Thailand’s top cop claims no Bangkok restaurants breaking booze laws; laughter ensues. Thailand’s national police chief claimed no one violated alcohol restrictions at Bangkok restaurants, clearly showing he’d not actually been to any Bangkok restaurants. Bangkok Herald

Thailand's top cop claims no Bangkok restaurants breaking booze laws; laughter ensues

3 November 2021

The booze was flowing freely Monday at Lek's Last Stand, a beer bar on Sukhumvit Road at Soi 10, despite it neither being a licensed restaurant nor SHA certified. Clearly Thailand's police chief never had a brew here.

Thailand's national police chief claimed no one violated alcohol restrictions at Bangkok restaurants, clearly showing he'd not actually been to any Bangkok restaurants.

Pol. Gen. Suwat Jangyodsuk asserted Tuesday that no restaurants police and Public Health Ministry officials had visited were selling alcohol without being safety-certified nor after 9 p.m.

Maybe so, but only because the stuffed shirts were there. Everywhere else, including lower Sukhumvit bars masquerading as restaurants, the booze was flowing freely, government certification or not.

Bangkok restaurant operators wanting to sell booze legally – not in coffee cups – are being required to meet Amazing Thailand Safety & Health Administration (SHA) standard, said Pongsakorn Kwanmuang, spokesman of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration.

Operators can seek SHA evaluation at ThailandSHA.com. After they receive a SHA logo, customers will evaluate them via an application. Besides, officials of the Tourism and Sports Ministry will conduct random checks on eateries, Pongsakorn said.

Suwat said officials did not find any violation – much like the way no politician has ever found any prostitution in Pattaya.

The police chief added that the closure of pubs, bars and karaoke clubs would continue and violators would face serious action from the police. That clearly came as news to beer bars on Sukhumvit Road before Soi 11 and along Soi 4.

Entertainment venues can apply for SHA accreditation in advance of the government permitting the reopening of such venues that could pose disease-transmission risks next month, Pongsakorn said.

Bangkok Gov. Aswin Kwanmuang said he again rejected pleas to allow booze sales until 11 p.m., until the current 9 p.m. Maybe he still believes Covid-19 only comes out after 9.

Aswin said alcohol restrictions will be relaxed on a step-by-step basis. If the Covid-19 situation proved stable with restaurants stopping sales at 9 p.m., then later hours will be tried.

The Thailand News Agency contributed reporting to this story.