Liquor Policy Committee drops plan to extend liquor sale hours, for now

[snoop1130]

 

Deputy Prime Minister Somsak Thepsuthin promised members of an anti-liquor network today that the Liquor Policy Committee will not extend liquor sales hours.

 

About 300 members of the anti-liquor network from Sukhothai province, hometown of Somsak, arrived at the Ministry of Public Health today to voice their opposition to any attempt to revoke an old announcement by a military junta, which restricts the sale of liquor from 11am to 2pm and from 5 pm to midnight.

 

The Liquor Policy Committee, headed by Somsak, was scheduled to meet today to consider extending liquor sale hours.

 

After receiving a petition and a report from the group, Somsak told them that more studies will be conducted on the issue and thanked them for their concerns over the impacts of alcohol.

 

The deputy prime minister assured them that the committee will not yet make any decision to extend the liquor sale hours, prompting them to burst into a spontaneous applause. Then they gave Somsak a bunch of red roses and thanked him for responding to their call.

 

Full story: Thai PBS 2024-02-19

 

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[Thailand]

One of the dumbest restrictions still on the books and continues to make little sense. TIT

[proton]

Our local 7/11 sells out of hours, rings it up a 5PM, they even deliver. Have they dropped the tax reduction as well? I see some drink has shot up, probably in anticipation, eg 100 pipers 8 year blended malt went up 2 weeks ago from 679 baht to 815.

[KhunBENQ]

1 hour ago, snoop1130 said:

anti-liquor network from Sukhothai

Must be a mighty bunch.

[dinsdale]

Minority interest group (no doubt well represented by elites and ultra conservatives) determine government policy. 

[ikke1959]

Good for tourism, and save face of the government.. They can say we wanted to change but a committee doesn't want it... No changes are possible in Thailand as long as the dinosaurs are in power... 

[Purdey]

If only there was evidence the sales ban cut alcoholism... 

[webfact]

Bid to Extend Legal Alcohol Sales Time Rejected Again By Thai Government Panel
By Aim Tanakorn

 

Different alcohol drinks in bottles with STOP sign on grey background

 

A Thai government committee has dropped, for the second time, a proposal to extend the afternoon alcohol sale time in response to activists’ pleas. However, the Public Health Minister has not completely dismissed possibly changing the sales times in the future.

On February 19th, 2024, representatives from various anti-alcohol groups gathered at the Ministry of Public Health in protest of the proposed sales extension that is being discussed by the Alcoholic Beverage Policy Committee of Thailand.

 

The committee is led by Deputy Prime Minister Somsak Thepsuthin. Mr. Somsak arrived at the ministry to receive a letter from the protestors and assured them that the committee would not extend alcohol sales hours, citing the need for further analysis and consideration.

 

Mr. Somsak also expressed support for establishing a dedicated fund, titled “The Fund for the Rehabilitation and Care of those affected by alcoholic beverages,” to assist individuals negatively impacted by alcohol consumption.

 

Meanwhile, supporters of lifting the long-standing ban, including the tourism and hospitality industry, have continued to press for at least a trial in certain areas, almost certainly meant to be tourism hotspots like Pattaya and Phuket.

 

Full story: THE PATTAYA NEWS 2024-02-20

 

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[damo1967]

6 hours ago, Purdey said:

If only there was evidence the sales ban cut alcoholism... 

I believe part of the reason the ban between 2pm and 5pm was due to school kids buying alcohol?   It was an attempt to restrict school kids buying alcohol underaged.  7-11 could have asked for ID for kids in school uniform or if they looked underage.

 

Stupid law because in Takiab, there is a 7-11 that restricts the sale of alcohol between 2-5pm, but you can walk 30 metres to the TOPS store and freely buy alcohol 24hrs a day/night.

[hotchilli]

12 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The deputy prime minister assured them that the committee will not yet make any decision to extend the liquor sale hours, prompting them to burst into a spontaneous applause

Not yet... crazy Thai law which should be over-turned.

You can drink from 5pm-4am an eleven hour stretch, yet cannot have a beer with your lunch...

Tourists would enjoy the freedom.

As for Thai office workers and school kids other measures can be applied.

[jacko45k]

12 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Deputy Prime Minister Somsak Thepsuthin promised members of an anti-liquor network today that the Liquor Policy Committee will not extend liquor sales hours.

A promise broken before being uttered!

Nightlife areas allowed to open to 4am was such an extension.

The silly ban on afternoon sales for 3 hours is really not the issue.

 

[NemoH]

Absolutely BBS.. no justification for such a law.. If the whole purpose is to prevent crime/DUI - then the best time to ban alcohol sales is from 7pm to 0400 am based on the statistics of crime and DUI at this time.. Total hypocrisy. 

[AustinRacing]

They had the red roses ready to give. How did they know the result was going to be in their favor? Hmmmm

[bamnutsak]

More time spent, and nothing accomplished. Empty Chang can gets kicked down the road.

