In Thailand, tourists and expats are often surprised by a remarkable rule: the sale of alcohol in supermarkets is prohibited between 14:00 PM and 17:00 PM. This rule, which has been in place since the period of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, is part of a strategy to combat alcoholism. As Thailand tries to attract more tourists and extend the closing hours of the hospitality industry, the ban on alcohol sales during midday hours raises questions about its effectiveness and relevance. Respond to the statement!

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Thailand is known for its breathtaking landscapes and vibrant culture, but did you also know that life there is surprisingly affordable? In this analysis we explore the current cost of living in Thailand for 2023 and translate that into a statement. Do you agree or disagree? Then respond.

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This week's thesis is that if you have a greedy Thai (in-law) family as a farang, you are guilty of it yourself. That requires an explanation.

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Thailand is shooting itself in the foot by failing to act adequately against an annually recurring problem. The persistent poor air quality in the dry season is a problem that the Thai government is not taking sufficient action against.

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Today another statement of the week and this time about corruption. In this statement, we argue that it is not individuals who perpetuate corruption, but that the problem lies in the culture and structure of Thai society.

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A strong statement this week, in which we state that the many road deaths in Thailand (62 per day!) are largely our own fault. And we will explain that.

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After being paused for a while, the series 'Thesis of the week' continues again and the statement for this time is: 'If you were born for a dime in Thailand, you will never become a quarter.'

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The Dutch Prime Minister said in his speech earlier this week that traveling is now anti-social and reflects shameless behaviour. I do not agree with that. As long as someone has the money to follow the costly procedure of a trip to Thailand and as long as the airport continues to function and the airlines continue to fly, there is no antisocial behavior.

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The discussion about CO2 is still in full swing, but a new environmental discussion has already started and it concerns nitrogen. The, everything must give way to green, adepts have already found something new to make our lives a bit more complicated and certainly less fun.

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Those who have a Thai partner often have to deal with annoying prejudices in their immediate environment. You can read examples of this in this statement of the week. Do you have a Thai partner and therefore face nasty prejudices? How do you deal with that and what do you do about it? Do you also discuss this topic with your partner? Join the discussion and comment.

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The news report that Taiwan was the first country in Asia to pass a new law that also allows marriage between partners of the same sex got me thinking. It would be nice if Thailand did the same. But I would also like Thailand to take it a step further by giving polygamy a legal basis.

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It is high time that the Netherlands became aware of the fact that it bears responsibility for compatriots beyond its own and EU national borders.

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Many expats/pensionados have not chosen Thailand because they really want to stay there, but purely because their partner lives there and he/she did not feel like moving to the Netherlands or Belgium. That's this week's statement.

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If you live in the Netherlands or Thailand with your Thai partner, it is only natural that you and your partner become part of society. This means not only learning the language and culture, but also being aware of social and political developments.

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Have you ever been approached by a foreigner in Thailand, who simply asked for money? Well, I do! It's been a while since I was stopped walking on Sukhumvit in Bangkok by a clearly western tourist. If I could give him 100 baht, because he hadn't eaten that day - it was about five o'clock in the afternoon. His money was gone! When I said no, he asked if maybe 20 baht was possible, but I also refused.

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Living in Thailand after retirement is a dream for many. Daily with a cocktail or coconut in your hammock on the beach to enjoy the rushing sea and swaying palms. So getting old is not a punishment. Unfortunately, the daily reality is often more unruly. Anyone who looks at the back of the medal soon wakes up from a beautiful dream. Thailand also appears to have quite a few negative aspects. For example, the country is not necessarily good for your health and, if you are not careful, even very unhealthy.

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To simplify the application for an annual visa or extension, it would be better if the embassy no longer issues income statements at all. In principle, a statement from a Thai bank should be just as good, if not better. Mind you, this is not about the 800.000 baht deposit statement, but the monthly 65.000 baht statement.

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We've talked about it before on this blog, the pollution of the sea around Thailand is mainly caused by plastic waste. It is an absolute necessity that measures are taken to combat this horrendous environmental pollution.

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The rescue of the thirteen 'Wild Zwijnen' football players from the Tham Luang gained worldwide fame. The joy was great. But soon the news broke that four of the group were stateless. These are the boys Adul Sam-on, Pornchai Kamluang and Mongkhol Boonpian and also the coach Ekapol Chantawong. Many are calling on the government to tackle the problem more vigorously. That appears not to be the case so far. The authorities are also very cautious about the four stateless cave boys. Hence the statement:s 'It is a scandal that there are so many stateless people in Thailand!'

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Worldwide there are about 65 million people on the run, the majority of which is about 90 percent in the region. Unlike Europe, for example, Thailand does not participate in the UN refugee treaty in which the right to (worldwide) reception is regulated. In practice, this means that people (from the Thai region) who flee to Thailand have no rights there. Thailand sees them as illegal immigrants.

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Everything is imperfect and perishable, everything dies and comes back to life, and we must learn to live with that in order to become happy and wise, says Buddhism. But shouldn't that also apply to Buddhism itself? Why should the rules of Buddhism be the only thing that is perfect and imperishable?

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Tino follows the Thai written media. (Thai television is owned by the government and armed forces, with the exception of ThaiPBS, and is strictly censored). He sees a turnaround in recent months. Where previously there was a lot of positive and neutral reporting about the junta, and the occasional critical note, it is now the other way around. He hardly reads any positive news anymore, some neutral reporting and a lot of negative news and especially comments. He therefore thinks that the regime is on its last legs. What is your opinion?

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