Thai Government Enforces Public Alcohol Bans

Airports are "specialised transport hubs" and therefore exempt...........phew.....nothing more entertaining on a flight than drunk passengers.

I always like to get 'slightly numb' before getting on a tinfoil rocket ship 😋

1 hour ago, MIke B Bad said:

Airports are "specialised transport hubs" and therefore exempt...........phew.....nothing more entertaining on a flight than drunk passengers.

At nearly 200 baht for a small beer you won't be troubled by many of them.

It would be the first time that something is being enforced in THailand

11 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

on roads during travel

So it's illegal to sit in the passenger seat of a car and have a can of beer? Has this always been the case? There's no possible way I could even guesstimate how many cans of beer I've consumed in our car with the missus at the wheel.

33 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

So it's illegal to sit in the passenger seat of a car and have a can of beer? Has this always been the case? There's no possible way I could even guesstimate how many cans of beer I've consumed in our car with the missus at the wheel.

Mostly the inbred red states allow it.

AI Overview

It is legal for car passengers to drink alcohol only in specific jurisdictions that do not have open-container laws. Legality generally depends on the specific location and vehicle type: [1, 2, 3]

In the United States

• States Without Open Container Bans: In about 16 states, including Connecticut, Delaware, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, state law allows passengers to consume alcohol.

• For-Hire Vehicles: Passengers riding in chartered vehicles, such as limousines, party buses, and taxis, are legally permitted to consume alcohol in the passenger compartment in most states, regardless of standard open container laws.

• Local Exemptions: Certain cities (like New Orleans, LA, and Las Vegas, NV) and the entire state of Wisconsin have unique open container exceptions, though federal highway funding acts heavily discourage passenger drinking in moving vehicles nationwide. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Outside the United States

• Philippines: Drinking in a car—whether you are the driver or passenger—is heavily discouraged, and passengers can be cited for public disturbance or contributing to drunk driving under Republic Act No. 10586 if their behavior distracts the driver.

• Australia: It is illegal for passengers to drink in a vehicle while it is in transit. For example, in states like Queensland and Victoria, a vehicle is legally deemed a public place, and passengers will be fined for consuming liquor.

• New Zealand: Open containers are strictly prohibited within any designated liquor ban area. [1, 2, 3, 4]

They should go further. Ban open alcohol consumption in all public places (e.g. drinking in the street) unless in the confines of an open-air bar/restaurant, etc., with an appropriate license. So 'Walking Street' should be just that. You want a beer, go into one of the bars, but don't drink while walking down the street with your buddies. Also, this would be more profitable for the bars, because it would eliminate beers from convenience stores being consumed instead.

22 minutes ago, ronnie50 said:

They should go further. Ban open alcohol consumption in all public places (e.g. drinking in the street) unless in the confines of an open-air bar/restaurant, etc., with an appropriate license. So 'Walking Street' should be just that. You want a beer, go into one of the bars, but don't drink while walking down the street with your buddies. Also, this would be more profitable for the bars, because it would eliminate beers from convenience stores being consumed instead.

How do you believe that will be managed? The same way as smoking in public areas?

Thailand is still far from Singapore, but my guess is that Singapore will become the future standard.

You can already see it with the younger generation of Thais. They are becoming more structured and more willing to follow rules, even in Isaan.

At the same time, Thai media and social media show more bad behaviour, and I think the dislike of farangs and some tourists is slowly growing. Not without reason either. Some foreigners behave like Thailand is a playground without rules.

More big brother breathing down your neck, can't smoke anywhere these days and drinking is becoming the same...where are us ole guys supposed to chill out these days

52 minutes ago, ronnie50 said:

They should go further. Ban open alcohol consumption in all public places (e.g. drinking in the street) unless in the confines of an open-air bar/restaurant, etc., with an appropriate license. So 'Walking Street' should be just that. You want a beer, go into one of the bars, but don't drink while walking down the street with your buddies. Also, this would be more profitable for the bars, because it would eliminate beers from convenience stores being consumed instead.

Fine they should make wearing shirts compulsary and long pants on Buddha days or it's off with ya head

The gang that sets up a table and chairs on the sidewalk opposite our moo baan every Friday night are in for a shock. /s

As soon as the BIB can get over there to put a stop to it. /s

3 hours ago, ronnie50 said:

They should go further. Ban open alcohol consumption in all public places (e.g. drinking in the street) unless in the confines of an open-air bar/restaurant, etc., with an appropriate license. So 'Walking Street' should be just that. You want a beer, go into one of the bars, but don't drink while walking down the street with your buddies. Also, this would be more profitable for the bars, because it would eliminate beers from convenience stores being consumed instead.

I can see your point but is this not why we left the authoritarian west? Id never do it but the ability to walk down the street with a cold beer, whats wrong with that.

