Bars warned it takes proper accreditation to be a restaurant

The practice of bars and clubs tossing up a sign selling french fries and calling themselves a restaurant in order to reopen after Covid-19 restrictions ban entertainment venues from operating has been commonplace for months in Thailand. Now bars, pubs, and karaoke establishments are being warned in Bangkok that it takes more than a slapdash bite to eat to qualify as a restaurant and sell alcohol again.

A meeting of the Bangkok Municipal Authority chaired by the Deputy Governor and focusing on the Covid-19 situation in the capital city addressed the issue of fake “restaurants” reopening. The meeting instructed that bars wanting to serve food in order to reopen must be accredited with proper Covid-19 certification.

Restaurants must have an SHA and SHA+ certificate as well as be approved as a Covid Free Setting and follow all the set Covid-19 safety provisions before they are allowed to operate as a restaurant. Oddly, the need for a restaurant license did not seem to be a concern for the Bangkok Municipal Authority meeting.

Once properly accredited, the “restaurants” would be allowed as part of the tourist Blue Zone designated area to serve alcohol until 11 pm each night. Authorities have been patrolling the 50 districts of Bangkok and will continue to do so, looking for those who are violating the rules and restrictions for businesses to open as restaurants and sell booze.

The meeting about Covid-19 was called to address worries about the Omicron variant which has now been identified in Thailand. Experts are reporting that they believe the new variant is no more harmful than the Delta variant, which swept Thailand (and the world) creating by far the worst phase of the pandemic so far. PM Prayut Chan-o-cha has assured that Thailand is not likely to go into another lockdown over the emergence of the new variant.

SOURCE: ASEAN Now

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Bars, pubs and nightclubs in Thailand could remain closed until 2022

Bars, pubs, nightclubs and other entertainment venues in Thailand could remain closed until 2022, according to a proposal due to be considered by the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA).

A report surfaced in Thai media on Wednesday (Nov 10) that Cabinet ministers have proposed keeping entertainment venues closed until after the new year.

However, countdown events in five locations across the country, presumably in key tourism areas, are set to be given the green light to go ahead.

The report also said that Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-Cha called on business owners within the entertainment industry “not to be selfish” with regards to reopening.

The proposals to keep entertainment venues, as well as possible easing of restrictions in Thailand, are set to be announced on Friday (Nov 11) following the conclusion of a CCSA meeting, which the PM chairs.

Despite restrictions surrounding alcohol sales in restaurants being eased in some locations earlier this month, namely Bangkok, Krabi, Phuket and Phang Nga, bars, pubs and nightclubs across the country remain closed.

 Source - ASIAN NOW

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Thai gov’t warns everybody to DRINK RESPONSIBLY

With alcohol now allowed to be served at restaurants in some key tourism cities, the Department of Health has assumed the authority to insist drinkers act responsibly.
Despite this obviously having nothing to do with the spread of a virus, the Director General has warned people to continue practicing personal protective measures against COVID-19.

Restaurants are also warned not to serve alcohol beyond the permitted hours.

Restaurants in Bangkok, Phuket, Krabi, and Phang Nga are now permitted to serve alcoholic drinks, as the government looks to stimulate tourism activities.

The Department of Health today urged restaurants and customers to comply with all the restrictions that remain, including the limit of serving hours outlined by provincial communicable diseases committees.

The Department of Health’s Director-General, Suwanchai Wattanayingcharoenchai, said most restaurants are found complying well with the regulations, while some restaurants and their customers might become quite loose with the compliance.

He asked restaurants and customers not to serve or consume alcohol beyond the permitted hours and to prevent overcrowding at venues.

Dr. Suwanchai said lower cognitive abilities in intoxicated persons would lead to more chances of breaching disease control measures, adding that drinkers must be considerate of their own safety and that of others.

It is only a matter of time before alcohol sales are banned again on the grounds that citizens are not, in somebody’s opinion, acting responsibly.

Source - BangkokJack

Pattaya’s bars desperate to reopen

The Covid-19 pandemic has hit Pattaya’s bar owners terribly. Some among the 10 in Soi Wong Amat, aka Soi Na Klua 18, have packed up and gone. The remainder are desperate for the government to ease restrictions on them opening. There is still rent to pay, accommodation and food for staff and utilities. They don’t want to abandon their employees. 2 owners spoke to the media.

59 year old “Saengdeuan”, who has run the well known TJ Bar for 16 years, was in tears as she told Nation TV how she won’t abandon her 20 staff.

“What else am I going to do?” I’ll just have to wait for the tourists to return, whenever that is.”

The ‘whenever’ could be months away. And even if the government allows the bars to re-open at the start of July (the hot tip), the sight of foreign tourists may not be familiar until the end of the year.

44 year old “Buapha”, who owns the Blue Marlin pub begged the government to let her open. She says there may be no foreign tourists but she could serve Thais in the meantime.

“At least that would be something.”

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Pattaya’s economy is almost entirely dependent on tourism. While the city’s beaches were allowed to reopen last Monday, pubs and bars remain shuttered and restaurants are prohibited from selling alcohol, leaving tens of thousands still out of work. Many of the workers have returned ‘up country’ to live with their families.

Source - The Thaiger

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