Report Thailand Tightens Alcohol Sales: New Rules Take Effect

[AhFarangJa]

14 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

So are you saying that you CAN buy in bulk in Makro etc? 

I have been in the queue in Makro at 9 in the morning and seen Thais with pallets of beer going through the checkout. 

[cjinchiangrai]

My recollection is that there is an exception for commercial trade where you could buy a whole box. 3k for a box of whiskey is a bit dear but 650 for a box of beer is certainly easily handled. Then again, the lao khao vendors are open 24-7. Out here in the sticks, nobody pays attention. the only losers are Big-C and 7-11.

[Sydebolle]

A retired friend of mine got fined at Jomtien Beach for sipping a stubby after 2pm, during vacation, by some "officers" who creamed him for 2,000 Baht. Prior to that he spent up to six winter months between Phuket, Hua Hin and Jomtien as he loves the beaches. 

After that incident he moved on and now we meet in Bali or Sri Lanka - where there are no such questionable laws without any substance nor intention to lighten USD 60 from a beach vacationer. 

[sambum]

"Effective June 27, sales will only be allowed during specific hours: from 11am to 2pm, and from 5pm to midnight. This applies throughout the country,................."

 

I thought those were the rules already for this 3rd World country trying to attract tourists as the figures (according to TAT!!!) have shown a significant drop?

[sambum]

On 6/27/2025 at 4:50 PM, redwood1 said:

The 2-5PM  sales ban is almost sacred now ...Its always defended by officials, Yet no one can really explain why it exists...Strange...

One of the reasons given is that it was to stop schoolkids buying booze!  

[sambum]

28 minutes ago, cjinchiangrai said:

My recollection is that there is an exception for commercial trade where you could buy a whole box. 3k for a box of whiskey is a bit dear but 650 for a box of beer is certainly easily handled. Then again, the lao khao vendors are open 24-7. Out here in the sticks, nobody pays attention. the only losers are Big-C and 7-11.

 

Add Macro and Tesco Lotus to that list!

[cjinchiangrai]

2 minutes ago, sambum said:

 

Add Macro and Tesco Lotus to that list!

Correct, any of the corporate stores. It is two hours to the nearest Makro and no Lotus.

[Luuk Chaai]

14 hours ago, CanadaSam said:

 

I read that as restaurants can now stop the BS of not selling from 2-5 PM!  An improvement IMHO.

 

You wont believe the amount of times I've been refused a glass of wine or a beer during lunch at nice restaurants, especially in malls, if I choose to have lunch at 2:05 PM!

Malls in HH  same deal   2:00:01 no go !   but,,  drive 3 minutes down the road and go to  Villa Mkt ..  8am -10pm  (open) all ok 

[sambum]

9 hours ago, kiwikeith said:

Lunch from 11am to 2pm you would be fissed on the job when you get back to work 

 

Going back to work at 2pm because after that you can't buy any more booze? If it's the workers getting "fissed" that they're worried about, one would thaink that they would ban booze between 11 am and 2 pm? 🙂 

[DezLez]

18 minutes ago, sambum said:

One of the reasons given is that it was to stop schoolkids buying booze!  

Who of course are highly distinctive with their school uniforms and if in doubt there is always the Thai ID card which all above the age of 7 should have.  Farangs have passports!

[Falcon]

Nothing has changed, it’s been the same crazy regulations for years. Funny thing about all this is that, we run a restaurant and use tsao sing wine (Chinese cooking wine - impossible to drink as it’s salty) but this is also under the same category as alcohol. Thailand unfortunately thinks that their citizens don’t have any rights to have a mind of their own. It’ll be ever change as most of the Thai people like it this way.

[kingstonkid]

2 hours ago, AhFarangJa said:

Of course that is correct. My point is,(maybe you missed it the first time),  that at say 9.45 in the morning I am shopping for a dinner party. I cannot buy a bottle or two of wine, but I can buy 10 litres of it.   

 

 

where canyou buy 10 litres butnot a bottle I am curous

 

[shocky2012]

21 hours ago, Puccini said:

 

What is sevell elewel?

Noob

[chickenslegs]

2 hours ago, AhFarangJa said:

I have been in the queue in Makro at 9 in the morning and seen Thais with pallets of beer going through the checkout. 