Then you have to enforce on the "public" beach! No beer in public places 🤔

Public parks?! Really? Wow!

6 hours ago, dinsdale said:

So it's illegal to sit in the passenger seat of a car and have a can of beer?

Yes, of is, and both the drinking passenger and the driver would face prosecution.

5 hours ago, Front Row said:

The gang that sets up a table and chairs on the sidewalk opposite our moo baan every Friday night are in for a shock. /s

As soon as the BIB can get over there to put a stop to it. /s

My solution. Rather than your group await for the inevitable fine from RTP. I suggest your group just offers the bar owner a bigger tip to cover the fine if or when the RTP do turn up.

6 hours ago, baansgr said:

Fine they should make wearing shirts compulsary and long pants on Buddha days or it's off with ya head

My understanding is that wearing underpants is already compulsory.

I don't know if this applies to both sexes but if they need volunteers to check females for compliance I would consider the task.

3 hours ago, pacovl46 said:

Public parks?! Really? Wow!

Very common in California.

Reduces the number of picnics that turn into punch outs.

7 hours ago, ronnie50 said:

They should go further. Ban open alcohol consumption in all public places (e.g. drinking in the street)

Why? what does it hurt you that someone is drinking on the street (as long as they're not harassing anyone)? In Japan - probably the most well behaved place on earth - it's fully legal and normal to drink in public parks and on the street.

44 minutes ago, cynic1 said:

My solution. Rather than your group await for the inevitable fine from RTP. I suggest your group just offers the bar owner a bigger tip to cover the fine if or when the RTP do turn up.

There is no “bar owner” unless you count the guy who brings the table. LOL.

THE B.I.B. aren’t ever going to show up. This social gathering, if you will has been doing this for at least ten years. They’re part of the fabric of the neighborhood, for better for worse.

7 hours ago, Hummin said:

You can already see it with the younger generation of Thais. They are becoming more structured and more willing to follow rules, even in Isaan.

That's sad to hear about Thais. The Gen Z kids in the US seem like that in a lot of ways also. It's like they want to follow rules, and pat themselves on the back when they do so.

4 minutes ago, davb said:

That's sad to hear about Thais. The Gen Z kids in the US seem like that in a lot of ways also. It's like they want to follow rules, and pat themselves on the back when they do so.

They know, or at least some know, that everyone sees them now. Cameras, phones, social media, police reports, and public shame all change behaviour over time.

And honestly, look at China. Maybe not the simple “citizen points” version people talk about, but the direction is real enough: surveillance, blacklists, behaviour tracking, and consequences.

1 hour ago, PingRoundTheWorld said:

Why? what does it hurt you that someone is drinking on the street (as long as they're not harassing anyone)? In Japan - probably the most well behaved place on earth - it's fully legal and normal to drink in public parks and on the street.

Yes. It is not the drink that is the problem.

I can think of few greater pleasures than a picnic with friends on a beach, or in a park, and opening a chilled bottle of wine.

1 hour ago, PingRoundTheWorld said:

Why? what does it hurt you that someone is drinking on the street (as long as they're not harassing anyone)? In Japan - probably the most well behaved place on earth - it's fully legal and normal to drink in public parks and on the street.

I see your point, but you'd need to be willfully ignorant at the violence and chaos that results in Thailand's resort areas. This ain't Japan.

4 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Yes, of is, and both the drinking passenger and the driver would face prosecution.

No problem, sit in the back of the pick up like everyone else at Songkran.

Party on!

5 hours ago, thjames007 said:

I can see your point but is this not why we left the authoritarian west

Not so sure about that 'authoritarian west' - in the UK it's ok to spill out onto the street with your pint as long as you remain in the vicinity of the pub. Also, I've seen western countries designate alcohol areas in some beaches, parks and big outdoor events. That's how they control it and attempt to make everyone happy. You can drink in this area - but not that area.

Is public intoxication even a problem in the Thai populace? It seems rare, even in Pattaya. Some governments like to push people around and show them who's boss. This flurry of new laws seems high handed. Did the voters demand it?

22 hours ago, MIke B Bad said:

Airports are "specialised transport hubs" and therefore exempt...........phew.....nothing more entertaining on a flight than drunk passengers.

Small can 185 and large can 200 to 285 THB at the new Suvarnabhumi terminal should take care of that...555.

3 hours ago, emptypockets said:

hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Yes, of is, and both the drinking passenger and the driver would face prosecution.

No problem, sit in the back of the pick up like everyone else at Songkran

Still illegal.

12 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Still illegal.

And nobody cares!

On 5/22/2026 at 10:16 AM, cdemundo said:

Very common in California.

Reduces the number of picnics that turn into punch outs.

Right.