Expats

Alcohol bans tomorrow and Monday in Thailand

Published

Saturday, July 4, 2020 15:45

2 Buddhist holidays, Asahna Bucha Day, and the start of Buddhist Lent, fall on this weekend. As a result the government has added Monday, July 6, as a national holiday.

There will be an alcohol ban tomorrow, Sunday (July 5) and Monday (July 6). No alcohol will be sold or served on these days.

The dates of these important Buddhist holidays, and the ensuing long weekend and alcohol ban, falls just days after pubs, bars and entertainment venues have been allowed to re-open. The alcohol bans will put a dint in the re-opening plans for many small businesses who have been hit hard by the enforced closures and the ban on tourists coming into Thailand.

Various news outlets around the country have published a variety of confusing headlines on the matter. Because of the confusion you may have to ‘roll with the punches’ as the ban is applied in your particular area and is managed by the local police. For now, you have at least a day or so to stock up.

Asanha Bucha Day is a public holiday in Thailand marking the day when the Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon at Benares in India over 2,500 years ago. The exact date of the holiday is determined by the waxing moon and the lunar months, but is usually held in July or August.

The Buddha preached his first sermon at a deer park and from this sermon the Dharma (doctrine) of the Buddha was symbolised as a wheel. The Dharmachakra is also known as the Wheel of Life, Wheel of Law or Wheel of Doctrine and can be seen on flags in temples and buildings all across Thailand. Similarly, pictures or models of deer can often be seen at temples or in depictions of the Buddha.

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5 Comments

CHE

Friday, July 3, 2020 at 1:06 pm

Hello,
I am sorry but it is still not very clear.
Could you please state the actual days alcohol is being banned?
Is it from 4th to 6th or from 5th to 6th?
Thanks.

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- John
  
  Saturday, July 4, 2020 at 11:52 am
  
  I just got refused sale of alcohol from 7 / 11 this morning even tho I was within the correct hours. The staff didnt even know as once it reached 11am they opened the fridges then it was only when they went to ring up the sale that they realized they could not sell it and supposed to remain in force until Tuesday…..
  
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Lawrence Westfall

Friday, July 3, 2020 at 3:04 pm

There is no such thing as Buddhist Lent.

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Toby Andrews

Saturday, July 4, 2020 at 5:28 pm

5th and the 6th,

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Lord Maxwell

Tuesday, July 7, 2020 at 3:41 pm

The Thais are very good at annoying tourists, frankly they don’t deserve to make money from tourism. Why shouldn’t we be able to have a glass of wine with our dinner in a restaurant? We are not Buddhists. In Germany we don’t force people to observe Christmas.

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