Thailand’s nightlife reopens from March 1 as alcohol restrictions eased

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2021
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Restaurants, pubs and bars will be allowed to serve alcohol until at least 11pm from March 1, except in Samut Sakhon, the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) announced on Monday.

A CCSA committee meeting chaired by PM Prayut Chan-o-cha relaxed the restrictions on Monday, but opening hours will differ in the red, orange and yellow Covid-19 control zones.

The CCSA also extended the emergency decree for disease control for another month until March 31.

Eased restrictions in each controlled zone from March 1:

Thailand’s nightlife reopens from March 1 as alcohol restrictions eased

Red-zone province (maximum control): Samut Sakhon

- Restaurants can open until 9pm but alcohol must not be served.

- Entertainment venues, pubs and bars cannot open for business.

- Shopping centres or department stores can open until 9pm, no promotions.

- All educational institutions including tutoring schools closed except for online classes.

- Gyms, fitness centres and outdoor exercise facilities remain closed.

Orange-zone provinces (controlled): Bangkok, Samut Prakan, Samut Songkhram, Nonthaburi, Nakhon Pathom, Pathum Thani, Tak, Ratchaburi

- Restaurants can serve food and alcohol until 11pm.

- Entertainment venues, pubs and bars can serve alcohol until 11pm (live music performances permitted, but no dancing).

- Department stores and malls can open as usual (no promotions).

- Educational institutions at all levels can open normally.

- Gyms, fitness centres and outdoor exercise facilities can open as normal.

- Stadiums can admit a limited number of spectators.

Yellow-zone provinces (high surveillance): Kanchanaburi, Suphan Buri, Ayutthaya, Saraburi, Nakhon Nayok, Chachoengsao, Phetchaburi, Ranong, Chon Buri, Rayong, Chumphon, Songkhla, Yala, Narathiwat

- Restaurants can serve food and alcohol until midnight.

- Entertainment venues, pubs, and bars can serve alcohol until midnight ((live music performances but no dancing).

- Department stores and malls can open as usual (no promotions).

- Educational institutions can open normally.

- Outdoor exercise facilities, gyms and fitness centres can open normally.

- Stadiums can admit a limited number of spectators.

In green-zone provinces, restaurants, pubs, bars and entertainment venue can open as normal, along with educational institutions and all type of gyms. Stadiums can admit a limited number of spectators.

The CCSA said the easing of restrictions would boost economic activity, but it urged people to keep wearing masks, maintain social distancing, wash their hands and check their temperature regularly, and check in to venues with the ThaiChana or MorChana applications.