Foreigner Living in Thailand Faces 2 yr Prison For His Hotel Reviews

An American living and working in Thailand is currently facing up to 2 years in Thai prison if found guilty of giving a negative hotel review online. And he already spent 2 nights in prison without going to court yet.
I’ll give you my opinion on this later in the video, and I think many of you might be surprised who I believe is more at fault. Is the American at fault or the hotel who file a criminal complaint against him? I also go through my experience with a defamation allegation against me myself, although not in Thailand.
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[@stevenjustice8258]

It was corkage for the wine...Even in USA if you bring in your own wine to a restaurant you get charged corkage...he is being cheap.

[@stevenjustice8258]

It is cheap to bring in your own alcohol. You dont bring in your own food to a restaurant. It is how they make money...if you cant afford to go out to eat....eat at home.

[@pickledtesticles2870]

No in thailand everyone brings their own alcohol just need buy soda and ice

[@stevenjustice8258]

The hotel is going to lose even more business due to the bad press.

[@joemann2178]

Yes sadly this has been reported very inaccurately across the world.

[@PunditKING]

@@joemann2178 how so ? Going jail for a review? The most this hotel should be able to do is ban him from the hotel.

[@joemann2178]

@@PunditKING He didn't go to jail for posting a review, he went to jail for defamation.

[@tradeladder146]

@@joemann2178 He went to Jail for speaking his mind, Fook Thailand.

[@Voltramotorscambodia]

Boycot Thailand

[@kennedys9714]

he should have given it more thought for sure before shredding a businesses reputation for such a small issue. a corkage fee is pretty standard in hotels and restaurants.saying that none of us were there, we dont know how the conversation went down. but as a foreigner, a guest in Thailand we should know better and act better in these situations, be the one to defuse the situation.

[@Bubbabraindead]

Think about it.... Are you allowed to take a bottle of booze into a pub or bar back in North America. 500 baht is fuck all to pay.

[@dominiquelaurain6427]

Hi. As you ask, i give you my POV. I had many holidays in Thailand, so it is accurate. The main point is : as a foreigner you have to have to pay fines to authorities, hotel and so on. You don't have the "freedom" of wrongdoing, you might think. That specific case is interesting because it is valid mostly everywhere in the world !! in France, eating or drinking own food in restaurant/food shop, is forbidden ; in America, try it in fast food shop you ll see and so on. You dont need any formal law, it is common sense. So it was abuse from the american guest..he was wrong, he had to pay the small fee/fine right away, or simply after the restaurant manager explanation. The follow-up is common : with no way to sort it out, it becomes worse. Same story than the vaping french woman in Phuket...stopped by police..don't want to pay fine...pay more at the end. Complains on tripadvisor were untrue, so it is responsability to website censor those. Out of proportion I will say, and it is not the freedom which is subject..but these kind of behavior of bad tourists. Be a nice guest that's all.

[@Voltramotorscambodia]

Dominique Laurain all corrupts there , bulshit country , and more now because empty (corona)

[@rondodson5736]

I am not a bar hopper but i understand in most it is acceptable to bring your own bottle and just pay for mixers. The man could have saved himself a lot of trouble by saying he would not open his bottle in their restaurant or just leaving and going somewhere else. The article didn't say if he was given the choice to leave or told he couldn't drink before he was charged the service charge.

[@isaaclee1634]

I am not a thai but I am from Asia and I work in F&B. First and foremost, as a foreigner we visit a country as a guest, we should be polite and be respectful to others culture. Some of these visitors come as tourists, yes, they are there to spend money but the problem is 'they think they own you', rude and cocky. Firstly you earn respect from others by respecting them first. Secondly, don't be a bloody cheapskate, It may vary from a charge per person (regardless of whether they drink the wine or not) or per bottle. With rates varying from $1.50 per person to as high as $50 per bottle, it's important that you ask about corkage rates when you make the reservation at the restaurant. so if can't afford to pay cockage, go buy a few cans of beer and sit outside 7 eleven and drink. I travel alot, I read reviews before I book any place. Most of the times, I book places with good reviews, yes, sometimes I read the reviews, some 90% are good maybe 10% are bad reviews for a certain place. I use my common sense, I figure the 10% bad reviewers are whinners and cheapskate. These are the losers, should stay in their own home instead of travelling. Even in America, I doubt you are allow to bring a bottle into a restaurant without having to pay for corkage

[@midnightsunturbo]

Well said 👍🏻. I'm disgusted by those tourists who think they are better than the people who live there. GTFO.

