Phuket’s night-life entertainment venues have been asked not to sell alcohol during this week-end out of respect for Asarna Bucha Day on Friday and the beginning of Buddhist Lent, Khao Phansa, on Saturday, by the Phuket Provincial Police.

According to Captain Thapakorn Hanumard, although the establishments are not legally bound to close for such events, they were being asked to refrain from selling alcoholic beverages on both days out of respect for the most important days in the Buddhist calendar. This would be in line with the last of the five basic precepts of Buddhist morality, which says to avoid alcohol and other intoxicating substances.

Local publicans were quick to adhere to the request during past years, but this year’s actual ban might represent a particularly hard blow to venue owners. This is both because this year’s holidays come during the week-end and due to it coming two weeks after the alcohol-free general election and early voting preceding it on June 26. It will therefore be the third week-end out of the past four when alcohol sales will be either legally banned or advised against by authorities.

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