Cops boost crackdown on alcohol

Police in Bangkok and Pattaya have stepped up a crackdown on restaurants defying the ban on sales of alcoholic beverages after 9pm.

Late on Saturday night, police in Pattaya raided a restaurant in the Pattaya Klang area following a tip-of that it served alcohol to customers.

The inspection found that alcoholic drinks were served in plastic containers and marked as fruit juice in restaurant bills.

The manager was arrested and charged with violating the ban on sales of alcoholic beverages and failing to comply with the Covid-19 restrictions, according to police.

Police in Bangkok were also sent to check on restaurants on Saturday night and managers of venues in Chatuchak, Bung Kum and Bang Kapi districts.

Two of the restaurants were found to have sold alcoholic drinks to customers after 9pm. The managers of these restaurants were arrested for defying the ban.

In Bangkok, sales of alcoholic beverages are not permitted after 9pm.

Since Nov 1, police inspected 6,339 restaurants and cafes and arrested 15 people for breaking the booze law.