macabus

With the passing of their King today, Thailand has imposed a 30-day ban on alcohol sales throughout the country.

Does anyone know if this affects Starwood properties? On-premise bars and restaurants that sell alcohol are one thing, but what about the executive lounges that offer free drinks during happy hour?

newshound

Do you have a source for this information?

My contacts locally are saying there is still a lot of confusion regarding the sale of alcohol/opening of bars/clubs etc.

I know some bars that cater for Thais will be closing for 30 days but I am hearing Tourist orientated businesses will observe a shorter period of mourning.

m0hamed

Yes and yes (if so).

We stayed at the StR BKK on election day. Alcohol was banned in all public areas. We wanted to eat and were the only people in the bar.

They did, however, offer alcohol via room service.

As such I would expect club lounges to not serve alcohol.

shevboyz

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/life/arts/2016/10/14/whats-canceled-closed-open-bangkok-mourning-period/

Information for anyone who will there this period.

paolo64

There is no restriction on the sale of alcohol ( other than for Buddhist Lent, October 16th, unrelated to the death of HM plus the usual afternoon bans). There is a request for bars to provide less exuberant entertainment.
The mood in Bangkok is extremely sombre, as expected. Virtually everyone is wearing black.
I think it extremely unlikely that there would be any constraints on hotel lounges.

SkiAdcock

A FTer who lives in Thailand emailed me saying the same thing as paolo64 - ie, no restriction on the sale of alcohol. He subsequently emailed me this (realize it's not SPG, but assuming SPG properties will be similar): "I'm at Pattaya Marriott since yesterday and happy hour in full force last night and bar open at 10am today."

Also, the OP posted the exact same question in the Marriott forum.

Cheers.

TravelinSperry

If you're in Thailand the next 30 days it looks like it's time to head to the beaches for scuba and relax

UASPG

On Election Day, to avoid the alcohol public ban, the SGS opened a reception room to serve the drinks and canapes to SPG Platinum members and, I guess, Club level guests. Consequently, it became a 'private' affair.

On an earlier Election day, the LMBKK had opened the Grande Avantgarde Suite for the Creative Hour.

MSPeconomist

I assume the problem was that the regular library for Plats is too open with the public being to see what's happening there on the way to the adjacent restaurant. A private function room would have solid doors.

Dominic14

Certainly not much change in alcohol consumption around patong Phuket area at the moment. Also still serving alcohol on phi phi island.

TravelinSperry

My friend was in the Patong area last night and said almost all the bars were closed.

naples_flyer

The St Regis served me a martini yesterday [14th] during their evening Platinum reception. Movie theaters and entertainment areas were closed.

Sabai

IME, if a bar is "owned" by the police, it can operate with impunity when others are closed.

snaffled

There is no solid requirement to stop selling alcohol, apart from today (Sunday) because it is a Buddhist holiday.

People have been asked not to hold joyous events - hence some entertainment areas and venues have been closed. Their closure however is not by law, but because the owners have decided to. Entirely at the discretion of the establishment. (Again apart from today regarding alcohol). I don't think they will be closed for the full 30 days.

That being said, there is definitely a muted vibe in Bangkok, bands not playing, no loud music or celebrations. I was in ChiangMai yesterday also & there seemed to be less of an impact, although it is a more chilled out place to begin with.

Hotel lounges still serve alcohol today because they are private (as with the changes mentioned for these holidays at SGS)

Kelju

Can confirm this. No booze today in Westin Grande sukhumvit restaurants, but inside the lounge business as usual. ^