Thailand Extends Alcohol Sales Hours Nationwide

1 minute ago, dinsdale said:

So I can buy a bottle of red or a bottle of Absolut vodka there can I?

Not sure about Red...or absolute but definitely hong thong 😁

2 minutes ago, baansgr said:

Not sure about Red...or absolute but definitely hong thong 😁

Exactly. Mom and Pop shops are handy for beer and Thai spirits but that's all.

1 minute ago, dinsdale said:

Exactly. Mom and Pop shops are handy for beer and Thai spirits but that's all.

Thank goodness for Mom and pop shops........

6 minutes ago, Off Piste said:

Thank goodness for Mom and pop shops........

I agree especially on those silly Buddhist booze ban days, however, they have their limitations. If a person fancies a can of beer and a 711 ham and cheese at 10 in the morning though it would be handy to be able to purchase both at 711 don't you think.

2 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

I agree especially on those silly Buddhist booze ban days, however, they have their limitations. If a person fancies a can of beer and a 711 ham and cheese at 10 in the morning though it would be handy to be able to purchase both at 711 don't you think.

depends on one's priorities I guess.........mine would be beer on a Buddhist booze ban day........

2 minutes ago, Off Piste said:

depends on one's priorities I guess.........mine would be beer on a Buddhist booze ban day........

Shouldn't have to choose. Buddhist booze sales ban days all over Thailand Thais are on the booze. 11 o'clock opening, possibly the only country in the world to start sales this late (I looked it up), is equally ridiculous as alcohol is available across Thailand before 11 just not at the supermarkets, 711's etc. Both equally absurd (although the Buddhist days are based on something) and both should go the same direction as the 2-5 prohibition. OUT.

2 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

Shouldn't have to choose. Buddhist booze sales ban days all over Thailand Thais are on the booze. 11 o'clock opening, possibly the only country in the world to start sales this late (I looked it up), is equally ridiculous as alcohol is available across Thailand before 11 just not at the supermarkets 711's etc. Both absurd and both should go the same direction as the 2-5 prohibition. OUT.

Agree, 24/7 alcohol sales would be great, but personally, I don't mind a challenge, makes it all the more fun...

21 hours ago, Ralf001 said:

I did my weekly shop at 8.30 this morning.

Grabbed 2 bottles of JD and a box of Beer Lao on the way home.

Whats the issue ?

I understand people will disagree with opinions. What i don't understand is how people can not understand that other people's opinions.

On 5/30/2026 at 8:48 AM, SAFETY FIRST said:

Yeah, some of us here would like to drink a beer at 6, 7 or 8 in the morning after they wake up. 😡

Yeah, some of us here have a refrigerator and can think more than 2 minutes ahead.

On 5/30/2026 at 7:58 AM, dinsdale said:

Got nothing to do with that. It's about being having the ability stock up (or even buy a can of beer) before 11. Some people prefer to do their shopping earlier in the day. Obviously you don't have an answer to WHY 11:00 am?

There is no law preventing drinking alcohol at the hours you suggest !

16 hours ago, dinsdale said:

I didn't realize that Soi Bukhao was just bamboo huts in 1972 when this law was enacted. Thanks for the history lesson.

Perhaps enacted, but certainly not enforced anywhere.

22 hours ago, Ralf001 said:

I did my weekly shop at 8.30 this morning.

Grabbed 2 bottles of JD and a box of Beer Lao on the way home.

Whats the issue ?

From where did you buy JD at 08.30 please, I like it?

21 hours ago, Ralf001 said:

I did my weekly shop at 8.30 this morning.

Grabbed 2 bottles of JD and a box of Beer Lao on the way home.

Whats the issue ?

Where? Not from Big C or Lotus or Macro that's for sure. Maybe your local M&P shop stacks Jack but that indeed would be a rarity. If you are able to do this does it mean everyone else can or is your post only about you? Again I'm curious to know where from and can you do general shopping there at the same time?

32 minutes ago, gargamon said:

Yeah, some of us here have a refrigerator and can think more than 2 minutes ahead.

Not the point. The point is not being able to purchase because of an antiquated law. 2-5 was the same antiquated law. That's gone and 11 o'clock remains. As I said above this is one of if not the latest opening for alcohol sales in the world and there seems to be no reasonable, valid or logical reason for it. Again the reason for it being there in the first place is the same as the 2-5 prohibition as it was the same law. Alcohol will not be for sale before the hour of 11:00 am and during the hours of 2 pm to 5 pm. Reason? To stop civil servants from getting on the booze. Ridiculous law from the get go.

On 5/29/2026 at 5:40 PM, Rams86 said:

I haven't noticed any difference but it is more convenient to buy bulk beer when I go shopping in my car every week.

I have found it more convenient to buy bulk beer daily, sometimes twice or three times daily.

37 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

Not the point. The point is not being able to purchase because of an antiquated law. 2-5 was the same antiquated law. That's gone and 11 o'clock remains. As I said above this is one of if not the latest opening for alcohol sales in the world and there seems to be no reasonable, valid or logical reason for it. Again the reason for it being there in the first place is the same as the 2-5 prohibition as it was the same law. Alcohol will not be for sale before the hour of 11:00 am and during the hours of 2 pm to 5 pm. Reason? To stop civil servants from getting on the booze. Ridiculous law from the get go.

