BANGKOK, 11 March 2019: For many visitors the prospect of dry alcohol free holiday is bit of downer, but when it involves Thailand it is definitely a shock.
The ban on booze is going to happen not once, but twice during March, according to the country’s Election Commission.
It announced last week a 24-hour alcohol ban spanning Saturday 16 March to Sunday 17 March the day assigned for advance voting.
Following one week later, another alcohol ban will be in place for the general election again straggling Saturday 23 March to Sunday 24 March.
After a hiatus of five years without an election the country goes to the vote and as in the past the ban on booze is viewed as a useful tool to maintain peace and see the elections conclude with minimal friction.
First reported by Thai Rath newspaper the ban cuts into the Saturday and Sunday entertainment for visitors who will find bars closed for the weekend, although restaurants will remain open minus the booze option.
In-house guests at hotels can still imbibe their daily alcohol ration but in in the privacy of their hotel rooms.
The EC said weddings and private parties could still be organised but would be subject to the alcohol ban.
Definitely the 16th and 23 March weekends are not ideal for hosting an incentive holiday group or corporate conference in Thailand.
This year it also likely that an alcohol ban could be introduced on 13 April, the opening day of the Songkran water festival in Thailand. The government has still to make a ruling on that proposal, that supporters claim will help to reduce road accidents on at least one day of a festival that extends for three days and usually close with more than 500 road deaths and thousands of serious injuries mostly involving motor cycles.
