Phuket residents urge authorities to crack down on illegal alcohol sales in Patong

Locals in Patong are calling on the police to investigate people who are allegedly selling alcohol on Bangla Road in the early hours of the morning.

The Phuket Express reports that a number of vendors on the popular tourist thoroughfare have been accused of not only providing alcohol to tourists outside of the legal selling hours, but giving them somewhere to sit and enjoy it.

One resident who was driving on Bangla Road at 6.00am yesterday says a number of people were selling alcohol to foreigners and had placed tables and chairs along the road where their customers could sit and drink.

Late last year, as the tourism high season got underway, police began cracking down on illegal food and drink vendors on Bangla Road, as well as responding to complaints about transgender (specifically) prostitutes.

At the time, Weerawit Kreuasombat from the Patong Entertainment Business Association made it clear that the unlicenced sale of alcohol along the road is illegal.

“Selling alcohol in foam boxes by vendors or pop-up style alcohol booths must be banned as this is illegal. Bangla Road is a public road and one cannot sell alcohol on the road.”

One woman found to be selling alcohol illegally was given a police warning and responded by taking her clothes off in protest.

SOURCE: The Phuket Express