Bangkok steps up alcohol checks on under-20s

Bangkok authorities are urging alcohol retailers to tighten age and intoxication checks under amended alcohol-control legislation that took effect on November 8, 2025.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and Thai Health Promotion Foundation, known as ThaiHealth, are focusing on preventing sales to people under 20 and customers who are visibly intoxicated. Retailers could face fines of up to 100,000 baht, as well as possible civil claims where a sale is linked to harm.

Campaign reaches retailers in Vibhavadi area

The BMA and allied networks recently held a campaign called "Build a safe society, respect the law, don't sell alcohol to children and intoxicated people."

It included a walk-through public relations drive among shops near the end of Soi Vibhavadi 46, where retailers were encouraged to follow the amended Alcoholic Beverage Control Act.

Rungruang Nampanmahin, a ThaiHealth director, said the aim was to ensure all 50 BMA districts understood the revised law and actively promoted refusals to sell alcohol to under-20s and people showing signs of intoxication.

The law gives sellers greater authority to ask for identification and assess whether a customer appears intoxicated before completing a sale.

Fines and civil liability for retailers

The maximum fine for selling alcohol to an underage person has increased from 20,000 baht to 100,000 baht. The changes also allow civilians to seek civil damages from retailers if alcohol contributes to a later accident, violence, or damage to another person's life or property.

Theeratep Watcharawanichakorn, director of the StopDrink Network, said alcohol consumption among Bangkok residents aged 15 and over rose to 23.9% in 2024, from 25.3% in 2017. The rate among those aged 15-19 was 8.5%, he said, underlining the need for stronger prevention work in the capital.

Mr Theeratep said public awareness and enforcement needed to work together, noting that some retailers said they did not know about the law.

Districts asked to identify high-risk outlets

He proposed that the BMA work with the Executive Department to map high-risk alcohol outlets in every district, identify sites easily accessible to young people, and use digital records of inspections and warnings as key performance indicators.

Communities should also be encouraged to report illegal or hidden alcohol sales through the Traffic FOND reporting system, he said.

BMA officials said all 50 districts were ready to work with government agencies and retailers to enforce the rules, stressing that compliance was essential.

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18 August 2026