Appropriate Legal Measures for Restaurants Selling Alcoholic Beverages in the Situation of Virus Outbreak: Case study of the COVID-19 outbreak in Sakhon Nakorn district

Abstract

Background and Aims: During the COVID-19 outbreak, government measures affected restaurants selling alcoholic beverages. The purposes of this research were to 1. Study legal measures that control restaurants that sell alcoholic beverages. 2. Study the context and suitability for preventing the spread of COVID-19 and allowing restaurants to continue operating. 3. Prepare appropriate legal measures for restaurants that sell alcoholic beverages in Mueang District, Sakon Nakhon Province.

Methodology: This research was qualitative research methods that contained document research, an in-depth interview which consists of the stakeholder population of 20 people, including 5 restaurant owners, 5 restaurant managers, 5 shop employees, 3 administrative officers, and 2 public health officers., and focus group that consists of the study population 20 people who were specifically selected, including: 5 owners of large restaurants that sell alcoholic beverages, 5 government officials, 5 academics, and 5 consumers, and the data was analyzed using content analysis methods

Results: The findings of the research are: 1. Laws that control restaurants include: the Communicable Diseases Act 2015, Emergency Decree in Emergency Situations 2005, Sakon Nakhon Province Orders, and Ministry of Public Health guidelines. 2) They can operate their restaurants with public health measures to prevent the spread. There must be advance notification and compensation money given to the shop by clearly specifying the rate. 3) Appropriate measures include regulations that stakeholders participated in, the category of compensation, and the punishment section for violations.

Conclusion: The research suggests guidelines for Sakon Nakhon Province to consider adopting legal measures for restaurants that sell alcoholic beverages in the event of an epidemic situation by involving stakeholders, leading to further research work regarding creating appropriate measures in the epidemic situation for entertainment venues.