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Home » Reader question » Reader question: Why can't alcohol be sold on religious holidays?
Dear readers,
In the past two days there were two Buddha days and there was a ban on alcohol. Why is that anyway? The Thai know that and can just buy some alcohol a day earlier. Is it then only for farang who otherwise sit in the pub drinking beer? So bully farang?
Regards,
Jeroen
Asahna Bucha: Commemorating the date when Lord Buddha delivered his very first sermon to his disciples, this national holiday takes place in July or August. The locals flock to the temples to earn merit on this special day and hence the sale of alcohol is restricted across the country.
There are 5 days in the year without alcohol
Makha Bucha (February/March)
Visakha Bucha (May/June)
Asahna Bucha (July/early August)
Wan Khao Phansa (July/early August)
Awk Phansa (usually in October)
In addition, there is an alcohol ban on all royal birthdays
Thailand and vendors on these days are expected to abide by the law (2009) or face a prison sentence of up to six months, a 10.000 Baht fine, or both
Has nothing to do with farang bullying.
Immerse yourself in Buddhism and Thai culture, have respect!
You could also ask yourself why a belief with rules from the government should be imposed on someone who thinks differently. Is faith radical or is faith used?
As a non-believer you may also have a freedom that is not bound by rusted thought that is normal?
Go to that temple, refrain from alcohol for 3 months, but don't bother me to celebrate your party.
Not judging other people's behavior is one of the cornerstones of Buddhism. This also indicates the special culture in Thailand. This also makes ladyboys, for example, feel accepted. That is also why nothing is said if a farang behaves incorrectly in their eyes.
You will only really enjoy Thailand if you immerse yourself in the culture and treat it with respect. And, the Thai people enjoy it because you treat them with respect.
It is condemned because under the guise of faith dissenters are wronged.
Well, Henk, there is still a lot to criticize about the acceptance of people who are a bit different from the average Thai. Ladyboys are often treated like dirt.
If you immerse yourself a bit in Thailand, you will see that observing the Buddhist rules does not amount to much, and that 'not condemning' in Thailand is quite disappointing. It's more of a tolerance and laughing behind the back at LGTB+ and not acceptance. On sites like Khaosod, Prachatai, TheMatter and so on. I sometimes mention some examples here on the blog, for example here:
https://www.thailandblog.nl/achtergrond/nieuwe-club-voor-dees-lesbische-vrouwen-in-bangkok/
The editor-in-chief of Khaosod wrote six months ago that Thai society has a low tolerance for unpopular ideas. (“A society that has a very low threshold of tolerance for unpopular views”)* . And to think that tolerance is not acceptance but more of a 'go ahead, do your weird thing as long as it doesn't bother me'.
So Thai society is a bit more complex than 'bullying a foreigner' or 'basket of tolerance and acceptance of others' than some here think.
If you really get to know Thailand a little, I think that if Buddha were to come and take a look, you would not really be pleased with how Thai society deals with his vision.
* source: https://www.khaosodenglish.com/opinion/2019/12/30/opinion-when-society-curbs-its-own-freedom-of-expression/
Completely true and beautifully argued in a Dutch way. But I do not suspect that many Thai would agree with the reasoning.
Thailand is a Buddhist country, where state and faith are intertwined.
That is something different from a country where many Buddhists live.
Good respect
But of course it's something pointless. Of course you can stock up on alcohol yourself the day before
Yes, religion has strange aspects. In Belgium or the Netherlands, something like that would be impossible
According to Buddhist teachings, the use of narcotics such as alcohol or other drugs is prohibited. Usually, the average Thai does not take the prescriptions very well, but on Buddha days and some other special days, alcohol is not served. At least not visible in public, an opaque cup also solves a lot...
See for example : https://nl.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vijf_Voorschriften
Strange, Jeroen, that you call it farang bullying, while you too should know that there are hardly any tourists in Thailand now. Longstayers know the dates and stock up on time for home use. So you are wrong as Wayan and Rob V have already told you.
But also for the Thai: money is money! If you really want to buy a bottle for home on those days, go to a Thai restaurant or cafe, order a cup of coffee, ask the waitress if you can buy a bottle of XOXO, and ten minutes later someone will come on a moped and you will get handed a bottle wrapped in a newspaper. You pay cash and you have your supply. Don't forget to tip the waitress…..
By the way, even when there are elections there is a ban on alcohol. The government is afraid that the election fever will go to the people's head...
Alcohol is a drug. Admittedly a legal one in many places but that doesn't matter.
It always surprises me when one day can't be used, people immediately see it as bullying.
Just drink something else that day….
I wonder if lovers of other drugs would also be allowed to claim that they are bullied almost every day since they are not allowed to use their stuff.
It's a shame that there are people who feel personally challenged about their freedom to consume alcohol. Also look at it from a different perspective. It is not only your own gain that is important. What makes me tired is reading that apparently life is not possible without alcohol for a significant group of people. I am also averse to religion and certain habits and habits, for example from a vision of life. I go my own way and sometimes go with my wife to see some things in the temples. I think I should know the necessary things so that I don't unnecessarily offend people. Just like in Ramadan, it is not that difficult on days like this to show respect and moderation or not to consume alcohol for a day. I don't understand these kinds of negative reactions. Apparently flexibility in consuming alcohol is not available to everyone.
If you go along for a while in Thailand you know the rules and customs, then you can see this coming and can take this into account in time, I do not see this as bullying but a custom that you have to take into account. Doesn't alter the fact that I'm not a Buddhist and therefore get this forced upon me unsolicited, but I can still live with this.
What I had much more trouble with (past tense form due to ajuuh Thailand, enough is enough!) is the fact that on days that are (were) not public holidays at all, no alcohol is (was) available and I don't mean the hours that no alcohol may be sold, but arbitrarily at certain times, days and places. at one 7/11 not and at the other if you're lucky. So you get visitors, have nothing in the house, go to the 7/11 and unfortunately a ribbon on the coolers, nobody knows why? Only that it has to be done by the Cityhall.
So if Jeroen thinks this is bullying then I say this was just the only bullying
Fortunately, I no longer have these problems.
I think that these measures are not so much imposed because of Buddhism or royal holidays, but are only used as a cover for it.
I rather suspect that the underlying reason is that people are well aware that Thais will use anything and everything to party and that usually translates into excessive eating and drinking. So far, but when alcohol is involved, it becomes a different story in Thailand.
Then many (men) get drunk and see no problem getting behind the wheel in that condition and doing the craziest things, especially on days when many families are on the road and with all the dramatic consequences that entails.
Of course I already hear you say that many bring the alcohol in advance and will probably be the case, but there is less control to carry out (and moreover no active police on the street anyway…) and if accidents happen it is already too late anyway.
The ban on alcohol sales on those days will then largely meet the intended objectives to prevent even more bad.
And indeed, the good have to pay for it with the bad (as with so many things) ... so general prohibition then. So be it.