Phuket
Patong, Phuket set for election alcohol bans

PHUKET: The sale of alcohol will be banned across Phuket on August 26 and again in Patong on September 2 as voters go to the polls for local elections.
The August 26 island-wide alcohol ban will come into effect as residents vote in the upcoming Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) council election.
The ban, in accordance with the Election Act, will be enforced from 6pm on Saturday, August 25, and continue through to midnight on Sunday, August 26.
“The Phuket Election Commission [PEC] agreed to hold the OrBorJor council election on August 26, from 8am to 3pm,” PEC Director Kittipong Thiengkunakrit told the Phuket Gazette.
Candidates can register at Phuket Community Hall from July 31 to August 4, he said.
“It took a while to set the constituency boundaries for this election because of changes in the population [distribution] on Phuket. We had to reset the boundaries for each voting district,” Mr Kittipong explained.
“The OrBorJor council election comprises 24 seats to be contested, 15 for Muang District, six for Thalang District and three for Kathu,” he added.
One week later, residents in Patong will go to the polls to vote in the upcoming Patong Municipality mayoral election.
Phunsak Naksena, Chief Administrative Officer (Palad) at Patong Municipality, told the Gazette, “Patong Municipality has set the election date for September 2.”
Candidates can register from August 6 to10, from 8:30am to 4:30pm.
The polling stations will be open from 8am to 3pm on election day.
Current Patong Mayor Pian Keesin, who was born in Patong 68 years ago, began his political career before 1994 as Phu Yai Baan (village head) of Village 3 in what has since become Phuket’s leading resort town.
Mayor Pian became Patong’s first elected mayor in 1995 after the town was upgraded from “Sanitary Division” to municipality status the year before.
He was ousted by a council “budget blockade” led by Surasak Maneesri in November 2003. However, Mayor Pian was re-elected to office in January 2004 after Provincial Court judges found that his rivals had “cheated” in the preceding election by “importing” voters.
Mayor Pian has served as Patong’s top official since.
In accordance with the Election Act, the sale of alcohol will be prohibited within the boundaries of Patong Municipality from 6pm on Saturday, September 1, to midnight Sunday, September 2.
Additional reporting by Chutharat Plerin
— Atchaa Khamlo
Get more from The Thaiger
Join the conversation and have your say on Thailand news published on The Thaiger.
Thaiger Talk is our new Thaiger Community where you can join the discussion on everything happening in Thailand right now.
Please note that articles are not posted to the forum instantly and can take up to 20 min before being visible. Click for more information and the Thaiger Talk Guidelines.

-
Crime4 days ago
Pedo father & 2 stepbrothers jailed for raping 12 year old Thai girl
-
Coronavirus (Covid-19)3 days ago
Thailand’s Entry Requirements August 2022
-
Thailand4 days ago
Thailand launches new 10-year visa to attract foreign experts
-
Northern Thailand2 days ago
Famous northern Thai dish declared world’s best soup
-
Chon Buri3 days ago
UPDATE: Chon Buri nightclub blaze kills 13 & injures 41 people
-
Crime4 days ago
Indian tourist in Pattaya breakdances in boxing ring when police show up
-
Crime4 days ago
2 dead & 5 injured in gunfight between teens in Northern Thailand
-
Coronavirus (Covid-19)2 days ago
Thai tourism officials plan to propose new closing time for tourist areas