Alcohol sales at restaurants in approved provinces will be allowed until 11pm
Alcohol sales at restaurants in approved provinces will be allowed until 11pm, starting January 24. Under Thailand’s colour-coded zoning with corresponding disease control measures, alcohol sales at restaurants until 11pm will be allowed in “yellow” zones under high surveillance and “blue” zones which are approved for pilot tourism programmes. In 44 provinces, classified as “orange” zones, alcohol sales at restaurants are still prohibited.
Thailand’s Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration approved the new cutoff hour, as well as a revision to the zoning, reclassifying 25 provinces as “yellow,” at its general meeting today chaired by PM Prayut Chan-o-cha.
The CCSA had changed the cutoff time to 9pm earlier this month due to the uptick in Covid-19 cases following the New Year holiday and the emergence of the Omicron variant in Thailand. While infection rates rose, a spokesperson at the CCSA briefing says cases have been less severe and fatalities have remained low in comparison to previous outbreaks.
Earlier this month, the CCSA agreed to allow bars, nightclubs, and other entertainment venues, which have been closed since April, to reopen temporarily as restaurants. The CCSA says restaurants serving alcohol must abide by standards set by the Safety and Health Administration and Thai Stop Covid Plus programme as well as the government’s Covid Free Setting measures.
