Bangkokians stock up on alcohol
Police Captain Pongsakorn Kwanmuang the Bangkok Spokesperson announced on 9 April 2020 new safety measures against the spread of Covid-19.
Supermarkets and convenience stores will be allowed to open from 22.00-04.00 in accordance with the nationwide curfew.
This also applies to restaurants and food stalls by the road commonly found in Bangkok and across the nation. As for the Songkran period coming up, even though the dates are canceled this year and the official holiday dates will be announced when the Covid-19 situation starts to improve.
This is to avoid spreading the virus as Songkran is Thai Newyear’s and a major celebration for the Thai people to go back home and visit their families.
Alcohol Distributors are not allowed to sell any alcoholic drinks from 10-20 April 2020. Hopefully, this new measure will help minimize the spread of Coronavirus.
Thailand is like many countries where people like to enjoy a beer or other alcoholic drinks after a day of work, as soon as the news was announced Bangkokians with the love in alcohol went to stock up at supermarkets and convenience stores.
At a local 7/11 store in Ratchadapisek 32 right at 17.00 the legal time to buy alcohol in Thailand a line starts to form waiting for the exact moment when they can step up to pay at the cashier. Bangkokians have until midnight to buy their alcohol supply for the next 10 days.
Convenience stores and supermarkets are checking customers’ temperature to see whether they have a fever with an infrared thermometer before they are allowed to enter the stores. Alcohol will not be available for purchase from 10-20 of this month both in retail and wholesale.
The alcohol section at a supermarket in Bang Na was filled with people picking up their favorite drinks. Local beer shelves and lower-priced alcoholic drinks were almost empty at 17.00 as Bangkokians waited in line to pay at the cashier.
