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Phuket Ban on Alcohol at Stores Maintains Holiday Island's Religious Tolerance
By Chutima Sidasathian Monday, December 1, 2014
PHUKET: More corner convenience stores in the Phuket holiday destination of Kamala, north of Patong, have abandoned the selling of alcohol, local mayor Karoon Sriden confirmed today.
Mayor Karoon told Phuketwan that Kamala, like many places on Phuket, sought a balance between the needs of its Muslim residents and visiting tourists.
''There have always been restrictions on sales of alcohol near mosques and the new arrangement expands the no-alcohol area slightly,'' he said.
Alcohol continues to be available at 7-Elevens and other convenience stores on the main coast road through Kamala and at a store in a lane near the FantaSea show, he said.
The expansion of the alcohol sales ban came at the request of local Imams, the mayor added.
Somewhere between one third and one quarter of the registered population of Phuket is estimated to be Muslim.
The island has always been a place where people of different religions live alongside each other.
Police along Phuket's holiday coast cite alcohol abuse as the major reason for many of the minor altercations they are forced to mediate.
Many tourists are surprised to learn of the tolerant nature of the island, which has more than 50 mosques and about 20 Chinese Taoist shrines as well as Buddhist temples, a nunnery and a growing number of Christian churches.
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Comments
Comments have been disabled for this article.
Looking at the increasing numbers of obese children outside the main school in Kamala maybe it would be better to ban all the sweetie sellers outside the gates or push them back at least 100m so the kids get some exercise.
Hang on though - that won't work as half of them are on motorbikes!
Posted by
Mister Ree
on
December 1, 2014 13:04
Surly we don't need "restrictions" to force people to observe the tenants of their own religion do we? You don't mean to suggest that some "Muslims" might buy alcohol if it weren't "restricted". Maybe the imans should address this apparent contradiction before labelling any area as "Muslim".
BTW, this is far from religious tolerance. It is, in fact, the complete opposite.
Posted by
CaptainJack
on
December 1, 2014 19:06
Editor Comment:
Is alcohol obligatory to Christianity, Cap'n Jack? It's no different to not selling alcohol at convenience stores at petrol stations. A small concession to make. And probably good for Muslims and non-Muslims alike. You mean ''tenets.''
Is this by the law? Can they stop selling alcohol by religious reasons?
Say Bye bye to tourists kamala within 2-3 years.
Then the muslin society can start fishing again, as they did before they got income from tourists coming and spending 30000-50000 baht per person each year.
And why have a ban for alcohol when they are not drinking them selves?
Posted by
Peter
on
December 2, 2014 01:01
Editor Comment:
There are some convenience stores near mosques that don't sell alcohol. This is the same across all of Phuket, and throughout Thailand. Other convenience stores do sell alcohol. The bars are still open, selling alcohol. No point in giving yourself nightmares, Peter.
Tolerance? What tolerance?
Posted by
Kurt
on
December 2, 2014 13:59
Editor Comment:
The tolerance that allows people of many religions to live in the same island without problems, Kurt. Only a few people seem to be unhappy about that.
What about the bars and shops selling alcohol around the big mosque in Patong?
Moslims not drinking alcohol in Kamala, come on, I know quite a few there that drink beer and whiskey.
Posted by
Duncan B
on
December 2, 2014 16:18
Editor Comment:
There is a dry area down Phrabaramee Road in Patong, where the largest mosque is located. I am sure the concept is applied around all mosques. Bad Muslims do, of course, drink alcohol. Bad Christians, I guess, must go for days without a drink.
I agree with Editor's thinking about tolerance. Tolerance however works 2 ways. In this matter, if a muslim person not want to drink alcohol ( many Phuket muslims do actually) I respect that. In PW article I reed .." sought a balance between the needs of its Muslim residents and visiting tourists"... What balance is needed? And what about non muslim residents in Kamala? Kamala is not that touristic. Expanding the non alcohol area 'slightly' means 'slightly less tolerance toward non muslims. Don't misunderstand me, this is not about alcohol;, it is a principle matter. Tolerance = Live and let live!
Posted by
Kurt
on
December 2, 2014 19:01
Editor Comment:
I don't know how long the corner store or stores have been open and selling alcohol but I would be surprised if this was an unexpected turn of events. Many people who drink don't want alcohol for sale at corner stores around the clock. The balance of having sales permitted in the main street but not around mosques poses no serious problem. You are simply less tolerant than most people Kurt, and I don't intend to delve into your published and unpublished comments to prove that. As the Muslims are the residents and according to you Kamala is ''not that touristic,'' then tolerance is being well-maintained.
Excuse me, Mr Editor, forgive me, but your reply is a personal opinion. It is not a reaction on my comment. I am a tolerant person. I wrote: Tolerance is ..Live and let live. Alcohol sales from 11:00-13:00 hrs and 17:00-24:00 hrs is different of what you react with "around the clock" . And you forgot to mention about kamala non muslim residents. yes? It seems you not understand that behind this 'needs of muslim residents' initiative are complete or motives. Are the non muslim residents of kamala asked about their opinion in this matter. Was it democraticly discussed in Obor Tor? Imams who call for restrictions, is that tolerant/democratic? Once again, it is not about alcohol, it could have been any other subject. It is not correct that religious'leaders' make the music for a whole community. That is not tolerant.
Posted by
Kurt
on
December 2, 2014 20:33
Editor Comment:
If you were a tolerant person you would not be exaggerating the importance of this article, Kurt. Plainly, you are not tolerant. Goodbye.
Taking away peoples freedom of choice is not tolerance, it is oppression.
Taking away peoples freedom of choice is not in line with the teachings of any main-stream religion, both Christianity and Islam included.
The problem here, as has been seen in many western countries, is the risk of entire areas becoming segregated by religion. Such delineation, far from engendering tolerance, has been proven to isolate communities and even to promote conflict between them.
BTW, it is illegal to drink and drive, hence no alcohol at petrol stations. It is illegal for minors to drink, hence no alcohol near schools. It is not illegal to drink if you happen to live near a mosque.
BTW, there is a well known bar/restaurant (selling alcohol) in the Soi directly behind the mosque in Patong. It's even in a pool league.
BTW, I don't drink and never have.
Posted by
CaptainJack
on
December 2, 2014 21:06
Editor Comment:
If there is a bar selling alcohol behind the mosque in Patong, then it appears to be plain that bars are accepted as appropriate places for the sales of alcohol, but that convenience stores accessed by children are not. As a drinker, I don't have a problem with that. Lacking respect for others' religious beliefs is a sign of great intolerance. On balance, I'm with the expat police volunteer who thinks Patong would be a much better place if sales of alcohol were banned at all convenience stores. Sadly, tolerance of alcohol has killed and needlessly ruined too many lives. The problem of segregation by religion is all in your imagination, CaptainJack. I suggest you keep it there. It doesn't happen on Phuket. And alcohol is destructive, whatever your religion.
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Looking at the increasing numbers of obese children outside the main school in Kamala maybe it would be better to ban all the sweetie sellers outside the gates or push them back at least 100m so the kids get some exercise.
Hang on though - that won't work as half of them are on motorbikes!
Posted by Mister Ree on December 1, 2014 13:04