Thailand Considers Lifting Alcohol Ban to Boost Restaurant Business

[webfact]

 

The Government of Thailand is contemplating lifting the afternoon ban on alcohol sales to aid beleaguered restaurant operators amid economic difficulties. Representatives from the Restaurant Business Club recently submitted a plea to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, asking for measures to help restaurants navigate the current economic challenges.

 

Restaurant operators have spotlighted rising operational costs and increasing prices of ingredients as significant issues, leading to numerous business closures. They specifically requested the repeal of a 52-year-old regulation that restricts alcohol sales between 2pm and 5pm.

 

During a Cabinet meeting at Nakhon Ratchasima Rajabhat University, the Bangkok-born prime minister addressed the matter:

 

“I will consider it (the lifting of the afternoon ban on alcohol sales). The government is trying to promote tourism, hoping they will also earn more income.”

 

Sorathep Rojpotjanaruch, head of the Restaurant Business Club, emphasized the need for urgent relief measures to stave off further closures.

 

He noted operating costs have surged by 50%, while ingredient prices, including milk, eggs, and vegetables, have escalated by 20 to 30%. Sorathep also highlighted a significant decline in customer purchasing power.

 

“The economy has been sluggish, and consumer purchasing power has declined. The cost and prices of ingredients, such as vegetables, have gone up, on top of expensive electricity fees.”

 

Thailand's restaurant industry, which generated an estimated 420 billion baht in revenue in 2019—accounting for about 7% of GDP—was initially projected to grow by 4 to 5% this year. However, growth has slowed since April, leading to more closures, according to Sorathep.

 

He expressed concerns for small-scale vendors and food shops, stating, “Small-scale vendors and food shops along streets are at risk of going out of business as they don’t have sufficient financial resources to stay afloat for long periods.”

 

In addition to lifting the afternoon alcohol sales ban, the group proposed reducing building and land tax rates to ease financial pressures.

 

Other suggested measures include supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by allowing customers to claim up to 20,000 baht in tax deductions for restaurant invoices, while business operators could use bills for deductions of up to 100,000 baht each.

 

Another proposal included a 2,000 baht cash handout per person, to be spent over three months exclusively on food through the Pao Tang app.

 

The ban on retail alcohol sales between 2pm and 5pm was introduced by the coup regime of Thanom Kittikachorn in 1972 to prevent officials from drinking during work hours and has remained in place since.

 

The Restaurant Business Club’s appeals come at a critical time as businesses grapple with rising costs and decreasing consumer spending. The government’s consideration of these proposals could offer much-needed relief for the industry.

 

Fil photo courtesy: NNT

 

-- 2024-07-03

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

 

[bob smith]

13 minutes ago, webfact said:

The ban on retail alcohol sales between 2pm and 5pm was introduced by the coup regime of Thanom Kittikachorn in 1972 to prevent officials from drinking during work hours and has remained in place since.

only in Thailand folks.

 

How completely and utterly ridiculous! 

Laughing stock of the highest order.

 

bob.

Edited July 3 by bob smith

[AhFarangJa]

While they are at it why not scrap the ban on Buddhist days too. A complete farce when you can go into just about any mom & pop shop and buy it.  

[ikke1959]

The evolution of Thailand a 52 year old law of no selling alcohol between 2 pm  and 5 pm, although many times people begged to get rid of it.. It will now be considered so it can take another decade before the decision is made. Same as with the lower taxes on alcohol... It started in March but there are no changes in prices....

[bob smith]

1 minute ago, AhFarangJa said:

While they are at it why not scrap the ban on Buddhist days too. A complete farce when you can go into just about any mom & pop shop and buy it.  

Agreed.

 

All non Buddhists should be able to get rat ar$ed on those days if they so wish to. Even in pubs and restaurants.

 

bob.

[MalcolmB]

I have never been affected by this law.

Hundreds of beer bars, resorts, restaurants, shops all selling booze between 2 and 5 pm.

 

Gives something to Bob to complain about though. 

[OJAS]

24 minutes ago, AhFarangJa said:

While they are at it why not scrap the ban on Buddhist days too. A complete farce when you can go into just about any mom & pop shop and buy it.  

 

Plus scrap the ban on selling booze during election weekends (from 6pm Saturday and all day Sunday). Applies to non-voting foreigners as well as Thais. Presumably it was introduced so as to minimise the risk of VUI (voting under the influence??

Edited July 3 by OJAS

[Pouatchee]

39 minutes ago, webfact said:

the group proposed reducing building and land tax rates to ease financial pressures.

 

since pukethai came to office, taxes have been the name of the game. note sure surly sreta is going ti like that one

[connda]

No duhhhhh.  Ya'll finally figuring that out.  Minds as sharp as tacks, this lot.

[HappyExpat57]

Restuarants still serve during those hours. It's the 7/11's and supermarkets that suffer due to this half-century-old ridiculous nonsense.

[Maitdjai]

Btw, this is just another mixed-up copy, of a thread about Restaurants "Crisis"!

"Considering"...How long? Big talking clouds, and warm air for months.
Nothing happens, this way, or the other.
At least, it creates a lot of smoke about nothing.
What do they want to achieve, with "allowed" alcohol sales between 2 pm and 5 pm?
 
All "old" laws stay in the "drawer".
Those are not enforced, until somebody's state of mind changes.
Oops, the "jumping jack" is back on the table.
Too many examples.

[connda]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Restaurant operators have spotlighted rising operational costs and increasing prices of ingredients as significant issues, leading to numerous business closures. They specifically requested the repeal of a 52-year-old regulation that restricts alcohol sales between 2pm and 5pm.

