Alcohol & Cigarettes
Thai's like a drink, and often like to drink to excess and why not? Go to any licensed shop and you will find a number of beers available in both small and large bottles, and more often than not either in a fridge or ice box. Singha, Leo, Chang, Tiger & Archa are the most popular beers in Udon Thani. Most cost in the region of 40-60 baht for a large bottle but a Thai may be able to get them a little cheaper if you are not in sight. There is a Lao Khow Thai Whiskey that is colourless and tastes pretty awful but if you persevere and have a few you can soon get used to it. There are other beers, wines and spirits available and are more expensive as many are imported but still cheaper then UK prices. Go to a bar and you will noticed a considerable jump in the cost of drinks and a small bottle of beer will typically cost the same as a large beer bought from a shop or more, the "girly" bars charge about 75+ baht for a small bottle. (and more than 100 baht for a lady drink!)
Cigarettes are really cheap compared to the UK. I smoke L&M's (made in the Philippines that cost 60-65 baht for a pack of 20! You can get Marlboro's and other imported cigarettes too and they are a little more expensive but nowhere near the shocking UK prices.
With cigarettes and Alcohol, there is a cheaper way to buy them if you have a Thai girlfriend or wife. There are suppliers littered about and she can easily walk in to one of these places and buy them. She may need to tell them she runs a business but they do not seem to check or even care. That is how it works in Issan, there are suppliers that are open to the public (so it seems) where you simply walk in and buy what you want and it's a great way to save a few baht.
If you want a life where the beer and cigarettes are cheap - head for Udon Thani!
Cigarettes are really cheap compared to the UK. I smoke L&M's (made in the Philippines that cost 60-65 baht for a pack of 20! You can get Marlboro's and other imported cigarettes too and they are a little more expensive but nowhere near the shocking UK prices.
With cigarettes and Alcohol, there is a cheaper way to buy them if you have a Thai girlfriend or wife. There are suppliers littered about and she can easily walk in to one of these places and buy them. She may need to tell them she runs a business but they do not seem to check or even care. That is how it works in Issan, there are suppliers that are open to the public (so it seems) where you simply walk in and buy what you want and it's a great way to save a few baht.
If you want a life where the beer and cigarettes are cheap - head for Udon Thani!