Beer Bus Bust

Fridaywithmateo · Post by **Fridaywithmateo** » Thu Feb 22, 2024 1:04 pm

https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501443679/ ... thorities/

Foreign ‘Beer Bus’ runs into trouble with Phnom Penh authorities

Khmer Times
February 21, 2024

A ‘Beer Bus’ tourist operation, run by foreign entrepreneurs – that promises to help drinkers “Explore Cambodia like never before, the Beer Bus way!” has run into problems with Phnom Penh authorities, who state that it is “causing anarchy on the public streets and affecting social order”.

Pursuant to the order of Lt. Gen. Chuon Narin, Deputy Commissioner General and Phnom Penh Municipal Police Commissioner on February 20, 2024, Police stated that “along Sothearos Street, Sangkat Chaktomuk, Khan Daun Penh and on the public streets [the vehicle] is causing anarchy on the public streets [and] affecting social order”

The proprietors of the venture have been told to “come to the Chaktomuk Administrative Police Station to educate, guide and stop mobile drinking activities on public roads.”

Since its inception in November 2023, the ‘Beer Bus’ – which resembles a mobile bar and caters to tourists and asks prospective customers if they are ‘Ready to hop on the joyride?‘ – has had concerns raised about the road safety of the venture, with revellers appearing not to wear seatbelts as they cruise through Phnom Penh.

Questions have also been raised as to whether the bus conforms to Cambodian societal norms.

However, social media reaction to the police action on the bus has been generally favourable to the ‘Beer Bus’, with comments such as “Encouraging and educating people to come up with new good things to promote tourism in the country. To be honest, there are not many places or new things in Phnom Penh. Ministry of Tourism should be interested, think about it. Tourism is a smoke-free industry, earns more income and jobs for people. Have a look and learn good things from your neighbors.”

and

“Cambodia needs a variety of entertainment to attract tourists. Authorities should provide a specific route for the cart in travelling and should be encouraged to do so.”

ressl · Post by **ressl** » Thu Feb 22, 2024 2:01 pm

This is the old article. Today they wrote, that they have shut it down.
Actually, this beer bus had differed dramatically from the original ones, since this one was not powered by the guests pedalling, but had an engine

HaifongWangchuck · Post by **HaifongWangchuck** » Thu Feb 22, 2024 3:23 pm

Seems like the Royal Government is finally cracking down on everything related to alcohol and automobiles, which is reasonable since this country is already one of the most permissive on earth for drinking and is one of the few nations on earth that have no laws relevant to limiting public consumption, even among the youth (Cambodia has no minimum age for drinking, hence why you always see young teenagers at bars).

I think it's been a long time coming, now if only they could remove all those horrible beer advertisements dotting every meter of NR6!

hanno · Post by **hanno** » Thu Feb 22, 2024 3:39 pm

HaifongWangchuck wrote: ↑Thu Feb 22, 2024 3:23 pm Seems like the Royal Government is finally cracking down on everything related to alcohol and automobiles, which is reasonable since this country is already one of the most permissive on earth for drinking and is one of the few nations on earth that have no laws relevant to limiting public consumption, even among the youth (Cambodia has no minimum age for drinking, hence why you always see young teenagers at bars).

I think it's been a long time coming, now if only they could remove all those horrible beer advertisements dotting every meter of NR6!

You seriously think this is a crackdown on drunk driving? First of all, the drinkers on the Beer Bus were NOT driving. Secondly, I am not holding my breath to see drunk driving getting tackled. Not as long as I see coppers in uniform getting pissed and then driving off.....

cabron · Post by **cabron** » Thu Feb 22, 2024 3:49 pm

hanno wrote: ↑Thu Feb 22, 2024 3:39 pm
HaifongWangchuck wrote: ↑Thu Feb 22, 2024 3:23 pm Seems like the Royal Government is finally cracking down on everything related to alcohol and automobiles, which is reasonable since this country is already one of the most permissive on earth for drinking and is one of the few nations on earth that have no laws relevant to limiting public consumption, even among the youth (Cambodia has no minimum age for drinking, hence why you always see young teenagers at bars).

I think it's been a long time coming, now if only they could remove all those horrible beer advertisements dotting every meter of NR6!
You seriously think this is a crackdown on drunk driving? First of all, the drinkers on the Beer Bus were NOT driving. Secondly, I am not holding my breath to see drunk driving getting tackled. Not as long as I see coppers in uniform getting pissed and then driving off.....

No not a crackdown, but an easy target for the cops.

Bluenose · Post by **Bluenose** » Thu Feb 22, 2024 4:08 pm

HaifongWangchuck wrote: ↑Thu Feb 22, 2024 3:23 pm Seems like the Royal Government is finally cracking down on everything related to alcohol and automobiles, which is reasonable since this country is already one of the most permissive on earth for drinking and is one of the few nations on earth that have no laws relevant to limiting public consumption, even among the youth (Cambodia has no minimum age for drinking, hence why you always see young teenagers at bars).

I think it's been a long time coming, now if only they could remove all those horrible beer advertisements dotting every meter of NR6!

I would say it is surprising how little trouble or hassle there is here from what would be classed as underage drinking almost anywhere else in the world.

