Pattaya on pause: Plan ahead or lose the booze
Local officials in Pattaya issued a gentle reminder to plan carefully for upcoming events in the city including the Chon Buri local elections and the booze bans.
Locals, visitors and tourists in Pattaya should mark their calendars as the region is likely to go dry from 5pm on January 31 to 5pm on February 1.
While the exact date hasn’t been finalised, this schedule is almost a sure thing. Under Thai law, booze bans kick in 24 hours before elections and continue through voting, affecting everyone regardless of whether they’re casting a vote, reported Pattaya News.
Although other local elections might pop up across Thailand, this one’s the biggie for Pattaya, focusing on regional positions, Pattaya’s mayor won’t be on the ballot this year.
Religious Holidays:
- Makha Bucha Day: February 12, a Wednesday.
- Visakha Bucha Day: May 11, a Sunday. Note, while Monday, May 12, is a government holiday, the bars will be back in business.
- Asalha Bucha Day: July 10, a Thursday.
- Buddhist Lent Day: July 11, a Friday.
- End of Buddhist Lent Day: October 7, a Tuesday.
These dry days honour Thailand’s rich Buddhist traditions or support the electoral process.
Visitors should plan their affairs with these in mind. While some sports bars or restaurant/bar hybrids might keep their doors open, they’re legally barred from serving alcohol on these sacred days.
Typically, the dry spell lasts a full 24 hours, from midnight to midnight, though local officials sometimes offer a bit of wiggle room with slightly adjusted timings.
Meanwhile, six people, comprising both Thai and Cambodian nationals, were apprehended for engaging in illegal gambling on Jomtien Beach, Chon Buri province. The open-air gambling occurred yesterday, January 10, with many participants fleeing the scene as law enforcement approached.
Police Colonel Navin Theerawit, the superintendent of Pattaya City Police Station, received a report of the illicit activity taking place at the beach near Soi 12, Beach Road. In response, Police Lieutenant Colonel Sirachat Nootes, deputy superintendent of Pattaya City Police Station, was tasked with dispatching patrol officers to address the situation.
Latest Thailand News
