Thailand Balances Booze Ban with Tourism on Buddhist Holy Days

[snoop1130]

File photo for reference only

 

Thailand's Alcoholic Beverage Board has decided to maintain the ban on alcohol sales during five major Buddhist holy days, but with some exceptions to support tourism. The new rules are expected to start before Visakha Bucha Day on May 11.

 

Chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Economy and Society, Prasert Chantararuangthong, a meeting took place at the Government House on March 4. The ban will stay, but alcohol sales will be allowed in certain locations like international airports, designated tourist areas, hotels, and venues hosting major events.

 

“This plan supports tourism while keeping order,” Prasert explained. He added that the Ministry of Public Health and Ministry of Interior will enforce the rules to prevent underage drinking and ensure public safety.

 

The affected holy days are Makha Bucha Day, Visakha Bucha Day, Asarnha Bucha Day, Khao Phansa Day, and Ok Phansa Day. Alcohol sales will be permitted under strict conditions in:

 

• International airports for departing passengers.
• Licensed tourist area venues.
• Hotels under the Hotel Act.
• Approved venues hosting major events.

 

 

Moreover, the board is studying the potential legalization of online alcohol sales.

 

Prasert clarified that the prohibition periods can't change yet due to Revolutionary Council Announcement No. 253, which governs alcohol sale and consumption hours. Regulatory amendments are underway.

 

Public input will be sought over a 15-day period on an official website before submitting the final proposal to the Minister of Public Health. If approved, it will go to the prime minister for signing and publication in the Royal Gazette.

 

"We expect these rules to be in place by May 11," Prasert mentioned.

 

This decision illustrates Thailand’s effort to respect religious traditions while catering to international tourists and the hospitality sector, reported The Thaiger.

 

-- 2025-03-04

 

 

[JustThisOnePostOnly]

22 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

International airports for departing passengers.

 

As I've commented before, this should be for arriving passengers.

[ikke1959]

What a joke..... Modernize the whole alcohol law... sell and buy everyday from a age of 21 with id card by doubts .. Much better than all this kind of so called solutions for stimulating tourism.. This is not working, just because Pattaya and Phuket are tourism spots with foreign tourists and Thai tourism must be boosted  in May, but when you are Thai you are not allowed to buy alcohol than??

[Harrisfan]

12 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

What a joke..... Modernize the whole alcohol law... sell and buy everyday from a age of 21 with id card by doubts .. Much better than all this kind of so called solutions for stimulating tourism.. This is not working, just because Pattaya and Phuket are tourism spots with foreign tourists and Thai tourism must be boosted  in May, but when you are Thai you are not allowed to buy alcohol than??

Thais are buddhists mostly

 

[ChaiyaTH]

Totally clueless.. if they can't even realize this part of the pie by now, nothing will.

[Andrew Dwyer]

40 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

Thais are buddhists mostly

 

when it suits them .

[Robert_Smith]

• International airports for departing passengers.
• Licensed tourist area venues.
• Hotels under the Hotel Act.
• Approved venues hosting major events.

 

Well at least we can all meet up and get hammered in a hotel, eh lads??

 

anyone any ideas which one we should go? I'm up for it!

 

regards,

bob.

[Captain Flack]

A off topic troll post has been removed. 
 

@Harrisfanif you want to attack Brits one more time, I will give you the posting holiday you deserve and everyone else can have a beak from your trolling nonsense,

[Ralf001]

1 hour ago, ikke1959 said:

What a joke..... Modernize the whole alcohol law... sell and buy everyday from a age of 21 with id card by doubts ..

 

Why raise it from 20 to 21?

[bamnutsak]

14 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Moreover, the board is studying the potential legalization of online alcohol sales.

 

Finally.

 

 

 

 

[Ben Zioner]

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

International airports for departing passengers.

As long as crews will be assisted in refusing intoxicated boarding passengers. 

[proton]

I was in a wine connection last year when tourists were told no wine with the meals as it was after 2PM. We had the same when trying to buy a bottle. Looking at wines with the waitress standing there saying nothing, only to be told when choosing one, solly five past two. Madness. Now we make sure we get there by one.

Strangely last time we were given 3 glasses of wine to taste and rate, free. It was well after 2!

[BKKKevin]

Couldn’t they just allow any tourists or Thai with proof of 50 million baht in a bank account to buy booze at anytime or day?…. 

[factual monk]

How does a booze ban of 1 day effects tourism... unless the authorities are worried about alcoholic people... 

As it is people buy a day before such dry days... 

4 to 6 days a year of dry days affecting tourism... sounds absurd to me...

[CallumWK]

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The ban will stay, but alcohol sales will be allowed in certain locations like international airports, designated tourist areas, hotels, and venues hosting major events.

 

As far as I'm aware this, apart from the designated tourist areas, has been allowed for years already.

[proton]

3 minutes ago, factual monk said:

How does a booze ban of 1 day effects tourism... unless the authorities are worried about alcoholic people... 

As it is people buy a day before such dry days... 

4 to 6 days a year of dry days affecting tourism... sounds absurd to me...

