The temporary ban on serving alcohol in restaurants in Thailand has been lifted in several more places. Namely, five districts of Chiang Mai, and the resort towns of Hua-Hin and Cha-am. The five districts allowed to serve alcohol in restaunrants in Chiang Mai are Muang, Chom Thong, Doi Tao, Mae Taeng and Mae Rim. These districts are already open to tourists.
As Movendi International previously reported, Thailand lifted the temporary ban on serving alcohol in Bangkok Krabi, Phang-Nga and Phuket earlier in November, 2021. The country has been relaxing COVID-19 regulations while slowly opening up for tourists.
If restaurants in the five districts of Chiang Mai want to serve alcohol, they must meet Covid-Free standards and serve alcohol only between 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM and from 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM.
“Covid-Free setting” is a set of safety standards prescribed by health authorities for different types of places.
Eateries in other districts or those that do not meet the standards, as well as entertainment places and massage parlours, remain closed.
In the Hua Hin municipality and the adjacent tambon Nong Khae to the south, restaurants with SHA or SHA+ certification are now allowed to serve alcohol until 10:00 PM.
In Cha-am district of Phetchaburi, restaurants with safety certification can also serve alcohol until 10:00 PM. In Cha-am rules are to be reviewed in December 15, 2021.
The lifting of the temporary alcohol sales bans will make alcohol more available during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Reducing alcohol availability during COVID-19 is a recommended solution by the World Health Organization to reduce the lethal interaction between alcohol and the pandemic.
This lethal interaction between alcohol and the COVID-19 pandemic was revealed in a groundbreaking report.
- Alcohol increases the health and societal problems arising from the pandemic. For example, alcohol weakens the immune system and makes people more susceptible to infections. And alcohol-centric social contexts have been COVID-19 super spreader events.
- Alcohol increases the burden on healthcare and emergency services which are already stretched due to the COVID-19.
- The alcohol industry exploits the pandemic to change alcohol laws to their private benefit.
