A Sober Recollection

A curious aspect of Thai elections is that all alcohol is banned over the 2-3 day period surrounding the vote. Bangkok's normally buzzing nightlife hotspots are deserted, save for a few confused tourists forlornly searching for a drink. It's amazing how important a beer becomes when you can't find one.
According to a Thai friend, the rationale behind it all is to stop party candidates throwing big free-beer parties and then bussing the amenably tipsy voters off to the polling stations. The Labour Party's focus groups should take note.