Lifting Alcohol Restrictions Could Boost Thai Economy by Billions

[webfact]

Picture courtesy: Bangkok Post

 

Easing Thailand's existing restrictions on afternoon alcohol sales could inject an additional 50-100 billion baht into the economy, predominantly through increased spending by foreign tourists, experts in the industry suggest.

 

Recent findings hint that so-called "high-quality" tourists are prepared to pay an extra $250 (approximately 8,400 baht) daily for premium food and beverage experiences. Anchalee Poomsirkaew, director of the Asia-Pacific International Spirits and Wines Association, believes that relaxing four specific alcohol sale restrictions could maximise revenue impacts, potentially unlocking the full 100 billion baht.

 

The current restrictions prohibit alcohol sales between 2 and 5pm, during key Buddhist holy days, through e-commerce platforms, and outside designated zones. These limitations have been flagged for review under the guidance of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, with the Ministry of Public Health examining possible reforms.

 

Picture courtesy: Wikipedia

 

Rawat Khongchat from the Night Restaurant Business Trade Association estimates that lifting the afternoon sales ban alone could boost the economy by at least 10 billion baht. This measure, he asserts, often surprises tourists who find their holiday plans disrupted due to unfamiliar sales windows.

Additionally, the nightlife sector urges the government to consider expanded zoning, allowing venues to serve patrons beyond midnight to boost tourist spending. Major tourist hubs like Bangkok, which already boasts zones such as RCA, Patpong, and Ratchadaphisek, could benefit from further adjustments to operating hours.

 

In response to concerns about the effects of abolishing sales bans on significant Buddhist holy days, Rawat suggests a phased approach. Initially, officials might consider allowing sales in the afternoon as a gradual introduction of policy change.

 

James Lambert, director at Oxford Economics, reinforced the economic potential for Thailand, based on surveys indicating that 71% of 1,800 respondents from tourism powerhouses including China, South Korea, Australia, the US, and the UK view F&B offerings as crucial. For higher-income visitors, 75% identify dining quality as a decisive travel factor, and 78% rank value for money as vital.

 

The president of the Thai Hotels Association, Thienprasit Chaiyapatranun, concurs, noting current alcohol policies serve as deterrents for foreign tourists, affecting not only daily consumption but also dining experiences such as dinner cruises on Buddhist holy days.

 

As discussions forge ahead, these proposed adjustments may strike a balance, embracing both economic expansion and cultural sensitivities, to enhance Thailand's appeal on the global stage, reported Bangkok Post.

 

-- 2025-02-21

 

 

[Artisi]

Yeah, tourists are alway complaining that they can't get hammered between 2 - 5 pm so it makes sense that millions of baht are being missed by this archaic rule - or so it seems if you think like a Thai. 

 

[sungod]

40 minutes ago, Artisi said:

Yeah, tourists are alway complaining that they can't get hammered between 2 - 5 pm so it makes sense that millions of baht are being missed by this archaic rule - or so it seems if you think like a Thai. 

 

 

Yep, just queues of them at 4.55pm outside the supermarkets.

 

 

[JoePai]

So these ‘high end’(?) tourists are going to spend an extra 8,400 baht every afternoon between 2 and 5 on booze ?

[Upnotover]

The only places following the 2-5 rule are restaurants in malls.  Nowhere else applies the rule.  I can't imagine lifting it in itself would have a measurable impact at all.

[Gottfrid]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Recent findings hint that so-called "high-quality" tourists are prepared to pay an extra $250 (approximately 8,400 baht) daily for premium food and beverage experiences.

What? 8 400 baht more per day??? How much are they paying before extra, as extra is mostly a fraction of the total amount. Does every high quality tourist (haven´t seen any) pay like 25k baht per day? 🤣

[Peterphuket]

And what would you think about normal prices for wine, that would give a double ‘boost’, but they will have (not) thought about that.

[dallen52]

Show me the money and disregard the additional drunks and DIU..

[Sydebolle]

Except supermarkets and malls ........ nobody else cares about that particular restriction and hence it is obsolete. 

Lifting the restriction will be to the benefit of those presently restricted only. The buyer gets the stuff whenever (s)he wants, it is the seller(s) who pay taxes, collect VAT etc. who suffer presently. 

Yet another big joke in the interpretation and execution of yet another circumvented Thai law! 

[Peterphuket]

5 hours ago, Artisi said:

Yeah, tourists are alway complaining that they can't get hammered between 2 - 5 pm so it makes sense that millions of baht are being missed by this archaic rule - or so it seems if you think like a Thai. 

 

This reminds me of a Russian guy who, many years ago, was standing in front of the checkout with 6 bottles of beer on the belt, but it was 4pm and the cashier tried to convince him that it was not allowed until after 5pm. Whereupon the Russian took one bottle off the belt....hilarious

[Hakuna Matata]

Legalizing cocaine will boost it even more? And what about legalizing heroine in Thailand? Oh, what a boost! 

