Hair salons, restaurants and even street-food stalls in Bangkok’s Chinatown came back to life this week, albeit with social distancing in place, as Thailand eased its lockdown rules and an alcohol ban after making progress in controlling the spread of Covid-19 . The country has reported single-digit increases in cases in recent days, and has 2,988 confirmed infections and 54 deaths. More than 2,700 patients have recovered from the disease. However, it will be some time before the Thai capital’s famed nightlife is fully revived, with supermarkets and restaurants only allowed to sell alcohol for takeaway consumption for a 14-day trial period. No destination in sight for Thailand’s tourism sector amid pandemic uncertainties A night curfew, which bans people from leaving their homes between 10pm and 4am, remains in place and entertainment venues are still shuttered. They were ordered to close after a rise in infections linked to a bar in the Thonglor area in March, bringing to a halt an industry that has created millions of jobs, generated tax revenue and served as a magnet for international tourists. Last year, the tourism ministry had even proposed allowing bars to remain open until 4am instead of closing at 1am, in a bid to increase tourists’ spending by 25 per cent from the estimated 5,000-6,000 baht (US$154-US$185) they each spend on a night out. Panisara Palas – who runs Cafe Amber in the Sukhumvit area, which is popular with expatriates and tourists alike – said the shutdown meant she was not able to make rent payments. Earnings from beverages made up the bulk of her profits, and the food delivery service she now offers does not bring in as much income. “The rent was halved in April for us, but the re-evaluation will be made this month,” Panasira said. “I have asked the landlord to take a 40 per cent share of my revenue but my request was refused.” She is not going to be serving takeaway beers this month, because stocking up on them would be too financially risky if sales end up being banned again. Quarantine in Thailand: great food and fast Wi-fi, sleeping with a stranger … and a shame about my underpants Nevertheless, there is clearly still a thirst for alcoholic beverages in Thailand, as people across the country flooded supermarkets to stock up on drinks after an almost month-long ban on their sale was lifted on Sunday. Viral videos showing the rush to buy alcohol prompted Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya – the sister of Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn – to post on Instagram that she was worried social-distancing guidelines were not being observed. The Bangkok Post reported that she questioned the decision to lift the ban, saying it could lead to an increase in new cases due to social gatherings that would follow. “Who drinks alone unless they are an alcoholic or heartbroken?” Ubolratana wrote on her Instagram account on Monday. Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha on Tuesday said if stores could not impose limits on the amount of alcohol sold and the hours in which it could be bought, the ban might be reinstated. This uncertainty would lead to more venues like Cafe Amber remaining closed as they tried to stay on the right side of the law, said Pongphan Suepsangthai, a Bangkok-based bartender who has worked in the industry for 22 years. This means Thailand’s estimated 10,000 bartenders will be out of work for longer. Pongphan said that since restaurants had reopened, they should also be allowed to serve alcoholic beverages so at least 40 per cent of bartenders could go back to work. “A small bar would normally hire at least five bartenders, and a hotel usually has about 40 of them working in shifts,” he said. Moreover, drinking alcohol in a controlled environment where customers had to declare their identity as part of social-distancing rules would make curbing the outbreak more effective, Pongphan said. The closure of businesses in Thailand’s entertainment industry has also seen related workers such as DJs or musicians struggle. Brick Bar, a long-running nightclub in Bangkok’s backpackers’ hub of Khaosan Road, recently launched live online music sessions so its resident band could earn some money. “Some of the musicians have worked as drivers of delivery services to earn income,” said manager Khunpreeyapron Thongsiripongpuk, who added that the venue had not turned to food delivery simply because it had no kitchen. “There’s no way to predict anything,” she said. Animals in Thailand’s private parks at risk of hunger as pandemic keeps tourists away Bangkok-based DJ Parkin Wattanavekin, whose usual gigs at clubs, weddings and private parties have been cancelled since March, said “DJs will be out of work for the next one or two years at least, until there is a vaccine”. Parkin said he was discouraged from applying to receive a cash handout from the government because his profession was not recognised by the website registration system. “We aren’t asking for our jobs back,” he said. “We know we are a minority and if we have to work and risk others’ lives, it is not worth it. We only ask what the government can do to support us.” Help us understand what you are interested in so that we can improve SCMP and provide a better experience for you. We would like to invite you to take this five-minute survey on how you engage with SCMP and the news.