Chiang Mai, Pattaya want drinking hours extended

Restaurants in Pattaya and Chiang Mai want selling hours for alcohol extended until midnight or 1am during the Songkran holiday period to shore up their flagging business, suffering under Covid restrictions.

Patsanat Asvachaisopon, managing director of Grand Jomtien Palace Hotel, said the government should further ease its alcohol consumption rule during the holiday.

Despite Songkran being a long holiday, hotel bookings in Pattaya remain relatively low with most tourists making reservations for one night only on April 13, she said.

Extending alcohol consumption hours at restaurants beyond 11pm would help bring in more income and spur tourism, she said.

Wasant Sanguanthoykham, owner of Sart Sura restaurant in Pattaya, said many venues have decided to remain closed even after the ban was lifted.

With most customers arriving between 9pm to 10pm, he said, they have…