[@mosesbraun4760]

Don't forget you are always guest in every country . You must respect the law if you cannot stay at home

[@unknown69667]

Great video! I think it is the American who is at fault. This started from the 500thb for the acholol?! And he became abusive purely because he thinks he is higher than the staff because he is the customer. Hate to tell you but the customer is not always right!! Being Thai myself and listening to what people think of Thais it saddens me how many look down on Thai people. It's the 'WHITE PRIVILEGE' mindset people have when they travel to other countries, and it can come across as very rude. The owner owns a business that was probably hit hard like many other hotels/companies due to covid. So having customers is vital for their business. However, the American should of settled it with the owner instead of it blowing up! what the hell was the Americans intention? To make himself look big? Maybe time behind bars will allow him to reflect on his actions... look at how news outlets Internationally have portrayed Thailand over this... Using 'modern day slavery' is not probably the best term to use. Like what do you expect the owner was going to do when someone claims you slave your employees? SO MUCH FOR BEING A KEYBOARD WARRIOR, NOW PLAYING VICTIM OF HIS OWN MESS 👍

[@donnguyen8443]

Many people often look down on Thai society due to the prostitution. Just a heads up.

[@midnightsunturbo]

I'm American and I agree. I'm often disgusted by how foreigners act and treat Thais. I personally witnessed an American riding motorbike on wrong side of the street to pass during traffic hours and hit a teenager Thai student. When police showed up he blamed the teenager girl. I told the American that I saw everything (I was also on motorbike and he passed me illegally on wrong of of the road) and that he was at fault. I told the police as well but police either didn't understand me or didn't want to hear me. This incident left a bitter taste and I stopped going to tourist places. Ever since then I go to places less traveled by foreigners.

[@unknown69667]

@@donnguyen8443 It's no brainer that people know Thailand as that. Yes although a major issue as a country, other Asian nations too have also succumb to this 'perception'. But let's look back at history and see that red light districts in Pattaya and Bangkok were created in order to cater to horny Americans Solidera who came over to fight in the Vietnam War. Many got them pregnant, but then the men went back to their wives back home. Same for many other countries around SE Asia. But like many other nations, poverty is rife thus the opportunities given to them are limited so they have do go into this business in order to send money back home to families. Just saying...

[@unknown69667]

@@midnightsunturbo Thailand has always had this perception of "losing face" whereby one would rather choose not to conflict or make a scene in order to "save face". In this case like you stated there might of been a lost in translation.

[@donnguyen8443]

@@unknown69667 Everything you said it true. The white American was totally wrong here, and he is paying the price. But for the vast majority of Thais, they need to improve their perception towards the world. Everyone in this world has a choice. And for the Thais, maybe the choice might be to get an education or create things they can sell and wean themselves off selling their bodies for a living. Plenty of Asian countries don't engage in this activity.

[@Menstral]

1) Corkage fee - Payment for bringing your own alcohol, usually if the restaurant serves alcohol. Well known fee and structure. 2) Some of these foreigner-hating comments are crazy. In 6+ months I have never seen (non-Indian) foreigners misbehaving even a little, though I am SURE it happens.

[@robbogsy3469]

Surely he is aloud to say what he wants,it’s obviously made him not happy staying there,we have all stayed somewhere where we have not been happy with something.

[@seriouscash]

if youre not happy with something bring it up to the management or the person in charge. dont defame ppl by talking behind their back and posting trash about them online

[@michaelb.3438]