 

Not being able to get a drink with your meal in the afternoon is pointless and damages restaurant income, as well as pissing off visitors 

[cookie1974]

Not being able to buy alcohol for a day or 2 during buddha days is hardly a problem, unless you are an alcoholic, in which case stock up the day before, its not rocket science is it?

[bamnutsak]

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Prasert clarified that the prohibition periods can't change yet due to Revolutionary Council Announcement No. 253

 

Sounds like something Madame Defarge was involved in?

 

 

[redwood1]

No tourist or expats or Thais care much at all about the few days a year of no alcohol sales.....As a matter of fact the bar workers quite like the break from working....

 

But every expat and tourist and Thai  despises the afternoon alcohol sales ban EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR.....And 100% want it dropped...

 

I have never seen a single post on Thai Visa that supports the afternoon sales ban in the last 20 years......NOT ONE.....

 

[Harrisfan]

16 minutes ago, cookie1974 said:

Not being able to buy alcohol for a day or 2 during buddha days is hardly a problem, unless you are an alcoholic, in which case stock up the day before, its not rocket science is it?

Exactly. More than once a week indicates a problem. 

[ronster]

Designated tourist areas ? 

So does that mean Phuket , Bangkok , Pattaya etc ? As in the whole place or do they mean nightlife areas and hotel bars .

If it's nightlife areas then surely some beach side restaurant that isn't in a nightlife area is going to be miffed if they can't sell drink .

[JOE BAMA]

What are '

• Licensed tourist area venues.'?

[CallumWK]

5 minutes ago, redwood1 said:

No tourist or expats or Thais care at all about the few days a year of no alcohol sales.....

 

So you think tourist don't care if there is a day (sometimes 2 days in a row) on their 2 week holiday that everything is shut?

 

6 minutes ago, redwood1 said:

But every expat and tourist and Thai  despises the afternoon alcohol sales ban EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR

 

Tourist don't tend to buy alcohol in supermarkets or convenience stores, as that are the only places that have the afternoon ban, bars and restaurants, which are attended by tourists, serve alcohol all day

[sabai-dee-man]

Imagine not being able to go a day without alcohol! Some people really need to seek help!

[khunjeff]

35 minutes ago, proton said:

I was in a wine connection last year when tourists were told no wine with the meals as it was after 2PM.

 

I've been in one Wine Connection branch that would not serve alcohol from 2-5pm, and another that would happily serve all day. It's quite unpredictable. 

 

30 minutes ago, factual monk said:

How does a booze ban of 1 day effects tourism... unless the authorities are worried about alcoholic people... 

As it is people buy a day before such dry days... 

4 to 6 days a year of dry days affecting tourism... sounds absurd to me...

 

23 minutes ago, cookie1974 said:

Not being able to buy alcohol for a day or 2 during buddha days is hardly a problem, unless you are an alcoholic, in which case stock up the day before, its not rocket science is it?

 

10 minutes ago, redwood1 said:

No tourist or expats or Thais care much at all about the few days a year of no alcohol sales

 

If you live here full time, it's a minor annoyance, you know it's going to happen, and you can keep alcohol at home if you want to. If you're a tourist who's here for three days and you find that you can't have a beer with your lunch or a glass of wine with your dinner, and you don't understand why, it can put a damper on your holiday. 

 

The real absurdity of this "holy day" ban is that it makes little sense from any religious perspective. If you follow the Buddhist precepts, then you never drink alcohol, regardless of what day it is. If you don't follow them, then you do whatever you want, regardless of the day. This attempt to force people to pretend to be good Buddhists by prohibiting alcohol on certain days while permitting it the rest of the time is purely performative.

[nakhonandy]

2 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

What a joke..... Modernize the whole alcohol law... sell and buy everyday from a age of 21 with id card by doubts .. Much better than all this kind of so called solutions for stimulating tourism.. This is not working, just because Pattaya and Phuket are tourism spots with foreign tourists and Thai tourism must be boosted  in May, but when you are Thai you are not allowed to buy alcohol than??

Most Thai places that are open usually sell alcohol anyhow and do not get bothered. 

[MadMac]

Who gives an F, go to your trusted mom and pap store for Buddha day beer as always. No "tourist" buys ridiculously overpriced <deleted> beer at any airport.

[redwood1]

7 minutes ago, CallumWK said:

 

So you think tourist don't care if there is a day (sometimes 2 days in a row) on their 2 week holiday that everything is shut?

 

 

Tourist don't tend to buy alcohol in supermarkets or convenience stores, as that are the only places that have the afternoon ban, bars and restaurants, which are attended by tourists, serve alcohol all day

 

Plenty of tourist buy beer from 7-11......

 

And No I dont think any tourist care about a no alcohol sales day even on a two week holiday....

[Andycoops]

10 minutes ago, CallumWK said:

 

So you think tourist don't care if there is a day (sometimes 2 days in a row) on their 2 week holiday that everything is shut?

 

 

Tourist don't tend to buy alcohol in supermarkets or convenience stores, as that are the only places that have the afternoon ban, bars and restaurants, which are attended by tourists, serve alcohol all day

Everything is not shut, you just can't buy alcohol.

[CallumWK]

1 minute ago, Andycoops said:

Everything is not shut, you just can't buy alcohol.

 

And the pedant post of the day goes to..................