The Ministry of Tourism has directed restaurants, canteens, KTVs, discos, bars and beer gardens not to sell alcoholic beverages on July 28-29, in conjunction with the national elections.
If such business owners sell alcohol on the specified days, they face having their operating licences suspended or revoked, said the ministry’s Department of Entertainment Services director Sok Vanna. ‘
If any business violates the directive or sub-decrees of the government, the provincial authorities will take legal action accordingly. On first notice of a violation, the authorities will talk to them or stop in order to maintain security and safety during the election.
But if they still do not conform to the directive and continue to violate it, authorities could suspend their licence and fine them according to the degree of violations,’ Vanna said.
The manager of Phnom Penh’s Sound Club 2, who asked to be known only as Oudom, said he was aware of the directive prohibiting the sale of alcohol.
The Ministry of Tourism’s directive says KTVs, clubs and ‘all types of tourist entertainment providers’ must completely suspend operations for those two days, while restaurants and tourist canteens can remain open so long as they don’t serve alcohol.