[Hakuna Matata]

6 minutes ago, Peterphuket said:

This reminds me of a Russian guy who, many years ago, was standing in front of the checkout with 6 bottles of beer on the belt, but it was 4pm and the cashier tried to convince him that it was not allowed until after 5pm. Whereupon the Russian took one bottle off the belt....hilarious

 

OMG, probably he did not speak Thai? And what about you? Do you speak Thai? 🙂

 

[Jonathan Swift]

4 hours ago, JoePai said:

So these ‘high end’(?) tourists are going to spend an extra 8,400 baht every afternoon between 2 and 5 on booze ?

That’s how much my apartment rent is. Good thing I’m not a boozer

[Jonathan Swift]

3 hours ago, Upnotover said:

The only places following the 2-5 rule are restaurants in malls.  Nowhere else applies the rule.  I can't imagine lifting it in itself would have a measurable impact at all.

7-11 would make out pretty well no doubt

[connda]

Oh my, but but but - think of the children.  If it's lifted thousands of Thai school children will get drunk instead of going to school.  Omg!  The Horror! 

[newbee2022]

Good News: Thailand, the hub of alcs. 

Congrats😱

[connda]

Oh, and totally unenforced once you step into rural Thailand except for "corporate stores" like 7/11. 

[Ralf001]

1 minute ago, newbee2022 said:

Good News: Thailand, the hub of alcs. 

Congrats😱

Alcohol sales restrictions do not bother alcoholics.. so hardly good news for them.

Retailers on the other hand, I reckon they will welcome the extra sales.

[Jonathan Swift]

16 minutes ago, Hakuna Matata said:

 

OMG, probably he did not speak Thai? And what about you? Do you speak Thai? 🙂

 

To be fair, his English probably wasn’t so good either. Anyone with any brains can figure something like this out with e few hand gestures or use a translator

[CygnusX1]

4 hours ago, JoePai said:

So these ‘high end’(?) tourists are going to spend an extra 8,400 baht every afternoon between 2 and 5 on booze ?

Yep, they’re not going to remain high quality tourists for long spending that amount on booze.

 

Was just reading today about “Nyepi Day’, or ‘Silent Day’ in Bali, on which tourists are forbidden to leave their hotel. Now THAT’s an inconvenience.

[newbee2022]

6 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

reckon they will welcome the extra sales.

And who do you think are the buyers??🤣 Those who abstain from alc?🤣

[kuzmabruk]

4 hours ago, JoePai said:

So these ‘high end’(?) tourists are going to spend an extra 8,400 baht every afternoon between 2 and 5 on booze ?

Definitely.   I know I personally drink 2 bottles of Dom Perignon @ 15,000 baht a bottle every afternoon and get really upset when Tops closes their liquor sales.   I thought all backpackers were like me.  

[hotchilli]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Easing Thailand's existing restrictions on afternoon alcohol sales could inject an additional 50-100 billion baht into the economy, predominantly through increased spending by foreign tourists,

Absolute BS

[JAG]

22 minutes ago, Jonathan Swift said:

That’s how much my apartment rent is. Good thing I’m not a boozer

B8400 an afternoon? Blimey O'Reilly, must be quite some gaff!

[trainman34014]

They just never 'get it'.    What would bring in a lot more money is lowering the dumb high taxes on Foreign booze, especially Wine, as that is what most of us want.    As things are i never buy Foreign Wine or Spirits in Thailand and pick it up in other Countries i visit twice or three times a year on holidays.   Wife doesn't drink so that gives me double Duty-Free on the way back in and also visitors coming in bring me more, so always a full Drinks Cabinet.

 

The Thai's are always on about 'Free Trade Deals' with other Countries but what they really mean is a deal where they pay no Import Taxes on their goods going into other Countries but charge high amounts of Tax on goods coming in.   This is the one area i agree with Trump on; you put hight Taxes on our goods and we will do the same to you, let's have a level playing field.

[CM Dad]

6 hours ago, Artisi said:

Yeah, tourists are alway complaining that they can't get hammered between 2 - 5 pm so it makes sense that millions of baht are being missed by this archaic rule - or so it seems if you think like a Thai. 

 

Being able to have a drink in the afternoon and getting "hammered" are two completely different things.  The ban on alcohol from 2 to 5pm is stupid!

[Dave0206]

I can see "coffee" sales going down if they cancelled booze free days because so many bars seem to sell a lot of mugs of coffee on these days

[ChipButty]

Might as well open 24/7, 

[Jim Blue]

I'm not letting my daughter out between 2 and 5 any more ......

[Ty30666]

The hub of alcohol, violence and more people get killed. Not forgetting, drunk driving !