Bangkok governor says no to extending alcohol sales to 11pm

Bangkok governor Aswin Kwanmuang is refusing to budge on the law that bans restaurant alcohol sales after 9pm, at least for now. He was responding to a call from Thanakorn Kuptajit of the Thai Alcohol Beverage Business Association, who has called for sales to be extended to 11pm. According to a Bangkok Post report, Thanakorn believes allowing eateries to sell alcohol for 2 hours later than the current cut-off would help workers in the so-called “blue zones” of Bangkok, Krabi, Phuket, and Phang Nga.

“Extending the period to 11pm will be better because longer hours will help increase income for wait staff, musicians, and other grassroots income-earners. Most importantly, we want the government to meet for talks with vocational groups to discuss solutions to ease further restrictions while maintaining health safety standards.”

However, Aswin is taking a cautious approach to the easing of alcohol restrictions. The governor says the situation will be reviewed every 2 weeks and if City Hall deems it’s safe to do so, the sales and consumption period will be extended. Until then, he’s urging businesses and customers not to abuse the current guidelines. For now, only SHA-accredited restaurants in the capital are permitted to sell alcohol and only until 9pm.

“For those who do not finish their alcoholic drinks after the 9pm deadline, they should take their bottles home or try to drink up or just throw them away. Officials will be sent to make regular inspections.”

The Thai Alcohol Beverage Business Association has also called for more provinces to be designated “blue zones”, to further boost international tourism. Thanakorn has predicted that the economy will grow by 20 – 30% during the last 2 months of the year as a result of Thailand’s re-opening to 63 countries, with minimal quarantine requirements for vaccinated arrivals.

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SOURCE: Bangkok Post