Bangkok, Thailand-
The Thai Public Health Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, is reportedly deeply concerned about alcohol drinking during Songkran and parties and is reviewing the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act for ways to potentially control the consumption of alcohol stricter during the upcoming festival in mid-April.
Songkran, or the Thai New Year/Water Festival, is traditionally the biggest holiday of the year for Thais, falling in mid-April. Although some activities are allowed this year compared to the past two years of basically cancellation, the world-famous water fights and alcohol-fueled parties, dancing, and festivals that go with it have been banned for a third year in a row nationwide, with Anutin citing the concern of Covid-19 spread as the reason.
However, Mr. Charnvirakul stated today, March 30th, 2022, he remains “deeply concerned” about drinking parties and circles leading to a greater spread of Covid-19.
As a result, he said relevant agencies were reviewing the Alcoholic Beverage Act from 2008 to potentially enforce and enact stricter rules during the festival, including for advertising, promotion, and consumption. The Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) has already stated that properly certified restaurants (SHA+, safety and health administration) would be able to serve, but stricter requirements might be in place during the festival.
In 2020, notes TPN, a total alcohol sales ban was enacted during Songkran. In 2021, bars and nightlife were closed and restaurants could not sell, but sales at supermarkets and convenience stores were allowed. Technically, notes TPN media, bars, pubs, nightlife, and similar venues remain legally shuttered for almost a year now, but many are open as converted restaurants with a variety of rule changes.
Mr. Charnvirakul also urged people not to drink and drive during Songkran and practically pleaded with Thais to consider not celebrating with alcohol for one more year out of respect for the elderly and vulnerable who had not yet been fully vaccinated against Covid-19. According to the MOPH, about 2 million Thais who are elderly and vulnerable, mostly in the rural Northeast, have been resistant to getting vaccinated and officials have been putting forth significant time and energy to convince them to do so.
According to Anutin, most of the restrictions in place are to protect this group, even though he admits most people, over 99 percent in Chonburi, have only mild or asymptomatic reactions to Covid-19.
It is unclear what exact further enforcement or potential restrictions around alcohol could be suggested or implemented, TPN notes, although is unlikely to be popular with the entertainment, tourism, and nightlife industry that have suffered under strict Covid-19 rules for over two years.
