Drinking beer on the streets

It has been a very long time sinse you were alowed to Drink beer on the streets in Australia.

With bangkoks high tempretures in April, ( thats when we plan to go to BKK ) nothing would please me more than to go out at night to some of the night markets and drink a cold refreshing beer while browsing around. Also, on the street sampling street vendor food.

I did this sort of thing in Phuket in 2006 and had no problems there although i cant say for sure whether or not it was within Thai law. maybee i was just lucky enough not to get caught.

Has any one had any probems with this activity or any advice would be great.

Thanks and Regards

Drinking beer on the streets

Hi;

You were very lucky for Not being get caught drinking on the street in Thailand. I just can%26#39;t say about Phuket, I never travel there, Bangkok is the only city that I like to visit in Thailand.

Here is the deal , If you get caught consuming alcohol in the public street the fines will be heavy and including detention in jail. One thing for sure, the jail cell in Thailand is the last place you want to be in while vacationing here. Some bars in Bangkok provide out door tables for their customers for people watching and eat the foods. However, You can%26#39;t take the beers out to street. There are many tourist polices in Bangkok and quite a few guys have been thrown in jail here.

Drinking beer on the streets

In actuality, it%26#39;s standard practise to grab a beer at a 7/11 and drink it with your food at a street stand. After the bars close at 1 or 2AM, Lower Sukhumvit turns into a very long informal beer bar, as all the various bar workers head for the food stands which spring up after the street market folds itself up. Many pick up a can or two or three of beer on their way, and then linger until dawn, eating, drinking and socializing. I can%26#39;t imagine that anybody would be concerned with a farang having a can of beer out in the open. In any case, the most it could possibly cost you would be a couple hundred baht donation to the friendly policeman.;-)

You can drink beer at the street stalls while eating. Thais don%26#39;t like to see foreigners wandering around drinking beer but you%26#39;re unlikely to have much problem if you remain sober and polite. Technically it is an offence so bear that in mind. And beer will dehydrate you more in hot weather, Real lemon or orange juice is going to help you more :)

You specifically mentioned browsing around night markets with a beer. If you were to go to Suan Lum night market, for example, you could sit in their open air food court/beer court area and enjoy it there, but you would be discouraged from wandering out of this area into the shopping stalls. It%26#39;s just not a good idea for a tourist to put himself in a potentially difficult situation by wandering around with alcohol in hand. Sitting at a food stall is also perfectly ok. It%26#39;s mostly a matter of attitude on your part; thais appreciate politeness and a respect for their custom of acting conservatively in public. Smiles go a long way, too :)

Thanks very much for all of your well informed answers. Best to know whats right and whats wrong before you go.

Thanks and regards