UK had the same law banning alcohol sales in the afternoon until 20 years ago (roughly). It was a 'hangover' of a WWI law designed to get the munition workers back into the factories after lunch by preventing all day drinking. So it was a wartime production issue. Not sure if Thailand used the same reasoning when it was enacted here, but I guss the factory owners would have been in favor of it. Anyway, times have changed so much that it was simply a nuisance law that didn't really prevent anything excpet annoyance for those shopping in the afternoon.

Regarding why 11 am as a starting time. I agree there is no clear reason for that particular time. My own guess, is since the new law decrees that alcohol sales must cease by midnight, meant that they'd also need a recommencement time for sales. Ten oclock might have made more sense as that's when many big supermarkets open, though some open earlier than that.

8 minutes ago, ronnie50 said:

Regarding why 11 am as a starting time. I agree there is no clear reason for that particular time. My own guess, is since the new law decrees that alcohol sales must cease by midnight, meant that they'd also need a recommencement time for sales. Ten oclock might have made more sense as that's when many big supermarkets open, though some open earlier than that.

This was part of the law brought in in 1972 to prevent civil servants getting on the booze before 11 in the morning and during the hours of 2-5 in the afternoon. As for supermarket opening time I think 8, 8:30 or 9 is around the norm although MACRO is 6:00 am.

1 hour ago, wil iam not said:

From where did you buy JD at 08.30 please, I like it?

Mom and pop shop booze shop opposite the supermarket in my soi.

1 hour ago, dinsdale said:

Where? Not from Big C or Lotus or Macro that's for sure. Maybe your local M&P shop stacks Jack but that indeed would be a rarity. If you are able to do this does it mean everyone else can or is your post only about you? Again I'm curious to know where from and can you do general shopping there at the same time?

The shop is booze wholesaler for my local area, they supply most of the bars around here.

They are open to the public, 6am to 6pm.

Opposite is a Tops supermarket.

4 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

The shop is booze wholesaler for my local area, they supply most of the bars around here.

They are open to the public, 6am to 6pm.

Opposite is a Tops supermarket.

Wonder how much they pay the Boys in Brown to allow this.

6 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

The shop is booze wholesaler for my local area, they supply most of the bars around here.

They are open to the public, 6am to 6pm.

Opposite is a Tops supermarket.

Lucky you. I would suggest the majority of us have to wait, for no good reason, until eleven o'clock.

12 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

The shop is booze wholesaler for my local area, they supply most of the bars around here.

They are open to the public, 6am to 6pm.

Opposite is a Tops supermarket.

There are many of these type of shops around.

39 minutes ago, LennyW said:

There are many of these type of shops around.

Yeah I know, I chuckle heartily at the peanut gallery moaning about not being able to buy boooze before 11am!

On 5/30/2026 at 8:06 AM, dinsdale said:

Because I like to buy wine whilst doing the shopping in the morning and only the supermarkets have this where I am. Apart from that the issue remains that their seems to be no rational reason not to open at 8 or 9 for example just as there was no rational reason for the 2-5 prohibition hours.

Me thinks the reason are not based on a few foreigners be it long stayers or tourist`s. Alcoholism and drug addiction between the locals are actually a big problem in Thailand. Of course, neither ThaiBev nor Mr. Cannabis Pm would admit that.

Felt

1 minute ago, Felt 35 said:

Me thinks the reason are not based on a few foreigners be it long stayers or tourist`s. Alcoholism and drug addiction between the locals are actually a big problem in Thailand. Of course, neither ThaiBev nor Mr. Cannabis Pm would admit that.

Felt

ThaiBev would not be giving a flying <deleted> about the 11am.

Locals can still buy their product anyways!

2 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

ThaiBev would not be giving a flying <deleted> about the 11am.

Locals can still buy their product anyways!

Well, TIT = wannabe seen to have fair strict laws / rules.

Felt

On 5/29/2026 at 4:35 PM, snoop1130 said:

Thailand’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Committee announced revised hours for alcohol sales beginning in 2026, as detailed in the Royal Gazette. Starting the day after publication, alcohol can be sold from 11am to midnight, with specific exceptions for airports, entertainment venues, hotels, and designated event areas. These changes aim to modernize Thailand's alcohol control policies while promoting tourism and retail activity.

They could have done this years ago. Make me wonder how much revenue has been lost over the year with the Puritanical alcohol laws, the ban on sales between 2pm to 5pm being the icing on the cake. It was really tiresome to drink beer out of a coffee mug in the middle of the afternoon. Like what do tourist on vacation do. Relax, have a couple of beers in the afternoon, wind down... Instead - look over your shoulder to see if the Alcohol Police are going to bust you for having an afternoon beer. Glad those days are over.

On 5/30/2026 at 8:17 AM, OldmanJ said:

It's pretty bad when some people go to bed with a bottle of alcohol and need more in the morning with there cereal and toast.

"Hair of the Dog."

22 hours ago, dinsdale said:

I didn't realize that Soi Bukhao was just bamboo huts in 1972 when this law was enacted. Thanks for the history lesson.

Where exactly did I mention 1972?

There may have been buildings that were replaced by bamboo huts, before being replaced by buildings.