Message from Tripadvisor: Due to a recent event that has attracted media attention and has caused an influx of review submissions that do not describe a first-hand experience, we have temporarily suspended publishing new reviews for this listing. If you’ve had a firsthand experience at this property, please check back soon - we’re looking forward to receiving your review! Wesley Barnes has been sued for defamation over his negative review of the Sea View Resort in Thailand. An American man who complained about the “unfriendly” staff at a Thailand resort in an online review faces up to two years in prison after being accused of causing “damage to the reputation of the hotel."3 days ago Welsey Barnes comment on Trip Advisor and Management reply read it for yourself you decide Wesley B wrote a review Jul 2020 1 contribution502 helpful votes Unfriendly staff and horrible restaurant manager Unfriendly staff, no one ever smiles. They act like they don't want anyone there. The restaurant manager was the worst. He is from the Czech Republic. He is extremely rude and impolite to guests. Find a another place. There are plenty with nicer staff that are happy you are staying with them. Read less Date of stay: June 2020 This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC. 307 Helpful votes 1 Save 4 Reposts Helpful Share Response from Tom Storup, Other at Sea View Resort & Spa Koh Chang Responded Jul 19, 2020 Dear Wesley B, We are sad to see that you have decided to post 2 negative reviews (the first one removed by Tripadvisor for violating their review guidelines) with the only purpose to defame our Food & Beverage Manager and the resort. We are certain, however, that everyone that reads and compares your review to that of all our other guests will see that your comments are far from the truth. We think it is very unfair for that you have chosen to try to give a very negative image of our wonderful resort and our very friendly staff so we would like to shed some light on what made you go this far. On the day you arrived, you decided together with some friends to have dinner in our Sunset Restaurant and you brought along your own bottle of liquor which goes against our rules, as it does in any hotel or resort I have worked or visited around the globe. As a standard, for any guest willing to bring their own bottled drinks there is a corkage fee of 500THB which you were informed by a member of our staff. When she informed you about our house rules you dismissed her and used abusive language towards her. The Food & Beverage Manager decided to intervene for the safety and comfort of our staff and guests who were having a peaceful dinner. It was then when another guest at your table took over the conversation with our F&B Manager and he apologized profusely and shook hands after a short chat. The F&B Manager then decided that, in order to avoid further disturbance, to allow you to have that liquor without charging you for the corkage fee. It was to our surprise that even after all the disruption you caused and our gesture of allowing you to drink your own bottle of liquor at our restaurant you still decided to write negative reviews on all possible review sites. We wish you a safe trip here in Thailand and we hope that other resorts don’t have to go through the same experience as the one we had. Best Regards, Tom Storup Rooms Division Manager

[@siroserra8053]

He brought a bottle of alcohol from outside into the hotel restaurant. He was banned from drinking it on the spot, and took his revenge by publishing negative and false opinions about the hotel. He was rightly reported and arrested. It could ruin a lot of people's jobs. If a Thai did it in America it would be worse for him.

[@rgrtnyjjc]

Streisand effect in action: Tripadvisor have just posted the following warning on the hotel listing: “This hotel or individuals associated with this hotel filed criminal charges against a Tripadvisor user in relation to the traveler writing and posting online reviews. The reviewer spent time in jail as a result.” And there is a substantial drop in the hotel’s ranking on said site.

[@markomalley]

I don't know about Canada, but in the US, defamation is a almost always civil matter, not a criminal matter -- that's why its handled very differently. As for this specific case, I obviously haven't read the actual reviews, but it seems that if the gentleman was just citing facts and was not embellishing, distorting, or otherwise trying to calumniate the business, I wouldn't think that he would have anything to worry about in the end. For example, if you accused a hotel of having bedbugs and had pictures of the bedbug tracks on the mattress or the bugs themselves, it shouldn't be considered defamation. But if you falsely accuse the hotel of having bedbugs in order to ruin them, then it would. But, as with all things, This Is Thailand...so the courts might not see it that way.

[@rondodson5736]

But apparently under Thai law as a foreigner a complaint about anything can have negative results.

[@gibbs2799]

Thailand tourism will face another setback due to this jail/prison sentence. Saw this front page news in USA. This doesn't happen in other countries. People has right to voice. Can't be intimated by owners and the police. Right or wrong, threat of imprisonment for hotel review is wrong. This applies to other businesses as well.

[@MEN101]

All the lady boy lovers will say it’s a fair sentence

[@rgrtnyjjc]

Going forward how will people be able to trust hotel reviews in Thailand? I envisage very few people leaving negative reviews for poor service etc. now that it’s well known that you can potentially face 2 years behind bars at the Bangkok Hilton for writing a few lines on TripAdvisor. Hotels can be confident now that poor maintenance, poor service, excessive fees etc. will generally go uncriticised online as the freedom of speech to do so has been removed.

[@Keyframe5]

There are ten thousands and thousands hotels in Thailand. There are countless of good and bad reviews. None of those arthur of the bad reviews all get 2 years in jail or have to go to court. Plus, you have to be pretty dumb to post your real name when leaving multiple bad reviews. So don't worry, you still have your freedom of speech.

