93 arrested for alcohol in restaurant across from police station

In what has become a common occurrence, police raided an establishment and arrested people illegally serving and consuming alcohol. In Pathumwan district of Bangkok Monday night, police raided a restaurant within a shopping centre and arrested 93 people with alcoholic beverages.

In real estate, as in illegal alcohol sales, location is everything, and the raid occurred on the second floor of the shopping centre that sits across the street from the headquarters of the National Police Bureau. Police say they were acting on a tipoff that the restaurant was selling and serving alcohol to customers.

Tapas Music Bar by Vaso had received warnings on October 16 and again on October 17 not to sell drinks in violation of the Covid-19 Emergency Decree and the disease control law, according to police, but refused to stop serving alcohol to patrons.

Police officers raided the restaurant and found 93 patrons at 30 tables crowding the popular restaurant. In total 64 women and 29 men were arrested, as police say the bar was crowded with drinkers and no Covid-19 safety measures like mask-wearing and social distancing were being observed.

The restaurant manager who ignored the previous warning is now being charged with violating the Emergency Decree, disease control laws, and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration anti-virus regulations. The Emergency Decree carries up to 40,000 baht and 2 years in prison for violation, while disease control laws can bring up to 100,000 baht and one year in prison as punishment.

SOURCE: Bangkok Post