The Phuket News asked Phuket Provincial Police Chief Maj Gen Sinlert Sukhum for clarification after a bar in Koh Kaew, not specifically in a “tourist area”, was informed that it had to close this Thursday due to the Asarnha Bucha Buddhist holiday.
Maj Gen Sinlert said plainly, “All service establishment venues in Phuket [that are legally registered and have been issued permits] are allowed to sell alcohol on Asarnha Bucha Day [and Wan Khao Pansa].”
Also permitted to sell alcohol on Buddhist holidays are passenger terminals within airports that provide international flight services, and hotels registered in accordance with the Hotel Act, Maj Gen Sinlert confirmed.
Maj Gen Sinlert explained that the permission for such venues to sell alcohol on the five major Buddhist holidays ‒ Makha Bucha Day, Visakha Bucha Day, Asanha Bucha Day and Wan Khao Pansa and Wan Ork Pansa ‒ initially came in an announcement by then Prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra published in the Royal Gazette in May.
A second announcement published in the Royal Gazette in June made it clear that all other businesses that sell alcohol must still comply with the sale of alcohol as per the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act, meaning that alcohol can only be sold by general vendors during legal hours ‒ from 11am-2pm and from 5pm until midnight, he warned.
“I re-read the announcements just yesterday to be sure, and have already told the superintendents at all police stations in Phuket,” Maj Gen Sinlert told The Phuket News.
The announcement in May specifically allowed exemptions to the ban on alcohol sales on Buddhist holidays, as follows:
(1) Sales in passenger terminals within airports that provide international flight services.
(2) Sales in service establishments in accordance with the Service Establishment Act.
(3) Sales in establishments that provide services similar to those located in areas or areas that are tourist attractions, as announced by the Minister of Public Health upon the advice of the Minister of Interior.
(4) Sales in hotels in accordance with the Hotel Act.
(5) Sales in places used for organizing national or international special events and where a large number of people attend activities together, according to the list of places announced by the Minister of Public Health, upon the advice of the Minister of Tourism and Sports.
Section 4 of the announcement states, “The seller of alcoholic beverages under Section 3 must arrange for screening and necessary measures to maintain public peace and order, public safety, and limit access to alcoholic beverages for children and youth.”