 

Classic Thai.

 

 

Another Pheu Thai Party campaign promise gets tossed aside. Shameful.

 

 

[Bruce Aussie Chiang Mai]

11 minutes ago, NemoH said:

Absolutely BBS.. no justification for such a law.. If the whole purpose is to prevent crime/DUI - then the best time to ban alcohol sales is from 7pm to 0400 am based on the statistics of crime and DUI at this time.. Total hypocrisy. 

Stupid is what stupid is

[jesimps]

13 hours ago, proton said:

Our local 7/11 sells out of hours, rings it up a 5PM, they even deliver. Have they dropped the tax reduction as well? I see some drink has shot up, probably in anticipation, eg 100 pipers 8 year blended malt went up 2 weeks ago from 679 baht to 815.

I've stopped buying that brand after the ridiculous recent price rises. I have to shop around now for the couple of cheaper brands of scotch still available.

.

[Paul Henry]

The only one to suffer from these STUPID ANTIQUATED laws is Thailand.

[Sydebolle]

I sincerely hope that nobody believes this bo11ocks.

.... 300 members of the anti-liquor network from Sukhothai province, hometown of DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER Somsak, arrived at the Ministry of Public Health today .....

If it takes that huge number of anti-boozers, then Somsak is definitely the wrong man and sent home on a one-way ticket. Or, does one or a few of those 300 might have had some dirty laundry in their luggage from Sukhothai to hand in public in Bangkok?

I also wonder, who paid the usual 500 - 1000 Baht plus food for all those "demonstrators" who were wheeled in from faraway Sukothai to protest in its strongest possible way against all this local firewater, which might be made available from midnight to 11am as well as between 2pm and 5pm. We've had these paid tours over and over again and the organizers still believe, that anyone takes this as the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth! The Red Shirts were leading that particular travelers category. 
 

Thailand might be a first again with their own "Liquor Policy Committee" - never a dull moment indeed! 

What a ridiculous farçe; I sometimes wonder, if Khon Thai is aware of the fact, that the internet is also accessible outside the promised land? 

Not, that anyone cares, booze is available 24/7, some legal some not quite so legal but, like anything else in this country, laws are here to be circumvented 😞 

[webfact]

Thailand investigates extending alcohol sales hours for tourism boost
by Mitch Connor

 

Photo courtesy of MGR Online

Public Health Minister, Cholnan Srikaew, announced the formation of a panel by the National Alcohol Beverage Policy Committee to investigate the proposed extension of alcohol sales hours in Thailand. This decision necessitates a comprehensive review of the existing laws and regulations surrounding the sale of alcoholic beverages.

 

The panel’s objective is to study the potential repercussions of extended drinking hours on public health and economic growth. At present, there is a lack of sufficient data for the committee to reach a concrete decision on this matter.

 

The Ministry of Tourism and Sports predicts that the proposed policy change could boost the tourism sector’s revenue to 1.2 trillion baht (US$33 billion). It is estimated that food and beverage sales would contribute to one-sixth of this projected figure, approximately 200 billion baht (US$5.5 billion), reported Bangkok Post.

 

However, there are concerns about the potential negative outcomes of this policy. Cholnan pointed out an observed increase in accidents in the five provinces where night entertainment venues have longer operating hours. He stressed the need to determine if there is a direct correlation between these two factors. He clarified that there is no specified timeline for the completion of the study.

This decision follows the rejection of a similar proposal by a committee on alcoholic beverage controls last week. The committee cited potential adverse impacts on public health and social welfare due to longer drinking hours as the reason for their decision. Currently, the law permits the sale of alcoholic beverages between 11am-2pm and 5pm to midnight.

In response to the proposed changes, approximately 800 people from various temperance groups convened at the Ministry of Public Health to voice their opposition. Somsak Thepsutin, Deputy Prime Minister and committee chair, assured these groups that there would be no hasty decisions made on changing the policy.

Extended alcohol sales

 

Photo courtesy of MGR Online

The challenge facing authorities involves balancing the demands of tourism with local priorities while also addressing issues related to alcohol consumption. Thailand grapples with a high number of road accidents, with many attributed to drunk driving, as seen in incidents like the hit-and-run on Rama 4 Road where a traffic officer lost their life.

 

Source: The Thaiger 2024-02-20

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

 

[smedly]

well it doesn't make any sense - it really doesn't 

 

 

how about doing the sensible thing and then all retiring, just go

[Lopburikid]

12 hours ago, dinsdale said:

Minority interest group (no doubt well represented by elites and ultra conservatives) determine government policy. 

Don't forget the majority of the senate committee is run by Prayut's men, and he wouldn't like to see his law overruled.

