The U.S. Navy left Pattaya just in time, as an alcohol ban is set to ruin the party Friday night and Saturday.
The U.S.S. Carl Vinson carrier group stormed Pattaya from Jan. 27-31, mobbing Walking Street and adding a little more frenzy to Soi 6. But it’s anchors away Friday morning and, for them, just in time.
Thailand will hold provincial administration organization elections Saturday and, as usual, Thailand nanny-state authorities don’t trust adults can drink alcohol the night before and vote responsibility the next day. So there is an sales-of-alcohol ban in Chonburi and other provinces outside Bangkok from 6 p.m. Friday to 6 p.m. Saturday.
Bangkok, its own governmental agency, is exempt from the alcohol ban and Nana Plaza should be a big draw for Pattaya boys looking to play.
For Pattaya, the alcohol ban means Walking Street go-go bars like the hot new Ka-Boom and the “Xtreme Adult Entertainment” on offer at PenthouseX will be closed Friday, but open as usual Saturday.
Things are worse for bars that open during the day. The GentsClubs.com group, operator of Pattaya’s 10 best gentlemen’s clubs, will shutter all but one of its bars all day Friday, even though the alcohol ban doesn’t kick in until 6 p.m. The exception is Maggie May Darkside, which will operate normally all weekend, although the alcohol ban means no booze until 6 p.m. Saturday.
On Saturday, most GentsClubs.com bars will remain closed, except Maggie May Darkside, which is open all day, and Club Fate, Buzzin Lounge and Webby’s, which open at 6 p.m. Saturday.
Alcohol Ban for PAO Elections
So, outside of the alcohol ban, what’s the big deal about PAO elections? These are for local provincial offices that oversee all of Chonburi and the 76 other provinces. In Pattaya, that means another coronation for the Kunplome clan, which has ruled Pattaya and Chonburi for decades.
Wittaya Kunplome, the middle brother to former Pattaya mayors Itthiphol and Sonthaya, is running for the umpteenth time and should face basically no opposition. The Kunplomes are powerful enough they can thumb their noses to Thaksin Shinawatra and his Pheu Thai Party, which now is run by his daughter, the prime minister.
Sonthaya has opted to contest under the banner of “We Love Chonburi” instead of joining forces with Pheu Thai, despite an invitation from the latter.
He recognizes that aligning with Thaksin could be problematic for voters in Chonburi, where Thaksin is often seen as a scourge.
Sonthaya’s decision reflects a strategic move to avoid potential electoral loss, considering the strong presence of the anti-Thaksin yellow-shirt faction in Chonburi.
While there is some backing for the orange shirts of the People’s Party in the region, support for the pro-Thaksin red shirts is limited and largely confined to areas like Pattaya with its hoards of Issan bargirls.
Most of those aren’t registered to vote in Chonburi anyway.
In contrast, Thaksin continues to enjoy significant support among the Northeastern community, though they represent just a small segment of the electorate in this eastern province.