Alcohol beverages can now only be sold from 11.00am – 2.00pm and from 5.00pm – midnight every day.
An announcement was made Friday by the Prime Minister’s Office on the 2015 law regulating alcohol sales which takes effect today.
At all other times, alcohol sales are strictly forbidden with the exception of at international airport terminals and legally registered entertainment venues which have laws that strictly govern the periods they can operate daily.
Director-general of the office of the Alcohol Control Committee Mr Samarn Futrakun stated the core substance of the new regulation remains the same in that the permissible duration for daily alcohol sales to be capped at 10 hours.
This means that in total, night time entertainment venues can only legally sell alcohol for 5 hours every day which in total is less than regular restaurants.
As for the reason for the new regulation governing alcohol sales, he stated that the old law was problematic as it did not cover every aspect.
The new law however takes into account every type restaurant and other venues selling alcohol.
Also, the old law allows for wholesale purchase of alcohol in excess of 10 liters to be made at any time of the day while any purchase under 10 liters can only be made at the specified times.
The new regulation does not allow for this, what matters now are the stated hours for purchase or sale of alcohol irrespective of quantity.
Violation of the law is subject to six months imprisonment and/or a B10,000 fine.
The Phuket News has spoken to Weerawit Kuresombut, head of the Entertainment Association of Patong, and he has stated that the new regulation has no effect on the entertainment venues in Patong.
Read original story here.
Additional reporting by Nattapat Tuarob.