Picture this: the pristine beaches of Phuket, usually abuzz with laughter and clinking cocktail glasses, suddenly gripped by a silence only broken by the sound of disbelief. This isn’t a plot from a mystery novel but the reality for this popular Thai island during the solemn Asarnha Bucha and Khao Pansa holidays—a time reserved for reflection and spiritual enrichment but now also the stage for a controversy involving the local constabulary and the boozy cheer of the town’s thriving nightlife. On the evening of July 10 and stretching into the mystical hours of July 11, police officers in snug-fitting uniforms cast a cautious eye over the island, ensuring that the prohibition juggernaut rolled through without a hitch. Under the watchful leadership of Chalong Police Chief, Colonel Rungrit Rattanaphakdi, an army of officials meticulously inspected bars and restaurants, enforcing a strict alcohol ban that left both tourists and locals pondering whether…
