Thai PM Considers Easing Alcohol Sales Rules to Boost Tourism

[webfact]

Reference file photo courtesy: mamalovesphuket

 

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has initiated a review of Thailand’s longstanding afternoon alcohol sales ban, responding to business community calls for regulatory relaxation to enhance tourism.

 

Government spokesman Jirayu Houngsub confirmed this examination of the 53-year-old rule, originally introduced in 1972 under Thanom Kittikachorn’s coup regime to curb officials drinking during work hours. This outdated regulation is not part of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act and has never been repealed.

 

Business groups have pressured for this ban’s removal, coinciding with planned amendments to the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act. These amendments have passed a parliamentary committee and await further readings in the House of Representatives.

 

Following a cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Paetongtarn acknowledged businesses’ concerns that alcohol sales restrictions hinder economic stimulation. She has tasked relevant agencies with reviewing the afternoon ban and the prohibition of alcohol sales on Buddhist holy days, as these impact tourism.

Additionally, alcohol sales are prohibited on election days, starting the evening before voting begins. Authorities are also reviewing bans on electronic alcohol sales, sales restrictions in zoned areas, certain Covid-19 era rules, and other regulations established since 1972.

 

Emphasising safety, Prime Minister Paetongtarn stressed preventing easy alcohol access for youths, highlighting the need for responsible sales control. While acknowledging adults’ maturity, she pointed out the necessity for stringent control over who can sell alcohol and in which locations, particularly focusing on youth access.

 

When asked about potentially allowing alcohol sales on Buddhist holy days, Paetongtarn indicated plans to consult a government panel. She noted foreigners’ general unawareness of Thai religious days and related alcohol bans, a factor influencing tourism negatively.

 

Reflecting on the government’s recent declaration of 2025 as the Amazing Thailand Grand Tourism and Sports Year, she stated, "This year’s theme is the year of tourism. Therefore, this issue must be reconsidered," underlining tourism’s importance in forthcoming policy evaluations, reported Bangkok Post.

 

-- 2025-02-13

 

 

[soi3eddie]

I can say,that, as a tourist and visitor and now expat (for 5-6 months per year), the 2-5pm sales ban on alcohol in Thailand has had no bearing whatsoever over the years. I agree that the ban is ridiculous, but going to Pattaya or Phuket, or any other tourist area, they always serve all day. OK, it is a pain if I go to Big C or Villa Market in the afternoon for food and I cannot pickup a beer or wine to enjoy with dinner. I now either go to 7-11 after 5pm or use a mom and pop shop in my local soi if earlier. It really is no issue for a "tourist" but I do agree that the rules are outdated and should be scrapped. I remember, in the UK, that pubs were only allowed to serve from 11am to 3pm and 6pm to 11pm on Monday to Saturday and 12-2pm and 7-10pm on Sundays right up until the mid 1980's.

 

[soi3eddie]

15 minutes ago, webfact said:

Business groups have pressured for this ban’s removal,

 

CP (7-11) and Boonrawd brewery et al?

 

[Felton Jarvis]

Long overdue.

[proton]

Nothing to consider just DO IT in a well known pizza/wine restaurant not long ago, sorry no wine it's after 2 PM, madness.

[Tropicalevo]

Whilst this has never affected me - alcohol is always available when you know where.

it can be an issue for tourists.

Guests checking in yesterday after a 24 hour journey, only to arrive at their accommodation and they cannot buy a drink.

Luckily for them, I had some spare. 

Here on Samui, there was a period when the smaller convenience stores were given a free pass to sell, but that has been stopped.

[Digitalbanana]

37 minutes ago, soi3eddie said:

it is a pain if I go to Big C or Villa Market in the afternoon for food and I cannot pickup a beer or wine to enjoy with dinner

This doesn't go back to 1972 as implied by the op, but is related to the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act of 2008. Before 2008 we could buy booze all hours in shops and hotels.

[Hunz Kittisak]

16 minutes ago, Digitalbanana said:

This doesn't go back to 1972 as implied by the op, but is related to the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act of 2008. Before 2008 we could buy booze all hours in shops and hotels.

The ban was imposed by Thaksin if I remembered correctly and also the early shutting of bars and nightspots 1-2am thingy was also by his administration then. 

[dallen52]

Just what we need.

More drunken drivers...

[Ben Zioner]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

She noted foreigners’ general unawareness of Thai religious days and related alcohol bans, a factor influencing tourism negatively.

 

How about introducing price control on ST, LT, and intimate massage services? 

