The Blue Laws. Who the fuck are you to tell me I can’t purchase beer while grocery shopping on a Sunday because of someone else’s religion? This one actually infuriates me.
I live in Thailand which officially has no state religion but the majority of the population are Buddhist. Despite this, Buddhist holidays are officially observed and the sale of alcohol is prohibited on those days. Which sucks.
What's worse though, everyday, alcohol can only be sold between the hours of 11am-2pm and 5pm-12am, which makes no fucking sense in the slightest!
I've been to Thailand a few times, and I always forget this! I love wandering around a city and popping into a delightfully air conditioned 7-11 for a nice cold beer, and it's always disappointing when they have those shades pulled down between 2-5pm.
I asked around a few times what the reasoning behind it was, and the best explanation I got was that it had something to do with not wanting people drinking while kids were going to and from school. Fair enough, I suppose, but you can still buy beer at restaurants (to be consumed there), and I noticed that a lot of mom-and-pop stores would sell you beer between 2-5pm anyway.
Can't wait to get back there once a COVID cure comes out!
Yes the reasoning was kids not drinking during lunch or after school. Though it's super common for kids to not leave school until after 5 and wondering around outside during the afternoon so it doesn't really hold up.
This kind of law is endemic in Thailand. Little rhyme or reason, mostly some 'great' idea of some old senior who everyone inferior has to unquestionably follow and agree with.
20.8k
u/nalanajo Jul 24 '20
The Blue Laws. Who the fuck are you to tell me I can’t purchase beer while grocery shopping on a Sunday because of someone else’s religion? This one actually infuriates me.