Transcript of the above video:

We had a video I put out earlier this week. It actually went relatively viral compared to most of the videos I put out. It got substantially more interest I think because this is kind of a hot button issue here at the moment, this issue of the evolving nature of laws pertaining to alcohol in Thailand, what we would often call in at least an American Common Law vernacular, what we would call Blue Laws back home. Basically, they're changing the structure of the way that they regulate alcohol. Now as I pointed out in a prior video, the new Act really is not more favourable.

For those who are unaware, I actually did a video, while I'm talking about this, I did a video where I discussed even further how the new law wasn't that great but in the intervening time between I shot it and this new change which I will cite here in a moment, I felt like that video wasn't very useful for this channel. I'm going to go ahead and put it in a new video with our long-form content on our paid news service. If you are interested in that, if you want the long-form content, you can email us, [email protected]. I'm also going to be adding some new things coming at the beginning of the year. We're starting some new initiatives, I have some new projects I'm working on and those that are in the paid news service subscriber list, you folks are going to be in a different category of folks moving forward into next year when I start bringing online these sort of new initiatives and you know what I'm talking about if you're already on the list, if you're already a paid news subscriber. But the point I'm trying to make is I did make a video in the intervening time between the evolution of the passage of the law and the subsequent promulgation of the regulations. I don't think that video was overly useful for the channel but it does provide some insight and nuance into how I think this stuff will evolve longer term, so I went ahead and I took that video off the channel, I didn't end up putting it on here and I'm putting it over on the paid news service with some further comment on where I think this stuff is heading. So if you're interested in that, you can email us, [email protected]. Also, while I'm talking my book, I think it's worth pointing out that my better half and I set up a restaurant here in downtown Bangkok. FYI, it's not just a restaurant, we do have a bar. I think of it more as kind of a food and beverage operation, but yes, we do serve adult beverages so this news pertaining to alcoholic licensing and things pertains to us as well. I think I think it's worth pointing that out, but yeah we are primarily a restaurant. At night we kind of get, especially in our location nearby Patpong here and nearby all these hotels and things and this high season is kicking off, we're starting to see folks more interested in the evening atmosphere over at Pancake Palace. Pancake Palace, again as the name implies, breakfast anytime. Again we do have drinks adult beverages for folks who are interested in that as well as American Diner style food: we've got hamburgers, cheeseburgers, buffalo wings, chilli bowls etc. If you're interested, links are in the description below. Come on by Pancake Palace, anytime frankly, during the day, whether it's breakfast, whether it's lunch, dinner or even in the after hours, whatever, we'd be happy to see you. 

That said jumping into this, I did a video earlier in the week where it looked like the laws that they were putting in were actually worse than the status quo ante but now it looks like okay, the raw law came in. Now the regulator, created by that law - which I'll get into in a moment - is going to now come in and sort of add some nuance, add some context to the raw law and start enforcing some regulations which actually maybe are more in favour of the consumer. I thought of making in this video after reading a recent article from the Bangkok Post, bangkokpost.com, the article is titled: Policy board lifts afternoon ban on alcohol sales. The first thing to point out there is the creation of this Policy Board. Heretofore and as I explained in the video I'm putting on the paid news service, heretofore we were dealing with basically a regulation if you want to call it that, that was created under a coup government years and years ago and it has just sort of been pulled forward, we just kind of kept getting stuck with it, and now they have finally passed affirmative laws that wipe that away, and now we have this and then the regulators have come in and said, "hey these are the further rules that we are implementing pursuant to the raw law, and it is abrogating the old rules which required basically banning people from drinking from 2 pm to 5 pm in the afternoon. But the point I'm trying to make in the beginning of this is the creation of a Policy Board itself. That is a big difference now. We now have this acting as a regulator over alcohol matters, as opposed to the past where we had this old coup-created sort of decree that was being enforced by standard Royal Thai Police Law Enforcement, it is my understanding this is happening under the auspices of Ministry of Public Health and we have an affirmative Board now setting rules as opposed to having the Police enforcing a rule that dates back to a military government. So, all things considered, if you look at it broadly, it's something of an improvement. That said, quoting further, and it remains to be seen exactly how this is applied practically. That said, quoting directly: "He earlier said Thai Authorities would discuss lifting the ban on afternoon sales after facing heavy criticism from businesses and the public. Tourism operators had proposed extending closing hours to 4am, but the Ministry of Public Health and medical experts have opposed the idea, citing accident statistics showing a spike in fatalities from 2am to 3am, Mr. Sophon said." So first I urge those who are watching this video, read the article. They are pulling the 2pm to 5pm alcohol ban, that's gone. We know that.

Now the discussion has moved to "Well what about closing hours 4am as supposed to 2am".  The discussion then became, "Well we see all kinds of problems at 3am." You're seeing problems at 3am because bars close at 2am and the drunks are all filing out, that's why you're seeing the problems then. It's not going to go away or get worse if you move it to 4am. It's just the phenomenon. Frankly I would kind of rather those folks be moving around more like 4am anyway. There are even less folks on the road that are otherwise engaged in non-partying behaviour who aren’t going to be bothered by those people. I think they are bothered less at 4am than they are 2am. As a person who is a member of a community that is around a lot of clubs and operations in the nightlife area, I would kind of prefer to go to 4am just because people stay in the club longer and don't come out till 4am when everything is; if you're not asleep at 4am, you're not sleeping that night is kind of how it is. That said, quoting further: " The Deputy Prime Minister assigned the panel to continue discussions to reach a compromise. The Ministry of Interior has already regulated operating hours for entertainment venues, so any extension must line with existing laws, he said. He noted that while the Public Health Ministry promotes alcohol-free campaigns during New Year, such measures must be realistic. Quote: "People celebrate during festivals. If the state wants to encourage abstinence, it must offer incentives, not just impose bans," Mr. Sophon said." 

Good point actually, really good point. Tip of the hat to that person for pointing that out. Quoting further: "The Deputy Prime Minister confirmed that the ban between 2pm and 5pm would be revoked," - So that's where we are at, that is the state of play. Don't worry about having a beer in the afternoon now. Now I know I just recently made a video based on the information we had at the time. It looked like things were getting worse. Now they have put in this Policy Board pursuant to that promulgated law. They are now setting a new policy which is 2 to 5 pm, yeah you can drink. You can buy a drink. That is the state of play right now, both legally and practically. Quoting further: "While the final decision on whether drinking hours would be extended to 2am or 4am depends on further talks." So again, they are implementing this new system, they are putting in this new Policy Board, and they are going to continue to make determinations on ongoing alcohol policy presumably into the foreseeable future.

It remains to be seen exactly how it plays out with regard to closing hours, but the thing to take away from this video, to repeat again, 2pm to 5pm in the afternoon having a beer on the beach, buy one, going to a restaurant whatever, the ban on that is now gone, that's over. Now the issue of closing hours and things, that's a bit of a more nebulous one. They are continuing to discuss it, so we will continue to keep you updated on this channel as the situation evolves.