[@rgrtnyjjc]

Keyframe5 Thailand I still have freedom of speech... in my home country. In Thailand however, it is a contentious matter; currently there’s been many tens of thousands of brave young Thais protesting in favour of democracy (of which freedom of speech is a fundamental aspect) & reform of the monarchy. Ordinarily any criticism of the junta or the monarchy can land people in very deep water, there’s certainly not freedom of speech regarding those topics. Back to defamation, the Thai laws are known to be harsh and have been known to be used/abused to silence legitimate criticism; as recently as 2019 the journalist Suchanee Cloitre was sentenced to two years for commenting on a case of Burmese immigrants who were being forced to work under terrible conditions in a poultry factory. As for this case, both sides probably went too far but especially the hotel. In the end everyone loses out here: the guest obviously, the hotel with the Streisand effect of bad press and potentially future tourism in Thailand to a degree.

[@rgrtnyjjc]

Well, now the Streisand effect can be seen in action since Tripadvisor have just posted the following warning on the hotel listing: “This hotel or individuals associated with this hotel filed criminal charges against a Tripadvisor user in relation to the traveler writing and posting online reviews. The reviewer spent time in jail as a result.” And there is a substantial drop in the hotel’s ranking on said site.

[@brianjohnson9105]

I left a bad review once for a Japanese restaurant. Never again. The review was honest, but they attack you if you don’t kiss their butt.

[@michaelb.3438]

Koh Chang hotel has agreed to drop charges against an American if he issues a public apology over his bad TripAdvisor reviews. The American, Wesley Barnes, has agreed to the conditions put forward by Sea View Resort in exchange for avoiding up to 100,000 baht in fines and a possible jail time of up to 5 years. The hotel filed a libel complaint against Barnes in August after he published negatives reviews online with TripAdvisor which the hotel says were “false and defamatory”. The bad reviews surfaced after Barnes and staff members disagreeing about a corkage fee in which Barnes brought in his own alcohol to the hotel’s restaurant. Barnes, however, continued to post multiple negative reviews about the staff which included racists remarks against a staff member. Hotel owners say those remarks caused staff to be threatened and the hotel to be defamed with some visitors cancelling their stays at the island resort. Police detained Barnes under criminal defamation and computer crime laws for 2 days last month before releasing him on bail in a move that human rights activists point to the harsh and sweeping laws against defamation in Thailand. Now, the hotel says if Barnes apologises by sending statements to the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the US Embassy, TripAdvisor and to media outlets, it will drop the charges. “Under conditions that Barnes shows his sincerity and takes full responsibility for what had happened and remedy the situation, the hotel will be delighted to drop the charge.” Barnes says he would comply with the hotel’s wishes, but didn’t elaborate. “I’m sending an email to many media outlets.” Since the dispute began, both Barnes and the owners of Sea View have had a very public slanging match that has done little to help the reputation of either party. Read some more about the issue HERE. SOURCE: Bangkok Post This post was last modified on October 10, 2020 10:44 am

[@Paulanthony01]

Hotels everywhere have different policies about Alcohol and when the server informed the man then the man should have been more gracious about it. If he was being charged a CORKAGE FEE then just pay it and forget the headache or go somewhere else .

[@DickCheeseman]

Thailand has a lot of crap hotels. It’s better to wait until you get home before complaining though.

[@tedydjajawinata2480]

I think it was wrong for the tourist to argue about the corkage fee knowing that it is a common rule of restos in many countries, but at the same time, it would be wiser for the hotel to simply reply to his negative reviews explaning the situation.

[@SheepNoMo]

I'm on koh chang every year and i know the sea view resort either. The past 20 years i never faced any trouble. It's simple if you like it stay if you don't go somewhere else. There are so many nice places to stay so why worry about it much while you actually want to relax and have a good time during the journey. I might not understand every visitor but Thailand is very different and i guess that's why people like it. I never read or write any reviews i just visit places and decide for myself i keep the good memories and forget the bad ones. The above could have been avoided on many levels.

[@dannywilliams5192]

the sea view is very cosy. if you bring your own bottle like a expensive scotch whiskey. its very cheap to pay the fee to drink it. for the manager to let him do that without paying shows us how nice the manager was. the rooms there are lovey as well as the staff. food is very tasty I will look forward to staying there again. Danny Williams. Australia🦘🦘🦘

[@Johnlee0513]

First and formost.....Why blame the server who's responsibility is to take your order and bring you when ready, the server is required to inform any participant of the "rules and regulations" of any hotel or restaurant regarding anything brought in outside of the menu. Why didn't this cheapskate just go somewhere else? and be done with it?

