The government has promised to consider lifting the afternoon ban on alcohol sales to help restaurant operators who say the poor economy is starting to hurt them.
Restaurant operators gave Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin a letter asking the government for help saying costs and prices of ingredients continued to rise, forcing many businesses to close.
One of the measures they are calling for is an end to a 52-year-old rule that prohibits sales of alcohol between 2pm and 5pm.
“I will consider it [the lifting of the afternoon ban on alcohol sales] … The government is trying to promote tourism, hoping they will also earn more income,” Mr Srettha said on Tuesday, referring to restaurant operators.
The ban on sales of alcohol between 2pm and 5pm is not covered in the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act. It was announced by the coup regime in 1972 to deal with officials drinking during work hours, and has never been rescinded.
