Strict Alcohol Ban for Makabucha Day

[gotlost]

Strict Alcohol Ban for Makabucha Day
 


BANGKOK: -- The Public Health Ministry will get tough on any violation of the alcohol ban on the religious holiday of Makabucha Day this Wednesday.
 
Violators of the ban will face a 6 month-jail term and or a fine of up to 10,000 baht. Public Health Minister, Wittaya Buranasiri, says the authorities will get tough on the ban of alcohol sales on Makabucha Day tomorrow.
 
All venues are prohibited from wholesale or retail distribution and sales of alcohol on the religious holiday.
 
Only hotels are exempt from the prohibition.
 
The Public Health Ministry has issued orders for all the 77 provincial public health offices nationwide to help enforce the ban. The ban will start at midnight tonight and will last until the midnight hour of Wednesday.
 
Public Health Ministry officials will also conduct random checks to ensure that entertainment venues abide by the law. Violators of the ban could face a fine of up to 10,000 baht and or a maximum of 6 months in jail.
 

[Vombatus]

It is quite right that Buddhists keep faith with their traditions and if Makha Bucha Day is a non-drinking day then all Buddhists should abstain. Anyone who feels that it is appropriate to support their partners/friends by also abstaining - again OK. However, I am not a Buddhist, and indeed have no religious leanings, so (in a free-thinking world) why should I be denied the opportunity to have a glass of wine at my favourite restaurant.

There is also a question of whether buying, selling or actually drinking is prohibited under the rules of Buddism. I still can't enjoy my glass of wine if my favourite restaurant is Buddhist owned if selling is prohibited.

This is not about needing a drink and this not about not showing respect to Buddhists or Thailand. It is about the reasonable freedom of choice - which is unnecessarily lost when the law enforcers badly interpret or inconsistently apply religious ideologies.

[Vombatus]

Alcohol sale ban Makha Bucha Day, Wednesday March 7th.

The Public Health Ministry has ordered police to make sure the ban on the sale of alcohol is strictly observed on March 7th, an important Buddhist holiday.

Violators are liable to a six-month jail sentence and/or a 10,000 baht fine.

A Prime Minister's Office's order issued in 2009 bans sale of all kinds of alcohol on four important days of for Buddhists  - Makha Bucha Day, Visakha Bucha Day, Asanha Bucha Day and the Buddhist Lent Day.

[Prakhonchai Nick]

Millions of Thais earn their living working in restaurants, bars and places of entertainment. Today, Makha Bucha Day, and the 3 other important Buddhist Days (and there are others), when sale of alcohol is banned, these people will either find their place of employment closed, or if open, will receive very few customers. In either event it will result in a loss of earnings for them - and at best they earn a pittance, so every baht is important.

Clearly the authorities -PM's office, whatever and whoever - don't give a FCUK about the Thai people!

As Coco says above it should be about freedom of choice. Unlike the Middle East, where everyone is compelled to be a Moslem,  Thailand is not exclusively a Buddhist country, with probably around 10% of the population being non Buddhists. Shouldn't their needs also be respected?

[dundeemk6]

Gentlemen, we are taking about 4 lousy days to 'behave' a little bit and not buy or consume alcohol. Or do you feel that offended and misunderstood and done wrong to and feel abused and that your legal, ideological and human rights are being pissed on ?
Then it is time to go home.
Or do you want the thai government to behave like the so called western world and bow to all minorities so that now your own people get treated less than the foreigners in your own country ?!?
Anyway, a day without being on the piss could do wonders for our figures !!!!
Peace.

[Prakhonchai Nick]

Croc - My concern is not for those that buy or consume alcohol. It is predominantly for those that earn a living through the sale of alcohol, who are being deprived an income on more than 4 days a year because everyone is dictated to by the government.  No work -no money.

Let those devoutbelievers choose not to drink if they wish, (most probably never do anyway)  but with all the stocked up fridges, and all the Mom and Pop type shops freely selling alcohol, I bet they will be in the minority.

[ivor]

 

It is quite right that Buddhists keep faith with their traditions and if Makha Bucha Day is a non-drinking day then all Buddhists should abstain. Anyone who feels that it is appropriate to support their partners/friends by also abstaining - again OK. However, I am not a Buddhist, and indeed have no religious leanings, so (in a free-thinking world) why should I be denied the opportunity to have a glass of wine at my favourite restaurant.

There is also a question of whether buying, selling or actually drinking is prohibited under the rules of Buddism. I still can't enjoy my glass of wine if my favourite restaurant is Buddhist owned if selling is prohibited.

This is not about needing a drink and this not about not showing respect to Buddhists or Thailand. It is about the reasonable freedom of choice - which is unnecessarily lost when the law enforcers badly interpret or inconsistently apply religious ideologies.

Well said.

[Vombatus]

Gentlemen, we are taking about 4 lousy days to 'behave' a little bit and not buy or consume alcohol. Or do you feel that offended and misunderstood and done wrong to and feel abused and that your legal, ideological and human rights are being pissed on ?
Then it is time to go home.
Or do you want the thai government to behave like the so called western world and bow to all minorities so that now your own people get treated less than the foreigners in your own country ?!?
Anyway, a day without being on the piss could do wonders for our figures !!!!
Peace.

For someone who drinks like a fcuking fish, I found your post quite ironoic Croc !

[dundeemk6]

CoCo & Ray, my post was not personnal but just common sense.
And CoCo, I prefer to imbibe myself on my own at home and you are welcome to join me, I've got a decent supply of whiskey : Jameson, Black Label, Chivas, Jack Daniels, Swing and Sir Edward's ... most bottles haven't been opened YET ... or do you prefer Pernod, Campari or Bombay Sapphire gin - the good one 47% ?

[Vombatus]

CoCo & Ray, my post was not personnal but just common sense.
And CoCo, I prefer to imbibe myself on my own at home and you are welcome to join me, I've got a decent supply of whiskey : Jameson, Black Label, Chivas, Jack Daniels, Swing and Sir Edward's ... most bottles haven't been opened YET ... or do you prefer Pernod, Campari or Bombay Sapphire gin - the good one 47% ?

On my way Croc 

(I have a good stock too but I can't drink it today !   -  nor anywhere else in Prakhonchai)

[dundeemk6]

When can expect you CoCo ?

[Vombatus]

When can expect you CoCo ?

We will have to fix a day after my 'non-drinking diet'  - I can have no excuse for drinking today.