BARS AND CLUBS in Patong are gearing up for Thursday's visit by the US Navy but will all close on Tuesday, July 7, to mark Asamha Bucha Day, on of the holiest Buddhist holidays, for the first time this year.

Ninety-nine monks will take part in a merit-making ceremony in the early morning along Soi Bangla on that day instead.

Football and beach volleyball events will be held later in the day.

The decision to ban alcohol was made at a meeting last night of the Patong Entertainment Association at Baan Sukothai in Soi Bangla.

In the past, some individual bars have closed anyway as a mark of respect, said Steve Wood, of the Aussie Bar.

Somped Moosopon, president fo the Patong Entertainment Association, said: ''We would like to have everyone involved in this activity.''

Various sois and bar areas in the holiday resort will take part in male and female volleyball teams, three-legged races, tugs-of-war and other games, wearing one of nine distinct colors.

Alcohol is not normally sold on election days and the call from senior Buddhist monks to have alcohol banned on key religious holidays has grown stronger this year.

The lead of the Patong association is likely to be followed all over Phuket and will probably be nationwide this year.

Patong, though, is gearing up for the arrival of several thousand US sailors from Thursday.

The Aussie Bar is one of several bars that have already been booked for special events and activities.

''They are very thorough,'' Mr Wood said. ''We have already had their people in to check out the bar and make bookings.''

Mr Wood said that bar business was down 20-30 percent on last year, and Patong club and bar owners were grateful for every boost to business, large or small.

Fashion Week at Jungceylon in Patong and some nightspots is expected to boost accommodation numbers on the island by about 600 from June 24-30.


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