HaifongWangchuck · Post by **HaifongWangchuck** » Thu Feb 22, 2024 8:26 pm

hanno wrote: ↑Thu Feb 22, 2024 3:39 pm
HaifongWangchuck wrote: ↑Thu Feb 22, 2024 3:23 pm Seems like the Royal Government is finally cracking down on everything related to alcohol and automobiles, which is reasonable since this country is already one of the most permissive on earth for drinking and is one of the few nations on earth that have no laws relevant to limiting public consumption, even among the youth (Cambodia has no minimum age for drinking, hence why you always see young teenagers at bars).

I think it's been a long time coming, now if only they could remove all those horrible beer advertisements dotting every meter of NR6!
You seriously think this is a crackdown on drunk driving?

There seems to be. The current government has made it a priority to tackle drunk driving since Cambodia has a relatively high fatality rate for motorists as well as pressure from publications like Phnom Penh Post (which has always taken a hardline against alcohol)

First of all, the drinkers on the Beer Bus were NOT driving.

Fair enough, but I think regardless that it still is offensive to many middle-class Cambodians who have begun turning against heavy alcoholism and such remnants of the Heart of Darkness era of Cambodian tourism (here in Siem Reap, they have begun--relatively lightly--a campaign against heavy public drunkenness in the areas adjacent to pub street, incl. escorting tourists back to their hotels and guest houses).

Secondly, I am not holding my breath to see drunk driving getting tackled. Not as long as I see coppers in uniform getting pissed and then driving off.....

Lately there has been a hard push against alcoholism by the public, ironically led by the youth who think their parents and elders drink too much. A popular comedian recently reneged on an ad campaign with Ganzberg iirc due to backlash against drinking. It seems that many people are also sick with the heavy saturation of alcohol products advertising everywhere and transmogrifying the country. This is a grassroots campaign and I think it will ultimately bear fruit since it is a serious problem that doesn't just affect life quality, but economic productivity as well.

IraHayes · Post by **IraHayes** » Thu Feb 22, 2024 11:20 pm

HaifongWangchuck wrote: ↑Thu Feb 22, 2024 8:26 pm
hanno wrote: ↑Thu Feb 22, 2024 3:39 pm
HaifongWangchuck wrote: ↑Thu Feb 22, 2024 3:23 pm Seems like the Royal Government is finally cracking down on everything related to alcohol and automobiles, which is reasonable since this country is already one of the most permissive on earth for drinking and is one of the few nations on earth that have no laws relevant to limiting public consumption, even among the youth (Cambodia has no minimum age for drinking, hence why you always see young teenagers at bars).

I think it's been a long time coming, now if only they could remove all those horrible beer advertisements dotting every meter of NR6!
You seriously think this is a crackdown on drunk driving?
There seems to be. The current government has made it a priority to tackle drunk driving since Cambodia has a relatively high fatality rate for motorists as well as pressure from publications like Phnom Penh Post (which has always taken a hardline against alcohol)

First of all, the drinkers on the Beer Bus were NOT driving.
Fair enough, but I think regardless that it still is offensive to many middle-class Cambodians who have begun turning against heavy alcoholism and such remnants of the Heart of Darkness era of Cambodian tourism (here in Siem Reap, they have begun--relatively lightly--a campaign against heavy public drunkenness in the areas adjacent to pub street, incl. escorting tourists back to their hotels and guest houses).

Secondly, I am not holding my breath to see drunk driving getting tackled. Not as long as I see coppers in uniform getting pissed and then driving off.....
Lately there has been a hard push against alcoholism by the public, ironically led by the youth who think their parents and elders drink too much. A popular comedian recently reneged on an ad campaign with Ganzberg iirc due to backlash against drinking. It seems that many people are also sick with the heavy saturation of alcohol products advertising everywhere and transmogrifying the country. This is a grassroots campaign and I think it will ultimately bear fruit since it is a serious problem that doesn't just affect life quality, but economic productivity as well.

You raise some interesting points that many long time expats might to easily dismiss as wishful thinking.
The most interesting of your observations is that of the changing attitude of the younger generation. This, I think, is an extremely valid point as generational change is the hardest for people to take note of as it happens so slowly. But, happen it does.
It is when people are young that their values are set and these are hard to change as they get older. Yes, they mellow a bit but they mostly continue to hold them as they age.
As these people age they move into positions of power and it is there that they will make their youthful ideals political and social policy. Their children will grow up with these values and ideals and the general population will follow suit as societal norms change. What was once custom and practice will no longer be tolerated but that could be another generation away yet.

John Bingham · Post by **John Bingham** » Thu Feb 22, 2024 11:55 pm

It's easy for teenagers to get a beer here if they want. Most don't really want it. When I was a teenager we'd have to get someone older to buy our booze and drink in hedges because the police would arrest you for drinking in public, whatever age you were. It's so easy to get that it loses a certain forbidden appeal. In western countries it's become so expensive that kids prefer huffing on spray cans.

phuketrichard · Post by **phuketrichard** » Fri Feb 23, 2024 10:35 am

why not eliminate the bus an just do walking Pub Crawls?
most of the bars ( hostess) are in a few block range
as i recall, per coivd, didn't someone do this?

Think of the $$$ that could be made ( "we will bring you 15 customers for a drink, how much commission will you pay?" )
advertise on FB an other social medias<
instant success

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