more than the alotted duty free amount of alcohol, especially wine, which as has been discussed, is more expensive in Thailand than anywhere else in the world.

Lol, Susie! I don't think your addiction, I mean hobby, will be hampered!. You will find plenty of bars to fulfill your vice! ;-)

Cheers!

Forgot to mention that the ban only applies to bars, convenience stores and other 'single unit' sales of spirits. You can pop into a hypermarket (Carrefour, Big C, Tescos) and purchase a CASE of beer, wine or whatever at any hour of the day.

m-bkk....that's thailand for you....same as the building codes!!!

Thank God I can go to a superstore and get my booze. I hate it when I actually have to struggle to get drunk!
Thanks you guys!
Susie

Yes you can buy the wine or beer at anytime in the superstores except during the forbidden hours, you have to buy it by the CASE.
The way it works is, if you want to get a little bit drunk between 4:00AM and 11:00AM or between 2:00PM and 5M you must buy your plonk by the Case to do it, during other times of the day, you are free to purchase a single can or bottle of your choice and drink a little at a time!!!!

An expat who lives there full time said that so many things that happen you just have to say to yourself TIT (This Is Thailand) and that explains everything!

We found ourselves bewildered several times and just resorted to saying T I T and smiling, what else can you do?
Sue