PATTAYA, Thailand – As Pattaya debates rising prices and changing bar culture, few topics ignite as much emotion as the humble “lady drink.” A recent wave of reader comments highlights a growing disconnect between tourists’ expectations and the realities facing bar workers — with mobile phones, commissions, and shifting attitudes all under scrutiny.
Many readers complain that smartphones have changed the atmosphere inside bars, especially on busy strips like Soi 6. Where once there were drinking games, quick jokes, and constant interaction, critics now say some staff spend more time on screens than with customers. Calls to ban phones outright — even suggesting lockers behind the bar — are common, along with criticism of mamasans accused of failing to enforce house rules.
Others argue the frustration is misplaced. Several commenters point out that a lady drink is not about alcohol at all, but commission and time. “You’re paying for attention, not what’s in the glass,” one reader wrote, urging tourists to stop fixating on the drink itself. From this perspective, doing the minimum results in minimum effort — on both sides of the bar.
Some long-time visitors look back nostalgically to the early 2010s, recalling a time before smartphones dominated nightlife. Stories of Connect 4 games, flick bingo, spontaneous dancing, and playful banter paint a picture of a more interactive, carefree era. By comparison, today’s experience feels transactional, with higher prices and less engagement.
There is also a broader economic undertone. Rising lady drink prices, competition from newer destinations like Vietnam, and changing tourist demographics are all cited as reasons Pattaya’s bar scene feels different. As one blunt commenter summed it up: “There will always be somebody to pay the prices — just maybe not you.”
In the end, some readers conclude that expectations, not bars, are the real problem. If attention costs more and interaction feels forced, a quiet beer alone may be the better value. As one comment put it simply: the wallet is much happier drinking alone.