 

 

[adrin]

makes sense as there are already too many tourists

 

and tourists and thai are drunk all the time

 

so do it

[Jonathan Swift]

1 hour ago, soi3eddie said:

I can say,that, as a tourist and visitor and now expat (for 5-6 months per year), the 2-5pm sales ban on alcohol in Thailand has had no bearing whatsoever over the years. I agree that the ban is ridiculous, but going to Pattaya or Phuket, or any other tourist area, they always serve all day. OK, it is a pain if I go to Big C or Villa Market in the afternoon for food and I cannot pickup a beer or wine to enjoy with dinner. I now either go to 7-11 after 5pm or use a mom and pop shop in my local soi if earlier. It really is no issue for a "tourist" but I do agree that the rules are outdated and should be scrapped. I remember, in the UK, that pubs were only allowed to serve from 11am to 3pm and 6pm to 11pm on Monday to Saturday and 12-2pm and 7-10pm on Sundays right up until the mid 1980's.

 

The US had the same silly "blue laws", now extinct for the most part. Yet, ironically, when legislature was on the table to allow sales on Sundays, liquor stores opposed it, they wanted to be able to have a day off without the competition stealing their business. 

[loong]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

She noted foreigners’ general unawareness of Thai religious days and related alcohol bans, a factor influencing tourism negatively

 

It also seems that some Thais are unaware of the rules on religious days (not only the small shops).

Alcohol sales were banned from midnight Tuesday night until midnight on Wednesday. Thai bars in Khon Kaen were still blasting out music until 3AM Wednesday early hours. I somehow doubt that the customers had spent the last 3 hours listening to music with no alcohol. 7:30 AM on Wednesday I saw Thais sitting in the Thai bars, openly drinking alcohol. So, no enforcement from the police, or just money collection.

[1happykamper]

1 hour ago, soi3eddie said:

and now expat (for 5-6 months per year),

You're not an expat. You're a snowbird. 

Expats live outside their home country 99% of the year. 

 

Yes. England had very restrictive laws. The "outdoor" was the way to go for many drinkers. 

[Jonathan Swift]

Yes, bring in more drunk tourists, ya really can't have too much of a good thing. 

[1happykamper]

5 minutes ago, dallen52 said:

Just what we need.

More drunken drivers...

I drink. Never drunk. Plus I don't drive. ✌️🤣🤣🤣

[Ben Zioner]

1 hour ago, proton said:

Nothing to consider just DO IT in a well known pizza/wine restaurant not long ago, sorry no wine it's after 2 PM, madness.

There is one place with really good pizza that serves wine and beer all day. It's name is something like "Rainy Season" , in Soi 8.

[Bert got kinky]

 

Thailand doesn't need these kind of tourists.

 

[Purdey]

Developed countries don't all restrict times that you can purchase liquor but generally have tougher rules on who can buy, with many asking to see ID with a purchase if the buyer looks young. Some simply don't care.

It is perhaps not surprising which countries have the most alcoholics.

Hungary	21.2%
Russia	20.9%
Belarus	18.8%
Latvia	15.5%
United States	13.9%
South Korea	13.9%

 

https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/alcoholism-by-country 

[lavender19]

About time they considered lowering the over the top import tax also

[bkk6060]

Yep, money money money.

[Jonathan Swift]

Just now, 1happykamper said:

You're not an expat. You're a snowbird. 

Expats live outside their home country 99% of the year. 

 

Yes. England had very restrictive laws. The "outdoor" was the way to go for many drinkers. 

Is that the rule then? I have a retirement visa and live here 7 - 8 months, sometimes more sometimes less, have an apartment with a lease, go back to the US May - Sept, avoiding the rainy season and minding the house I still own, but I'm not an "expat"? So I take it you rewrote the entire Webster dictionary? Can I get a signed copy? You're silly. Nobody cares. I don't even use the word, nor does anyone I know. Even the "real" expats. 

[Jonathan Swift]

5 minutes ago, 1happykamper said:

I drink. Never drunk. Plus I don't drive. ✌️🤣🤣🤣

Same same. Perfect formula. 

[SpiritHouse]

1 hour ago, soi3eddie said:

I can say,that, as a tourist and visitor and now expat (for 5-6 months per year), the 2-5pm sales ban on alcohol in Thailand has had no bearing whatsoever over the years. 

 

 

Correct, according to some figures, annual spirit sales in 2008 were valued at $6.5 billion, and in 2024, they are estimated to have reached $12.3 billion. While this increase is also influenced by rising annual tourism and other factors during these years, the sales restrictions did not have much of a deterrent effect.

