By Nop Meechukhun

 

Phuket – The Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) yesterday, September 28th, has initially approved selling and drinking alcoholic beverages in dine-in restaurants to economically support the Phuket Sandbox project and to alleviate the financial hardship among local entrepreneurs.

 

At this time, however, the approval has ONLY been given to Phuket, which is likely to cause anger from business owners in other provinces and areas, notes TPN media. The remainder of the country technically has a national ban on the service of alcohol in restaurants, and bars/nightlife have been closed for almost six months.

 

Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew revealed that the proposal was introduced and approved during the CCSA online meeting, chaired by the Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O’Cha, Monday afternoon.

 

Alcoholic beverages will now be sold and consumed in both air-conditioned and open-air restaurants under strict preventive measures as prescribed by the Phuket Communicable Disease Committee. However, pubs, bars, karaoke, nightclubs, and nightlife entertainment remain closed for now. This is murky for some establishments, however, as if a bar has a restaurant license they are able to operate.

 

Full story: https://thepattayanews.com/2021/09/29/phuket-officially-allows-drinking-and-selling-alcohol-in-restaurants-effective-october-1st/

 

-- © Copyright The Pattaya News 2021-09-29

 

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Booze ban to be lifted in Phuket, but ‘entertainment places’ to remain closed

By The Phuket News

 

The new order comes into effect this Friday (Oct 1). Image: PR Phuket

 

PHUKET: From this Friday (Oct 1), all “food and beverage outlets” in Phuket are allowed to sell alcohol until 10pm. Alcohol may also be consumed on the premises, including at restaurants.

 

However, all businesses operating as “entertainment places” are to remain closed, under an order issued by Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew yesterday, posted publicly online late last night (Sept 28).

 

The order, Phuket Provincial Order No. 5896/2564, is marked to come into effect on Friday (Oct 1) and is to remain in effect until further notice.

 

Full story: https://www.thephuketnews.com/booze-ban-to-be-lifted-in-phuket-but-entertainment-places-to-remain-closed-81547.php

 

-- © Copyright Phuket News 2021-09-29

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Great. Now we can carry on doing what we were all doing anyway, but not in paper cups or mugs.

8 minutes ago, webfact said:

At this time, however, the approval has ONLY been given to Phuket, which is likely to cause anger from business owners in other provinces and areas, notes TPN media

no kidding

I also heard they are insisting you must drink alcohol only through a straw, ice-cubes must be tested for traces of covid, and any attending hostesses must wear full hazmat suits and masks.  Stiletto shoes are not considered de rigueur.

To late you have already arrested everyone ????

I am not a big drinker when I go out, Too cheap. But I like a cold beer with my food, Especially with some of the spicy stuff. 

I can understand where people go out to drink, knowing the alcohol inhibits  good sence in many people,

But restaurants? How many people go to restaurants to get drunk? I realise that some bars might try to get around the ban by disguising themselves are restaurants but authorities could police against that, 

Anyway hopefully with covid winding down it will be a moot point. 

 

10 minutes ago, sirineou said:

But restaurants? How many people go to restaurants to get drunk?

When the bars are closed? Lots!

 

I'm now considering a trip to Phuket just try and feel some sense or normality!

A very sensible decision.

 

Let's hope some of the other provinces follow suit. Using Covid as an excuse to launch a war on alcohol was never a good idea. The PM's personal crusade to appear virtuous and puritanical will have to go on the backburner.

 

Hopefully this will get more people going out to eat and allow the restaurant owners to start earning a living again.

The other main tourist destinations are delighted for Phuket I am sure.

7 minutes ago, JayClay said:

When the bars are closed? Lots!

 

I'm now considering a trip to Phuket just try and feel some sense or normality!

I hear you, we all had enough of these covid restrictions.Wait a couple of months for your trip, things with covid are improving daily ,and by that time you will have more options towards ????

I am not in Phuket, But Yes they are closed everywhere. Which was a good Idea during the Height of covid, but prohibiting having a glass of wine and a beer  with your food is IMO arcanine. 

 

Bars become restaurants, restaurants become bars

So all bars open in Phuket

Sounds good to me - might get a few tourists now.

 

 

Well done that man!

47 minutes ago, Gsxrnz said:

I also heard they are insisting you must drink alcohol only through a straw, ice-cubes must be tested for traces of covid, and any attending hostesses must wear full hazmat suits and masks.  Stiletto shoes are not considered de rigueur.

Last I saw, they had to be translucent hazmat suits with little underneath since it will be hot and sweaty inside which will lead to certain asspects of the suit adhering to certain parts the wearers anatomy ;-0

2 minutes ago, DrPhibes said:

Last I saw, they had to be translucent hazmat suits with little underneath since it will be hot and sweaty inside which will lead to certain asspects of the suit adhering to certain parts the wearers anatomy ;-0

But without the stilettos, it just won't be the same.

38 minutes ago, JayClay said:

I'm now considering a trip to Phuket just try and feel some sense or normality!

I suspect that is why the governor is doing this.

Expect to see a few more 'Phuket weekenders'.

55 minutes ago, sirineou said:

I realise that some bars might try to get around the ban by disguising themselves are restaurants but authorities could police against that, 

Anyway hopefully with covid winding down it will be a moot point. 

 

Thats exactly what happened last time when they closed all the bars but still allowed restaurants to serve alcohol but the police were soon on to it, I guess thats why they banned it altogether 

My prediction 

 

Pattaya and Hua Hin will relax the same on 15th Oct

4 minutes ago, smedly said:

My prediction 

 

Pattaya and Hua Hin will relax the same on 15th Oct

Hopefully, the problem lies in falling under their respective Province 'Dark Red' status.

Good to hear surely but slowly it will go country wide. 

23 minutes ago, pagallim said:

Hopefully, the problem lies in falling under their respective Province 'Dark Red' status.

Phuket should be red and it isn't 

 

we shall see 

So is there anything to stop people going to a restaurant and just ordering drink with no food? Maybe they'll get into the same hilarious tangle as the UK, where there were various attempts to define what was a "substantial meal" in pubs serving food, with suggestions that a Scotch Egg was sufficient.

1 minute ago, Eff1n2ret said:

So is there anything to stop people going to a restaurant and just ordering drink with no food? Maybe they'll get into the same hilarious tangle as the UK, where there were various attempts to define what was a "substantial meal" in pubs serving food, with suggestions that a Scotch Egg was sufficient.

Not really.   Certain areas can be over zealous in this (I'm thinking particularly of Rawai), where local officials were visiting restaurants and checking individual bills for signs of no food being ordered.

6 minutes ago, pagallim said:

Not really.   Certain areas can be over zealous in this (I'm thinking particularly of Rawai), where local officials were visiting restaurants and checking individual bills for signs of no food being ordered.

I can vouch for that

Expecting The Thaiger to publish a full list of names and addresses of  bars breaking the rules by 5pm October 1  and label it "news"...

It's selfish I know, but I've loved the FA tourist time.

3 hours ago, Kwasaki said:

Good to hear surely but slowly it will go country wide. 

Already has .

Yeh, I can see the flood gates opening, not.

6 hours ago, Karma80 said:

Great. Now we can carry on doing what we were all doing anyway, but not in paper cups or mugs.

The local shop bar has a restaurant license, never sold food but has a menu to fool tourists,

Lucky I'm local

In the cases of emergency the local operator will put her Som Tum plate full of delicious Chile on your table, when a BMW passes

18 minutes ago, lanng khao said:

Already has .

Not restaurants where I live.