Quick answer
Arrack cannot be bought or served on poya days in Sri Lanka. Poya is the monthly full moon holiday of the Buddhist calendar, and on each one, twelve or thirteen times a year, the sale of all alcohol is prohibited nationwide: wine stores and supermarket liquor counters close, and bars, restaurants and hotels do not serve. Travellers may drink what they bought beforehand in private. Buy the day before, expect queues, and check the dates for your trip, since poya days follow the lunar calendar.
Key takeaways
- No alcohol, including arrack, is sold in Sri Lanka on poya days, which fall on every full moon.
- There are twelve or thirteen poya days a year, and the dates shift annually with the lunar calendar.
- Hotels, bars and restaurants do not serve alcohol on poya days, including to foreign guests.
- Vesak in May has two consecutive dry days, and some other festivals and election days are also dry.
- Alcohol bought before a poya day may be consumed in private, such as in a hotel room or villa.
What a poya day is
A poya day is a Buddhist day of observance held on each full moon. Every poya is a public holiday in Sri Lanka, and each commemorates an event in the life of the Buddha or the history of Buddhism on the island.
A poya day is spent quietly by observant Buddhists, with temple visits, white clothing and the keeping of precepts, one of which is to abstain from intoxicants. The state reflects this by banning the sale of alcohol and, in most places, meat for the day.
What is closed for alcohol on a poya day
Alcohol sales on a poya day stop everywhere. The rule applies to all licensed premises, whoever the customer is.
- →Wine stores: closed all day.
- →Supermarket liquor counters: closed or covered.
- →Bars and pubs: closed, or open for soft drinks and food only.
- →Restaurants: no alcohol served.
- →Hotel bars and room service: no alcohol served.
- →Toddy taverns: closed.
What hotels can and cannot do
Hotels in Sri Lanka are bound by the same rule and do not sell alcohol on poya days. Practice at the edges varies: some remove alcohol from minibars the night before, while others leave minibars stocked.
Hotels generally do not object to guests drinking their own bottle in their room or on a private terrace. Drinking it in the restaurant or by the pool is another matter, and most will politely decline. Asking staff to make an exception puts them in a difficult position.
Other dry days in Sri Lanka
Other dry days in Sri Lanka are declared in addition to the monthly poya. They are fewer but can catch travellers out.
- →Vesak, usually in May: the full moon poya and the following day.
- →Certain other religious holidays, as announced each year.
- →Election days, and sometimes the days around them.
- →Days of national mourning or special observance.
- →Local restrictions around major temple festivals.
How to plan around a poya day
Planning around a poya day is easy once you know the date. The full moon is predictable, and calendars are published well ahead, though exact dates should be confirmed for the year of travel.
- →Check which day of your trip is the poya before you arrive.
- →Buy arrack and mixers at least a day early; shops are crowded the evening before.
- →Put a temple visit, a hike or a train journey on the poya itself.
- →Schedule tastings and special dinners for other evenings.
- →Never buy from anyone offering alcohol on the day.
Making the most of a poya day
A poya day is one of the best days of a trip if you treat it as an invitation. Temples are at their most alive, especially at dusk when oil lamps are lit, and towns are calmer than on any other day.
Lankan Stays & Trails marks the poya date on every itinerary and plans the day around a temple visit or a quiet walk, with a thambili or a pot of tea at sunset in place of the usual arrack.
Frequently asked questions
Can you buy arrack on a poya day?
No. The sale of all alcohol, including arrack, is prohibited throughout Sri Lanka on poya days. Wine stores and supermarket liquor counters close, and bars, restaurants and hotels do not serve. Buy what you need at least a day beforehand.
Do hotels serve alcohol to tourists on poya days?
No. Hotels are covered by the same prohibition and do not serve alcohol in bars, restaurants or through room service on poya days, to locals or foreigners. Some leave minibars stocked and others empty them, so do not rely on it.
Can I drink my own alcohol on a poya day?
Yes, in private. Drinking alcohol you bought earlier in your hotel room, on a private balcony or in a villa is not prohibited. Do not drink in public areas, restaurants or on the beach, and be discreet out of respect for the day.
How many poya days are there in a year?
There are twelve poya days in most years and thirteen when a calendar year contains an extra full moon. Each is a public holiday. Dates follow the lunar calendar and shift each year, so check a current calendar when planning.
Is duty free open on poya days?
Yes. Duty-free shops at Colombo's international airport continue to sell alcohol to international passengers on poya days. That helps departing and arriving travellers only; it is not a way to buy alcohol during your stay.
Are restaurants open on poya days?
Most restaurants in tourist areas open as usual and serve food and soft drinks without alcohol. Some local eateries close for the holiday, and many do not serve meat. Hotel restaurants operate normally apart from the bar.