The cheers didn’t last long. Soon after top officials announced that restaurants would be able to serve booze again today, it became clear it wasn’t going to be that simple.
Bangkok Gov. Aswin Kwanmuang and his team at City Hall on Saturday said that restaurants that wish to serve alcohol have to apply for SHA (Safety and Health Administration) certificates. Plus, they must stop serving at 9pm, despite the fact that the overnight curfew has been lifted.
The rule applies to Bangkok and other three “blue-coded” pilot tourism destinations: Krabi, Phang-nga and Phuket.
Entertainment venues such as pubs, bars and karaoke joints will remain shut until further notice.
For those diners who wonder where these SHA-approved restaurants might be, the full list is available online. Roughly 1,300 restaurants in Bangkok have acquired the certificate, and thus can serve booze.
Restaurant operators can try to apply for the certificate here. Applicants must complete a form, and upload relevant documents as well as photos showing their “hygiene” such as servers wearing face masks. Find the instructions in English here. Good luck!
