Businesses in Thailand have urged the government to lift restrictions on alcohol sales as the country reopens to tourists, warning the measures are destroying its famous nightlife and risk deterring visitors.
Thailand plans to reopen its borders to fully vaccinated travellers from 45 countries on 1 November, after 18 months of restrictions that have devastated its tourism industry. Just weeks before the reopening, many bars, clubs and restaurants are closed or struggling to survive.
The government banned the sale of alcohol in restaurants, and closed bars, to dissuade people from going out after a rise in Covid cases in April, which was linked to clusters at nightclubs. Nightlife venues are still shut, while restaurant rules vary by area.
The rules have caused “catastrophic damage” to the nightlife sector, said Niks Anuman-Rajadhon, owner of Teens of Thailand, a bar in the…