I was told that those buyers are liquor licence holders which permits them to buy wholesale.

[sparky666]

this is a bloody joke, they were supposed to be easing the laws, for tourists, and all the stupid Buddhist days, which is even more stupid as most Monks often get pissed on their so called days

•  

[kevinsan]

Progress. Last go around the bars closed at 10pm (last call 9pm) and the gogo girls enforced uniform was long pants and long sleeve shirts. 

 

 

[Puccini]

4 hours ago, shocky2012 said:

Noob

 

Thank you 

 

In what language is sevell elewel?

[sidneybear]

On 6/27/2025 at 10:11 AM, ikke1959 said:

Thailand controls everyone everywhere.

But it's a lot less regulated than the West 

[shocky2012]

3 hours ago, Puccini said:

 

Thank you 

 

In what language is sevell elewel?

Elseran

[Keeenok Powell]

All true alkis will body swerve any laws in order to get their daily fix.

No big deal.

[ikke1959]

5 hours ago, sidneybear said:

But it's a lot less regulated than the West 

I don't agree.. Maybe in the West it seems that it is more regulated, because the laws are being enforced. However here in Thailand a lot of laws, but no enforcement of almost any law if you are a netizen, but for others the RTP even invent new laws. Regulations in the West is to protect the freedom for everybody..

[AhFarangJa]

11 hours ago, chickenslegs said:

I was told that those buyers are liquor licence holders which permits them to buy wholesale.

Yes, I do believe that is the case.

 

[AhFarangJa]

11 hours ago, kingstonkid said:

 

 

where canyou buy 10 litres butnot a bottle I am curous

 

In our nearest town Prasart, there is a sort of warehouse store called "The One" they are a kind of Makro in that they sell bulk packets of things, but also like a normal store selling single items. I use a lot of the boxed wine in cooking, (you also have to have a glass or two while cooking.....it is the law...). Anyway, we go in to get things for the Wife's shop, always around 8.30 to 9 a.m. I buy 2 x 5 litre boxes and there is no problem. Try to buy one.....wait until 11 am. 

[lapamita]

22 hours ago, Clarkey611 said:

Can I ask where you went to school?

 other than you, i can speak 5 languages, and english not my  language

 

so , please clean in front of your door, love this stupid comments, from uneducated people

[Andycoops]

On 6/27/2025 at 4:36 PM, Schoggibueb said:

So I can't see any new restrictions.

And the small shop around the corner out in the nowhere sells you a can Leo for 35B anytime.

 

No difference IMHO

There are no restrictions at all where I live, you can buy alcohol 365 days a year from the village shop, even during COVID.

 

A large Leo is 65 baht.

[KannikaP]

14 hours ago, AhFarangJa said:

I have been in the queue in Makro at 9 in the morning and seen Thais with pallets of beer going through the checkout. 

I have learned that you must have a special licence to buy from Makro in bulk, out of hours. Don't know about 7/11.

[sabaijai]

Drink o’clock just got longer in Thailand

 

https://www.timeout.com/bangkok/news/drink-oclock-just-got-longer-in-thailand-062725?fbclid=IwY2xjawLNa7dleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHgpHoSFQhD7th8gANjIBicDGZFwjuLTLr7x_P-_KOydAjwmWk5P0jrzvXYfg_aem_OeIi-mKWtsCMokWTy4KIZA

[sabaijai]

33 minutes ago, Andycoops said:

There are no restrictions at all where I live, you can buy alcohol 365 days a year from the village shop, even during COVID.

 

A large Leo is 65 baht.

There is a restriction. It's just not being obeyed. 

[Mark1969]

22 hours ago, Patong2021 said:

Don't tell me when I can have a drink.  If there is a problem with some passengers,  ban them from the airport or airline, fine or incarcerate offenders, but don't bother me.

Not realistic.

[KannikaP]

14 hours ago, Sydebolle said:

A retired friend of mine got fined at Jomtien Beach for sipping a stubby after 2pm, during vacation, by some "officers" who creamed him for 2,000 Baht. Prior to that he spent up to six winter months between Phuket, Hua Hin and Jomtien as he loves the beaches. 

After that incident he moved on and now we meet in Bali or Sri Lanka - where there are no such questionable laws without any substance nor intention to lighten USD 60 from a beach vacationer. 

Consumption is not banned, only SALES.