[Burma Bill]

58 minutes ago, Jonathan Swift said:

Yes, bring in more drunk tourists, ya really can't have too much of a good thing. 

 

Yes indeed.

More punch-ups at the resorts providing AN with more news coverage!

[spidermike007]

The law is completely ridiculous, it's outdated, and anybody who wants to drink buys before 2:00 p.m. And many bars and restaurants serve during the hours they're not supposed to be serving so the law serves absolutely no purpose.

 

Abolish it, any law that is ridiculous and useless should be abolished, especially if it benefits an industry is large as tourism. 

 

We truly need some adults in the room. 

[Tropicalevo]

57 minutes ago, SpiritHouse said:

 

Correct, according to some figures, annual spirit sales in 2008 were valued at $6.5 billion, and in 2024, they are estimated to have reached $12.3 billion. While this increase is also influenced by rising annual tourism and other factors during these years, the sales restrictions did not have much of a deterrent effect.

 

1 hour ago, Hunz Kittisak said:

The ban was imposed by Thaksin if I remembered correctly and also the early shutting of bars and nightspots 1-2am thingy was also by his administration then. 

 

2 hours ago, Digitalbanana said:

This doesn't go back to 1972 as implied by the op, but is related to the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act of 2008. Before 2008 we could buy booze all hours in shops and hotels.

 

The law was in place pre Thaksin.

I vaguely remember it when I was working in Bangkok in 1993 and it was in place (but not enforced) when I moved permanently to Samui in 2000.

 i am currently on KPN for a few days and Buddha Days and the 14:00 to 17:00 bans are completely ignored here.

Three different places served cans of beer. (The bottle ban starts tomorrow.)

[kingstonkid]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Reference file photo courtesy: mamalovesphuket

 

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has initiated a review of Thailand’s longstanding afternoon alcohol sales ban, responding to business community calls for regulatory relaxation to enhance tourism.

 

Government spokesman Jirayu Houngsub confirmed this examination of the 53-year-old rule, originally introduced in 1972 under Thanom Kittikachorn’s coup regime to curb officials drinking during work hours. This outdated regulation is not part of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act and has never been repealed.

 

Business groups have pressured for this ban’s removal, coinciding with planned amendments to the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act. These amendments have passed a parliamentary committee and await further readings in the House of Representatives.

 

Following a cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Paetongtarn acknowledged businesses’ concerns that alcohol sales restrictions hinder economic stimulation. She has tasked relevant agencies with reviewing the afternoon ban and the prohibition of alcohol sales on Buddhist holy days, as these impact tourism.

 

Additionally, alcohol sales are prohibited on election days, starting the evening before voting begins. Authorities are also reviewing bans on electronic alcohol sales, sales restrictions in zoned areas, certain Covid-19 era rules, and other regulations established since 1972.

 

Emphasising safety, Prime Minister Paetongtarn stressed preventing easy alcohol access for youths, highlighting the need for responsible sales control. While acknowledging adults’ maturity, she pointed out the necessity for stringent control over who can sell alcohol and in which locations, particularly focusing on youth access.

 

When asked about potentially allowing alcohol sales on Buddhist holy days, Paetongtarn indicated plans to consult a government panel. She noted foreigners’ general unawareness of Thai religious days and related alcohol bans, a factor influencing tourism negatively.

 

Reflecting on the government’s recent declaration of 2025 as the Amazing Thailand Grand Tourism and Sports Year, she stated, "This year’s theme is the year of tourism. Therefore, this issue must be reconsidered," underlining tourism’s importance in forthcoming policy evaluations, reported Bangkok Post.

 

-- 2025-02-13

 

 

Going to be interesting to see what happens on walking street, thaniya and pp1

[Digitalbanana]

1 hour ago, Hunz Kittisak said:

The ban was imposed by Thaksin if I remembered correctly and also the early shutting of bars and nightspots 1-2am thingy was also by his administration then. 

General Surayud Chulanont did it after the coup of Thaksin.

https://ddc.moph.go.th/uploads/files/14020220209072300.pdf

[Kenny Boy]

Yes I can picture it now.

A group of people sitting down and discussing whether to visit Thailand this year and one of them piping up about a 2-5 alcohol ban and they then decide to go to Bali instead. 🙄

Who in the history of Thai tourism has ever been put off coming to Thailand because of it, or would even know about in the first place ?

Plus, if they decide to scrap it, who would know it had scrapped or even care.

Utterly ridiculous, a bit like them thinking a 300 bt tourist tax would deter people coming.