[Surasak]

16 minutes ago, webfact said:

Thailand investigates extending alcohol sales hours for tourism boost
by Mitch Connor

 

Photo courtesy of MGR Online

Public Health Minister, Cholnan Srikaew, announced the formation of a panel by the National Alcohol Beverage Policy Committee to investigate the proposed extension of alcohol sales hours in Thailand. This decision necessitates a comprehensive review of the existing laws and regulations surrounding the sale of alcoholic beverages.

 

The panel’s objective is to study the potential repercussions of extended drinking hours on public health and economic growth. At present, there is a lack of sufficient data for the committee to reach a concrete decision on this matter.

 

The Ministry of Tourism and Sports predicts that the proposed policy change could boost the tourism sector’s revenue to 1.2 trillion baht (US$33 billion). It is estimated that food and beverage sales would contribute to one-sixth of this projected figure, approximately 200 billion baht (US$5.5 billion), reported Bangkok Post.

 

However, there are concerns about the potential negative outcomes of this policy. Cholnan pointed out an observed increase in accidents in the five provinces where night entertainment venues have longer operating hours. He stressed the need to determine if there is a direct correlation between these two factors. He clarified that there is no specified timeline for the completion of the study.

This decision follows the rejection of a similar proposal by a committee on alcoholic beverage controls last week. The committee cited potential adverse impacts on public health and social welfare due to longer drinking hours as the reason for their decision. Currently, the law permits the sale of alcoholic beverages between 11am-2pm and 5pm to midnight.

In response to the proposed changes, approximately 800 people from various temperance groups convened at the Ministry of Public Health to voice their opposition. Somsak Thepsutin, Deputy Prime Minister and committee chair, assured these groups that there would be no hasty decisions made on changing the policy.

Extended alcohol sales

 

Photo courtesy of MGR Online

The challenge facing authorities involves balancing the demands of tourism with local priorities while also addressing issues related to alcohol consumption. Thailand grapples with a high number of road accidents, with many attributed to drunk driving, as seen in incidents like the hit-and-run on Rama 4 Road where a traffic officer lost their life.

 

Source: The Thaiger 2024-02-20

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

 

The same arguments were put forward when the UK licensing laws were discussed, many years ago. For a few months it was like a free for all, but people realised being able to get a drink 24/7 relieved the pressure. Pubs used to open all day and all night for a while, then they got themselves organised on a rotation system. The 'R White's' system was also out the window and although there are still DUI cases, it is not so prevalent because of the penalties involved. 

[Andycoops]

Governed by Dinosaurs.

No doubt hidden in the roses was a large amount so help the DPM with his decision.

300 out of a population of nearly 70M.

[proton]

1 hour ago, jesimps said:

I've stopped buying that brand after the ridiculous recent price rises. I have to shop around now for the couple of cheaper brands of scotch still available.

.

 

Dewars white label is probably the best, blended.

[Big Bert]

2 hours ago, damo1967 said:

I believe part of the reason the ban between 2pm and 5pm was due to school kids buying alcohol?   It was an attempt to restrict school kids buying alcohol underaged.  7-11 could have asked for ID for kids in school uniform or if they looked underage.

 

Stupid law because in Takiab, there is a 7-11 that restricts the sale of alcohol between 2-5pm, but you can walk 30 metres to the TOPS store and freely buy alcohol 24hrs a day/night.

My local TOPS restrict alcohol sales, the tills will not accept it out of hours.

[alant]

15 hours ago, proton said:

Our local 7/11 sells out of hours, rings it up a 5PM, they even deliver. Have they dropped the tax reduction as well? I see some drink has shot up, probably in anticipation, eg 100 pipers 8 year blended malt went up 2 weeks ago from 679 baht to 815.

Yes noticed an increase in booze costs not a decrease, did the tax reduction flounder or is it just the mega monopolies are just taking more and even more profit?

[Tropicalevo]

From what I have seen here on Samui, 7/11's and Tops daily sell alcohol all day.

Just the big supermarkets that keep the restriction times.

[daveAustin]

Why is there even a committee involved in this? A group of self-interested retards with their own agenda, no less. This government is weak. 

[bamnutsak]

1 minute ago, Tropicalevo said:

From what I have seen here on Samui, 7/11's and Tops daily sell alcohol all day.

 

Like most "rules" here, and like Immigration, abiding by the law and enforcement is optional/flexible.

 

In my neighborhood bars/restaurants/pubs open ~ 09:00 and serve through to 04:00. 7/11's abide by the rules, as do supermarkets. Most of the "mom & pop" shops have been run off by CPAll, those that survive sell all hours.

 

 

[Bangkok Barry]

Along come plenty of indignant posts as if the plan to end the restriction has been abandoned. It hasn't.

 

Liquor Policy Committee drops plan to extend liquor sale hours, for now

The deputy prime minister assured them that the committee will not yet make any decision.

 

Absolutely nothing has been decided. The DPM smiled at his constituents, said what they wanted to hear. Exactly the same as AN posters who in turn read what they wanted to read in order to protest, not what was actually written.