[@Karenanneseven]

Exactly

[@aramisjamais8469]

A review (either negative or positive) is just a point of view about the experience of the guest. Many businesses have both bad and good reviews and their replies are simple and practical, saying thank you and that they are happy about the guest experience when the review is positive; and in the case of a negative review they reply to their guest saying they apologize for the bad experience and promising they will look into it and try to improve, which is what most of the businesses do, and that is common sense. I do not understand why this particular case went too far, it seem senseless, Regardless of the negative reviews on different media. I doubt a simple negative review can affect a business, much less bringing it down, same as for a positive review. Reviews (positives or negatives) cause and effect when there is an extreme unbalance negative or positive, otherwise both of reviews are pretty common

[@rondodson5736]

I think in this case the hotel filing criminal charges will have more negative effect that the man's reviews.

[@Voltramotorscambodia]

500 bath to police and it’s solve 😂🤮😡

[@rossharley8285]

Why have reviews????

[@rondodson5736]

In states this complaint would have been in civil court not criminal. Facts have to be ascertained whether his statements were truthful or not, if not truthful then damages would be assessed. I know in Thailand if you are charged for anything as a foreigner it is very likely you will lose in a Thai court.

[@Voltramotorscambodia]

Not only boycot hotel, boycot to all Thailand

[@elsupremo101]

I guess we can all agree that this incident has been blow out of any proportion, but I still don't see how this came to be. Was not TripAdvisor asked to intervene to cancel repetitive comments?

[@iqcreative4584]

Yes, we don't know the whole story, but it was not smart from him.. to raise his voice and to play with the Thai law as a foreigner... you will always loose.. I hope the case get solved.

[@Karenanneseven]

I noticed one was removed by Trip Advisor then he kept posting. Idiot 🙄. You can’t take your own alcohol into any licensed premises in any country. These people think they’re better than everyone else in the country they’re visiting & they can do what they like. I’m glad he went to jail….

[@jeremycoombes3336]

Welcome to thailand

[@brunobro7937]

This is Thailand and if you don't like their rules do not come here, period! If you want the wester countries rules just you keep over there

[@DickCheeseman]

It’s the hotel’s rules, not Thailand’s rules.

[@armunro]

Sounds like a difficult foreigner (I am being very polite here). If he lives in Thailand he should know about the defamation laws (I personally don't agree with this law; but its the local law). He could have managed it better. Sometimes it better to walk away from something rather than make a point and then become a victim.

[@stevenjustice8258]

In north America...defamation is civil...not criminal... you dont go to jail in north america.

[@GerinPhils]

What was the end result here ? any updates ???

[@stevenjustice8258]

Corkerage is always at the discretion of the hotel or restaurant.... dont like it eat dont eat there...

[@Voltramotorscambodia]

Steven Justice in Canada it’s usual for restaurants without alcool license

[@HaHa-sh7cu]

For me it's black and white. Your not in your country, although some might say it's only a review but you must remember which country is the review being written towards. Thai law is big on defamation therefore it supersedes the thought of some feedback just being a review. Thailand's hotel, Thailand's rules.Either you like it or you don't, it is what it is.

[@DickCheeseman]

A paying customer should be able to complain about bad service. It’s not about where you’re from.

[@HaHa-sh7cu]

@@DickCheeseman exactly right but unfortunately when you're in another country your rules don't exist anymore. As for this situation, I doubt very much he was using his manners correctly. Some of the points he brought up were just full of fluff.

[@yenphung8809]

The American rules does not applied worldwide. If you think your way is the only way, I dont think you will be haapy anyway. I believe the hotel, I see many rude Westerner in many countries, its ridiculous.

[@yenphung8809]

I however do agree 2 years in jail is unwarranted for being a asshole lol.

[@Eyeswide39Open]

Whilst I don’t doubt that the American foreigner was possibly out of line insofar as not acknowledging the hotel’s good will gesture, I do not understand how Asian countries still think it’s okay to be behaving in such a manner - taking someone’s freedom for a negative review? How does the punishment fit the crime?!

[@aswler]

He should have paid the fee or left the hotel to drink elsewhere. But he was definitely free to write the review, the hotel had the right to respond but I cannot understand the long jail time possibly awaiting him.

