PHUKET: Bar owners in Patong reckon they are the greatest supporters of democracy in Thailand. Whenever there is an election, on Phuket or nationally, it costs them millions of baht.

This week, they are the burgers between two buns of elections - last Sunday's Phuket-wide vote for the council of the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation (which is likely to give the party of President Paiboon Upatising a clear majority) and next Sunday's vote for Patong mayor.

Bars and nightclubs in Patong will have to close again next Saturday night from 6pm, just as they did from 6pm last Saturday night, again until midnight on Sunday.

Estimates of the generosity of the entertainment industry of Patong vary, but by the calculations of at least one owner, Patong barkeeps alone sacrifice 10 million baht every time venues are forced to close for an election.

That's unfair. Phuketwan cheekily asked for a beer last Saturday night in one Phuket City restaurant and again in another restaurant on Sunday night and was supplied with alcohol on both occasions, despite the ban.

In Patong, it's a different story.

The venues that front Soi Bangla and other popular tourist streets in particular have to be seen to be closed. Otherwise, Phuket police will be in trouble with the Office of the Provincial Election Commission of Phuket.

We don't know if it will be possible to find places open or venues that will serve alcohol despite the law in Patong this weekend, but we suspect other cheeky people will probably be asking: ''Can I have a drink?''

There's no harm in asking.

However, a number of questions arise in looking at the hardship inflicted on the bar and venue owners of Patong this week.

The first one is, why couldn't both elections be held on the same day, thus minimising the pain for the venue proprietors, the workers who are probably in some cases not going to get paid, and the poor thirsty, ignorant tourists?

The best answer we have been able to get this week is that it's simply due to a lack of coordination and cooperation between the people responsible for calling last Sunday's island-wide election and the people responsible for calling this Sunday's Patong mayoral election.

That's a lack of a phone call or two that will cost the venue owners of Patong possibly a cool 10 million baht. Closing Patong two Saturday and Sunday nights in a row isn't exactly a good advertisement for tourism, either.

Add the inconsistencies in enforcing the law, and you have a result that is unfair and unjust to many. Democracy, by the way, is supposed to be about doing away with unfairness and injustice.

We are told that the law banning alcohol at elections in Thailand was introduced early this century to make sure people got to the polls, and to make sure they got there alive.

Because many people have to travel home to different parts of Thailand to vote, apparently the tendency once was to have a farewell party in one town and another party on arrival back home.

This often meant that good voting citizens failed to reach the polling booths or even worse, died on the roads getting there.

This month's Tiger Disco blaze in which four people died also raised more broadly the question of drinking hours on Phuket.

While it's true to say that the four people who died in the fire would still be alive today if the nightclub had closed at 2am, the venue's extended hours had nothing to do with the cause of the blaze.

What's fair to say is that the present laws governing opening hours are in need of urgent reform.

Phuketwan attended the 2.39am memorial gathering for the Tiger Disco victims in the week following the blaze.

We took the opportunity to arrive in Soi Bangla early and watched as two police tried to close down bars on time, at 2am.

At one crowded bar with live music, the tourists were having a great time and did not want to leave. Only with the utmost effort did the MC manage to persuade them to finally vacate the premises at 2.25pm.

At another venue, police and accompanying media were greeted by security guards with an attitude that was decidedly aggressive.

Clearly, tourists want to party. Enforcing this law with the number of police on duty at night in Patong is a nightmare.

While looking on at what was happening, we saw a woman tourist collapse in the middle of Soi Bangla from drunkenness. She had clearly had too much fun.

Her male companion tried to pick her up, but she was heavy and he was not in the best of condition himself.

The point is that in countries where extended drinking hours are already permitted, the managers of venues strictly enforce codes of behavior.

Patrons who have too much to drink are refused service. Security guards who display aggression or violent tendencies are sacked.

Sadly, while Patong remains loose with the law and drunkenness and thuggery are nightly issues, reforms seem unlikely.

However, we do commend the entertainment venue proprietors of Patong for their generosity.

When all is said and done, a fair and democratic solution would be to vote on it: hold a referendum on drinking laws on Phuket and enforce the majority's wishes.