Thailand considers finish to 52-year-old afternoon booze ban to woo vacationers – Cyber Tech

Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin might finish a 52-year-old ban on afternoon alcohol gross sales after appeals from the tourism trade, which is battling rising prices and weak shopper spending.

“PM Srettha is happy to think about proposals from restaurant operators to vary legal guidelines that ban gross sales of alcoholic drinks from 2pm-5pm,” in response to an announcement on the Royal Thai Authorities web site.

Such a transfer would supply reduction to many thirsty vacationers in Thailand, which is sweltering in temperatures of just about 100 levels Fahrenheit, and assist bars, lodges and eateries. The Restaurant Enterprise Membership submitted a letter to Srettha on Tuesday asking for pressing reduction measures – together with an finish to the afternoon alcohol gross sales ban – to alleviate rising prices and a moribund financial system.

“We have now to have a look at the general image on this,” Srettha mentioned within the assertion. “Prices are rising, however the authorities can also be selling tourism, which can assist increase restaurant operators’ revenue.”

The prime minister is below strain to revive Southeast Asia’s second-largest financial system, with a current opinion survey exhibiting that greater than half of the Thais are sad with Srettha’s efficiency. The nation is focusing on a complete of 36.7 million travellers this 12 months to assist increase gross home product development to three per cent. It welcomed 17.5 million international vacationers within the first half.

However at the same time as guests return, the Thai Motels Affiliation earlier this week made an identical enchantment for assist, pushing for a tax deduction or subsidy for renovations as they grapple with uneven post-pandemic restoration.

The three-hour ban on alcohol gross sales has been in drive since 1972 when Thailand grew to become one of many world’s hottest leisure locations.

The tourism trade’s push for pressing measures to woo guests additionally comes as Thailand, which two years in the past grew to become the primary nation in Asia to decriminalise the usage of hashish, is making ready to reclassify marijuana as a narcotic, tightening guidelines on planting, gross sales, and exports and imports.