[@kemardennis4431]

I know there are bad behaving tourist but after hearing so much negative things from so many people visit there about Thailand i can say this is not a nice country to visit They talk ing about land of smile, Those are fake smiles

[@lexflow2319]

Name the hotel so we can know to be careful there

[@joemann2178]

Seems like a good law, at least it would make people think twice about reality and the truth, before defaming someone for your own personal gain.

[@MEN101]

Imagine if you said prince Charles is a fool and got 29 years jail... that’s what happens also in Thailand if you criticize the monarchy

[@joemann2178]

@eric johnson Please explain yourself more clearly.

[@lespaul1323]

This customer is an utter failure for just avoiding trouble. 2 years in a jail will help him think about his "principle"or walk away and get on with a good life in Thailand. Thailand is not perfect and so is many country and USA. Not defending this hotel. Many time we have to choose our battle. this nasty review just show what kind of person he is.

[@ratanaun2960]

Very nice coverage. The out-of-line/rude American customer (Wesley Barnes), was freed by the wonderful TripAdvisor. He spent only 2 days in jail. I came here after reading the news and was planning to bash the hotel, Sea View on Koh Chang. TripAdvisor was not obliged to defend this person since he posted similar reviews on other websites. By doing this, they are in essence fighting to change the overall Thailand's laws. Let the common Thais do that.

[@saiyjin98]

Censoring bad reviews using police force shouldn't be tolerated. The guest truthfully had a bad time and thus left a truthfully bad review. If the hotel doesn't want more reviews like this in the future, they should reconsider their policies that upset this guest. There is no defamation here.

[@cdxx2966]

so I guess its ok for him to bring his own food to restaurant to eat also?

[@saiyjin98]

@@cdxx2966 As long as he buys something from the restaurant then yes. He should be able to bring his own food and buy a drink. The restaurant wouldn't complain about another customer who only buys a drink and sits down at a table would they?

[@cdnsk12]

A $15 corkage charge for a $10 bottle of gin seems a bit much.

[@thecanadakid7622]

That's how they make moneyl. It's not just the price of the meal/drink you are eating it's the seats/location of the restaurant. If you were not there someone who will spend money could be sitting there. If you go to a busy resto and sip a coffee for 2 hours, they could have lost 150-200$ as example as your table could have served several people. You can't equate it to outside costs at all. That bottle of gin will equal several hours of people not buying alcohol. They are at a loss even with the fee so it's only fair they get something for your time there.

[@Lmao2025]

ENZA DENINO

[@williamsheil]

In Australia it is relatively common for a licensed restaurant to charge a "corkage" fee for bringing alcoholic beverages from outside. If you don't like it then go elsewhere. There is no right to abuse the staff even if you have a complaint but you do have a right to rate and comment on your experience on websites set up for that exact purpose. If the foreigner was staying at that resort, the resort would have all of his contact information and could have gotten in touch with him. The resort has the right of reply on most platforms and can have a comment taken down if it breeches the website's comments policy. For the resort to sue for defamation is an abuse of the law, they knew what they were doing. That being said, I think your channel is "redacted, redacted, redacted, redacted and redacted" as I don't want to be arrested next time I visit Thailand. Keep rolling out the videos. 👍😁👍

[@chefandy72]

This has a CCCP feel to it. And when this guy says "foreigner" you can read in "Falang" a name used for white skinned foreigners.

[@BobbyDazzler888]

Which hotel?

[@ter1413]

Sea View Resort in Koh Chang. Took all of 3 seconds to find.

[@ter1413]

@eric johnson Why? have you visited the resort before?

[@BobbyDazzler888]

eric johnson i know which hotel to never visit now.

[@BobbyDazzler888]

Yeah i dunno, after the red bull incident, the rule of law is super sketchy.

[@felicialartey8865]

The give less food in the restaurant for a fat obese pumpui farang like me. I shall never complain again 😁 i order an extra plate to fill my belly

[@NapoleonDynamyte]

The real issue here is not the beverage but the review. If a customer cannot leave a bad review based on his opinion, we got a problem! Sounds like the hotel strong armed him into trying to remove the bad review claiming defamation. Review sites don’t exist just for good reviews but also bad ones. At the end of the day…make the customers happy. Furthermore, arrest and detainment for a minor disagreement like this is way out of order. This is a civil issue not a criminal one.

[@glen7849]

You just don't talk badly in public online about any business here in Thailand, we know it's illegal, Wether it's wrong or right, it's the law, it's just better to follow the laws of the country you live in, especially when so much is at stake

[@Karenanneseven]

@@glen7849 well said….

