In the News: Government offices to shut down as Thais celebrate Mother's Day

To honour the auspicious holiday, as Her Majesty celebrates her Seventh Cycle birthday, all government offices will close, including Phuket Immigration Office, the Employment Office, the Land Transport Office and all three District Offices in Phuket.

All main bank branches will close, but branches in shopping centres will remain open.

All Royal Thai Police and Tourist Police stations will remain open and some local consulates will remain open to serve their respective citizens.

There will be no ban on the sale of alcohol on Friday, Phuket Provincial Police Commander Col Teeraphol Thipjaroen said.

“The sale of alcohol sale is permitted on Mother’s Day. The alcohol ban is for the major Buddhist holidays only,” he said.

According to an announcement by the Prime Minister’s Office on January 22, 2015, the sale of alcohol is prohibited on five specific religious days: Makha Bucha, Visakha Bucha, Asalaha Bucha Day, Khao Pansa and Wan Org Pansa days.

Also, officials at the Phuket Public Health office told The Phuket News, “We normally only hold a campaign asking people to refrain from drinking alcohol to honour of HM The King on his birthday. There will not be any such campaign for Mother’s Day.”