Pattaya Drinking Ban Next 3 Weekends

Pattaya Drinking Ban

Pattaya Drinking Ban

Yes, you read that correctly. If you like to drink and hang out in the bars and Agogo’s of Pattaya then you won’t be a happy camper over the next 3 weekends as elections draw near.

This coming weekend bars must close by 6pm on June 25 and cannot open again until Midnight on June 26th. This coming weekends ban is due to the fact that it’s the last week to register to vote as well as people getting ready to or going home to vote. For those of you not paying attention that means bars will be CLOSED tonight.

Next weekend Elections will be held on the 3rd so bars will again be closed leading up to the election. While I’m not absolutely sure of the times it’s looking like the bars will close sometime Friday night and not reopen again until late Sunday night or Monday. So just keep in mind that bars will be closed somewhere in the range of July 1st to July 4th.

The hat trick will conclude on the following weekend of July 8th and 9th when Pattaya holds it’s local Elections and bars will most likely be closed again sometime Friday evening until sometime late Sunday night to Monday morning.

While you will still find some dark corners willing to sell a few beers all of the major, or should I say licensed bars, will undoubtedly be closed tight.

I can hear expats and tourists alike scratching their head and whinging about it but it won’t do you any good. If you feel you must drink then stock up ahead of time and make plans with friends. If you don’t need the drink so much but will miss the bars, these weekends provide the perfect opportunities to explore Pattaya for all she has to offer, which is a lot more than most people would surmise.

Just to be clear the first 2 weekends drinking is banned throughout Thailand only the third weekend pertains to Pattaya.

Whatever your plans are be safe and have a great weekend :)

 

talensig

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8 Responses to Pattaya Drinking Ban Next 3 Weekends
  1. c
    June 25, 2011 | 1:36 pm

    I thought it was four straight weekends without the sauce in Patters. After the elections, there’s a Buddhist holiday.

  2. SiamRick
    June 25, 2011 | 4:14 pm

    There’s a two-day Buddhist holiday on July 15-16. I, however, am not sure if bars close. I think they do.

    Talen?
    SiamRick recently posted..The 100 baht haircut that will last a lifetimeMy Profile

  3. Talen
    June 25, 2011 | 5:14 pm

    C & Rick, while there is a Buddhist holiday and a biggie, the beginning of Buddhist lent, I am not so sure bars will close on the 16th…the 15th is a government holiday for lent so all official offices will be shut.

    I think Thai owned bars will be closed in order to give staff they day off and many falang might follow suit but with three weeks of closures beforehand and a really bad low season I would bet that there will be plenty of places open for business. Will have to wait and see.

  4. Ed
    June 25, 2011 | 5:49 pm

    I was told by a bar-keep last night that bars will be closed on 15/16th July so if he’s correct, that’s 4 weekends on the bounce. Arghhhhh.

  5. Snap
    June 25, 2011 | 8:40 pm

    Wonder if that applies to CM too? Things are dead quiet up here as it is. My heart goes out to a lot of the business owners during the low tourist season…some have been closing their doors.

    I’ll be in Vientman watching the elections from afar. ;)
    Snap recently posted..What’s wrong with this picture?My Profile

    • Talen
      July 1, 2011 | 4:38 pm

      Snap, it applies to all bars in Thailand…but there are always a few open anyway :P

  6. Snap
    June 25, 2011 | 8:42 pm

    Or on second thought, I think I’ll go to Vietnam…not Vientman!
    Snap recently posted..What’s wrong with this picture?My Profile

  7. SiamRick
    June 28, 2011 | 10:08 am

    Interesting followup on Buddha day weekend: First, a waitress with very good English skills at my favourite BKK haunt said the Londoner will be closed from 6 pm this Saturday and re-open “sometime” on Sunday evening, not sure if 6 pm or midnight. They don’t know for sure.

    As for Buddist weekend, they used to be closed, but whether they open or not depends on who and what comes out of the national election this Sunday.

    This is Thailand whose laws flex and stretch at the administration’s whim.
    SiamRick recently posted..The 100 baht haircut that will last a lifetimeMy Profile

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