“Phuket’s Alcohol Policy on Buddhist Holidays: Cheers to Asarnha Bucha Day!”

Ah, Phuket—the sun-soaked paradise where azure waves caress golden sands, and where, as it turns out, you can also enjoy a refreshing cocktail or two on major Buddhist holidays. In a delightful twist to the usual tale of holiday sobriety, Phuket’s top cop has given the green light for bars and entertainment venues to serve alcohol on Asarnha Bucha Day, and indeed, on all significant Buddhist holidays, bringing smiles to many a tourist and local resident. Ladies and gentlemen, this is not a drill. It’s official: the concoctions are flowing!

The bubbling confusion previously embroiled the island like an accidental splash of soda into a cocktail shaker. A bar located in the charming but decidedly un-touristy area of Koh Kaew faced an unexpected request to close its doors on July 10, out of respect for the Asarnha Bucha Day’s sanctity. The dilemma prompted The Phuket News to reach out for official clarification. Enter Major General Sinlert Sukhum, the Phuket Provincial Police Chief, with significant news clinking its way through the grapevine. “All service establishment venues in Phuket, legally registered and permitted, can indeed serve alcohol on Asarnha Bucha Day,” he affirmed, smoothing out the creases of uncertainty like a practiced bartender with a perfectly pressed vest.

And here’s the kicker: this festive reprieve isn’t just a one-off. The rules extend across all five stellar Buddhist holidays, which include Makha Bucha Day, Visakha Bucha Day, Wan Khao Pansa, and Wan Ork Pansa. This grandiose gesture owes its existence to a past declaration from the then-suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. Published in the Royal Gazette back in a blooming May, this announcement offered Phuket’s service establishments a carte blanche—no need to stash the spirits away on these sacred days.

The plot thickens like a good Irish cream—another announcement in June further delineated the landscapes of libation legality. This update specified that while those idyllic hotels, bustling airport terminals, and the island’s vibrant array of entertainment venues continue to pour, your everyday shop or café must adhere dutifully to Thailand’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Act. So, while one can revel in sipping something spirited in a designated venue, general businesses are restricted to the prescribed hours of 11am to 2pm and 5pm until the midnight bells toll.

With characteristic thoroughness, Major General Sinlert took strides to ensure this intoxicating information reached the farthest corners of Phuket’s law enforcement. “I re-read the announcements just yesterday, so we’re all on the same page,” he stated, eyes twinkling with a hint of determined assurance. According to the newest regulations, there’s a distinct bouquet of exceptions to the alcohol ban on Buddhist holidays:

• Sales at international airport passenger terminals
• Licensed service establishments under the Service Establishment Act
• Venues that are likened to tourist attractions, as curated by the Ministry of Public Health
• Hotels that happily wave their legal registers under the Hotel Act
• Events both national and international, renowned enough to warrant official recognition and extensive gatherings

Yet, the Major General was as clear as a carefully distilled spirit on one salient matter: responsibility is as crucial as pouring the perfect pint. “Those selling alcoholic beverages must implement screening and necessary measures to maintain public peace, safety, and restrict younglings’ access,” he emphasized, citing Section 4 of the buoyant announcement with a seriousness that wouldn’t spill a drop.

Asarnha Bucha Day in Phuket just became a little more spirited and the island’s nightlife magically aligned with its day charming adventures. So, whether locals and visitors are drawn to the clinking of glasses or the sound of the rolling waves, the island assures them of a merry mingling of traditions and tropical tastes.