Which is unenforced out in the rice-field boondocks of rural ❤️ Thailand.

[watchcat]

1 hour ago, AhFarangJa said:

A complete farce when you can go into just about any mom & pop shop and buy it.  

 

Yes you can buy beer, lao khao, hong thong and the like but if you don't like that, you're in trouble. And what about the 11AM for start selling alkohol?

[NativeBob]

Interesting approach to promote tourism >>> childish and pathetic imho, just like legalizing weed so streets are full with chemically altered overpriced garbage. 

75-80% food stalls must be shut down due to the lack of basic hygiene and quality standards, not to help to "boost" their rat infested business.

Very wrong approach.

[spidermike007]

Very few people even understand the reasoning for this ridiculous ban to begin with, it feels pureile and puritanistic, and it does not feel sincere and genuine. 

[Seppius]

Just seems to affect food places in the shopping malls, as far as restaurants go

[James105]

Headline should read: Thailand Considers Lifting Alcohol Ban (for the tiny percent of businesses that obey by this law) to Boost Restaurant Business for that very small percentage of rule followers.  

[Bangkok Barry]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

The Government of Thailand is contemplating lifting the afternoon ban on alcohol sales to aid beleaguered restaurant operators amid economic difficulties. bring the law into line with what is happening anyway.

 

There. Fixed it.

[UK Martin]

7-elevens stick to the 2 - 5 ban on booze but that's about it... all bars, pubs restaurants etc.. sell alcohol between 2 and 5 in Bangkok.

In 8 years I have never witnessed a bar or restaurant that has not served alcohol between these times... this is fake news to fill the page imho

 

[Bangkok Barry]

2 hours ago, OJAS said:

 

Plus scrap the ban on selling booze during election weekends (from 6pm Saturday and all day Sunday). Applies to non-voting foreigners as well as Thais. Presumably it was introduced so as to minimise the risk of VUI (voting under the influence??

 

And how about the booze ban for non-Buddhists on certain days. I'm sure businesses love having to close for no good reason. And if Buddhists allow it on every other day of the year, why are their holidays any different? The height of hypocrisy.

[Bangkok Barry]

2 hours ago, OJAS said:

Presumably it was introduced so as to minimise the risk of VUI (voting under the influence??

 

It doesn't actually matter who Thais vote for. They are given the government chosen by an elite few or one imposed by the military - these days, effectively the same thing.

[ThaiFelix]

2 hours ago, bob smith said:

only in Thailand folks.

 

How completely and utterly ridiculous! 

Laughing stock of the highest order.

 

bob.

Yes why get rid of this law when ridiculous laws like this makes Thailand what it is today.  Especially when everyone knows you can go next door to the Mum an Pops and buy as much as you want at any hour lol.

[ThaiFelix]

5 minutes ago, Bangkok Barry said:

It doesn't actually matter who Thais vote for. They are given the government chosen by an elite few or one imposed by the military - these days, effectively the same thing.

Its what Indonesia's Suharto called "Guided Democracy" (while him and his cronies were stripping the place bare).                                    

[Ctkong]

2 hours ago, AhFarangJa said:

While they are at it why not scrap the ban on Buddhist days too. A complete farce when you can go into just about any mom & pop shop and buy it.  

Since Thailand is a Buddhist country, buddhists cannot sell alcohol let alone drink alcohol during Buddhist days. They cannot be enablers by selling alcohol even though sellers are not the drinkers. It is their culture. In muslim country like Malaysia, Malay shopowners cannot sell alcohol too.

[Ctkong]

2 hours ago, bob smith said:

Agreed.

 

All non Buddhists should be able to get rat ar$ed on those days if they so wish to. Even in pubs and restaurants.

 

bob.

It goes to indicate the authorities are concerned that local Thais are not empowered enough to restrain imbibing alcohol during those time. Self control is not one of their strong attributes.

[bob smith]

4 minutes ago, Ctkong said:

Since Thailand is a Buddhist country, buddhists cannot sell alcohol let alone drink alcohol during Buddhist days. They cannot be enablers by selling alcohol even though sellers are not the drinkers. It is their culture. In muslim country like Malaysia, Malay shopowners cannot sell alcohol too.

sooo, let fellow farangs sell it to the farang punters on those holy days.

 

problem solved?

 

bob.

[Ctkong]

2 hours ago, OJAS said:

 

Plus scrap the ban on selling booze during election weekends (from 6pm Saturday and all day Sunday). Applies to non-voting foreigners as well as Thais. Presumably it was introduced so as to minimise the risk of VUI (voting under the influence??

Thais used to put the blame game on alcohol intoxication when involved in any physical altercations  be it traffic accidents or orherwise.

[Ctkong]

1 minute ago, bob smith said:

sooo, let fellow farangs sell it to the farang punters on those holy days.

 

problem solved?

 

bob.

A solution that is difficult to enforce. I understand in Middle East countries, international hotels can sell alcohol within their premises. 

[ignore it]

Ah,

 

So it's booze in, weed out is it?

[Ctkong]

2 hours ago, HappyExpat57 said:

Restuarants still serve during those hours. It's the 7/11's and supermarkets that suffer due to this half-century-old ridiculous nonsense.

Depends upon if those restaurants have strict enforcement or not. Once I was having lunch and wanted to order some drinks but was told I cannot order alcoholic drinks after 2 pm. I pointed out to the nearby table where the diners are having many alcoholic drinks on the table and a case of beer at the foot of the table. Was told theirs is ok because they paid for the bill for alcohol before 2 pm .So the way to go around this is to pay your bill before 2 pm timeline and drink at your leisure . It has something to do with the register being locked automatically for alcoholic drinks after the timeline.