[@JCDenton303]

One foreigner did it, so all foreigners do it, now that is infallible logic!

[@ShoelessNomadThailand]

Good 555 give him 10 years. Make some large Arab a nice wife. 555

[@stevenjustice8258]

Southpark tv show does a great show about Yelp reviews.

[@thierryh.5963]

Living in thailand ... sweet ... who wants that anymore ?

[@ustradingdiary]

For 15 usd, go to jail for 2 years.....

[@Kevin-lo1le]

Great video thanks 🙏

[@Keyframe5]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@azntoogood]

freedom of speech? Hotels should do better at making their customers happy.

[@ivanalvarez2440]

I believe the American is at fault here. First of all the American should have been aware of the hotel policies and abide by them. Second of all his negative reactions towards the hotel staff was not necessary and this could have been avoided. To top it off this was a no win win battle between the hotel and the American. Now the hotel is left out with bad reviews and the American has a bad reputation in Thailand. I am hoping that the American has learned his leason from all this.

[@atlshawn]

Businesses set rules. As long as the rules are communicated the clients should abide by them or do business elsewhere. Acting like a jerk and deciding the rules only apply to others and then posting negative reviews is BS. Especially when traveling to other countries we all need to remember that we are guests and to act properly.

[@nickhanlon9331]

First of all reviews by complete strangers should be treated like toilet door grafitti. Second, the review system will be treated very lightly from now one due to this case because everyone knows what will happen if you write a bad review. Thirdly, Caveat Emptor is still in play. It's up to you to decide what is good for you.

[@terjejohnsen3651]

He can get up to 5 years in jail.

[@Kevin-lo1le]

The American is 1000% wrong, people can destroy your business with lies, I’m very happy Thailand has these laws, every country should have them, well done Thailand 🇹🇭

[@Lazegoose55]

I like the format of the video.

[@MyStampingMyPolish]

Its normal to ask before you go in with outside bought drinks in any place in Thailand, but i was thinking can you go in with a bottle of gin in an american restaurant in America, that you bought outside? i dont know

[@niramonmacfalun1821]

Boycott the hotel

[@Syamhouse_]

Harsh critic. Pood.jin.jai,Mai.dee.lloh.?

[@michaelorfanos7416]

I agree that this guy was not nice. He is like CNN, lie and change the story.

[@Cloud9er]

Corkage is normal and so are bad reviews. You don't file suit against someone for bad reviews. He faces 2 years in prison for practicing free speech. Good job hotel, now anyone with any sense should avoid staying there because you behave like fascists. Nobody can leave a bad review there anymore and speak the truth lest they suffer your tyranny. Last resort is just a weak reason/excuse.

[@Keyframe5]

Please look up the term for defamation and free speech.

[@Keyframe5]

Also look at some hotels reviews online in Thailand. There are still lots of negative reviews. You are mixing up free speech with defamation.

[@bruceh6353]

Give your heads a shake. A bad review is nothing, grow the EF up and move on .

[@itsudesuka]

I'd say the American is behaving like an entitled person. There's no need to be rude. When you are in someone else's territory you either follow their ways or you can choose to go elsewhere. As for leaving negative comments, it is his right as a customer to do so, the onus is on the reader to look at the other reviews and make a wise, informed decision for themselves. 2 years imprisonment doesn't benefit the Thai government though having to waste resources on him, a heavy fine would be much more useful to the country. As for the hotel, they should reply to the reviews and move on. You can't stop the all the assholes in this world doing the dumbass things that they do

[@dmlkcs8620]

itsudesuka, I totally agree the American has an entitled behavior (or is a total narcissist) and probably why the issue is not resolved yet. The American feels he succeeded because it became International news and will continue on until he wins it all.

[@ellvtv2314]

Freedom of speech doesn't mean freedom from the consequences, which is he is finding out right now. And the laws of one's home country doesn't apply to another. A lifetime ban from Thailand is a suitable punishment, after serving his prison sentence. Thailand doesn't need these toxic people in the Kingdom.

[@ellvtv2314]

@eric johnson Just kicking out entitled foreigners would do. Western countries don't tolerate trouble causing foreigners either, why would Thailand?

[@edl8056]

Better delete this video. Because now someone in Thailand can report you for perpetuating the story. In essence, you are criticizing the hotel by posting this video