There has been a rise in people breaking the curfew after 10pm to drink alcohol between Sunday night and early Monday morning. This has prompted a warning from the government that they may have to bring back the alcohol ban.
690 people broke the curfew around Thailand which is a 60% rise from the previous night when the ban was still in effect.
The alcohol ban was stopped in most provinces on Sunday and is a 14-day trial period for resuming alcohol sales. This means we can all enjoy a nice drink now but also tempts people to do naughty things...
129 of the curfew breakers were socially drinking in a gathering which is still prohibited by the emergency decree.
Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) spokesman Taweesilp Visanuyothin says "The country won't be able to succeed in [containing Covid-19] without cooperation from everyone.
"Only when it is certain the country is totally free of the virus will we be able to live a normal life again," he said.
"The 14-day trial will be crucial. It will give the government a clear idea whether other Covid-19 restrictions should be eased, or whether we go back to square one.
"All statistics are being compiled for evaluation. If new infections remain low during the easing of the restrictions, we will move on to the next phase," said Dr Taweesilp said.
"But if infections flare up, the easing will be reviewed and possibly stopped.
"What we have achieved in the past month is meaningful and what we do in the next 14 days will be even more important," the spokesman added.
Siriphon Detsing, deputy chief executive officer of Siam Makro Plc, said sales of alcohol at Makro rose on Monday meaning lots of people are buying booze again.
People who live in the provinces where there is still an alcohol ban had travelled to nearby provinces to buy it, she noted.
In Ubon Ratchathani, governor Sarit Withun has warned residents that they must still obey Covid-19 containment practices even though the lockdown there has been relaxed.
Even though we all would like to still be able to buy alcohol to drink, it is said that if removing the ban pushes up infections, Sarit Withun would ask the government to suspend sales again.
So let's all remember to behave yeah?!
Keep updated with phanganist.com by following our Facebook page.
