Report Thailand's Afternoon Booze Ban Lifted: Restaurants Rejoice

[webfact]

File photo courtesy of Shutterstock

 

Thailand has officially lifted its ban on selling alcohol in restaurants from 2 PM to 5 PM, a decision set to increase sales by 25%. The restaurant industry is celebrating, with hopes that this move will stimulate both the economy and tourism. Appreciation has been extended to the Thai government for this forward-thinking change, which includes both ruling and opposition parties.

 

Sorathep Rojpojchanarat, the chair of the Restaurant Business Association and honorary advisor to the Thailand Hostel Association, conveyed his gratitude to the government. The decision comes after years of advocacy by the association, which called for an update to the antiquated 1972 law that restricted alcohol sales during these hours. Sorathep noted this change is crucial for a country that ranks as one of the world’s top tourist destinations, enhancing its appeal and aligning legal standards with current international norms.

 

The association has been vocal about concerns that the ban is negatively affecting businesses and pushing tourists to avoid restaurants during the banned hours. Many visitors prefer to enjoy a drink with their meal, and the ban had led to a significant loss of potential business. Restaurants experienced a noticeable lull in activity between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m., missing out on revenue as tourists postponed their visits until the evening.

 

Addressing the concerns surrounding youths' exposure to alcohol, Sorathep assured that the regulations apply specifically to restaurants. Existing laws, such as the legal drinking age of 20 and stringent drink-driving laws, continue to protect young people. The focus remains on cultivating a culture of awareness and responsibility, similar to successful campaigns in other areas, like road safety and environmental cleanliness.

 

Lifting this restriction is expected to revitalise the restaurant industry, which is a significant component of Thailand's economy. By allowing alcohol sales throughout the afternoon, restaurants can offer their guests a more welcoming and complete experience, enhancing Thailand's image as a tourist-friendly destination. This move is poised to create a ripple effect, boosting not just the restaurant business but also related industries, thereby contributing to broader economic growth.

 

Tourists visiting Thailand often look for experiences that allow them to relax and enjoy local cuisine paired with drinks. By aligning with these expectations, Thailand strengthens its competitive edge in the global tourism market. The change will help mitigate previous frustrations among foreign visitors and provide a more consistent legislative framework.

 

Moving forward, this decision could set a precedent for further adjustments that align Thai regulations with international standards, promoting a more adaptable and inclusive environment for growth. The government and industry stakeholders are now keenly observing how this shift impacts sales and visitor satisfaction, which might drive additional reforms in other sectors.

 

Key Takeaways

 

• Afternoon alcohol ban lifted, anticipating a 25% sales boost.
• Move aligns with modern tourism demands and international standards.
• Existing laws maintain youth protection, focusing on responsible drinking culture.

Related stories:

Reconsideration of afternoon ban on selling alcohol in progress

Lifting Alcohol Restrictions Could Boost Thai Economy by Billions

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Khaosod Online 2025-09-11

 

 

[Taboo2]

Happy days are here again......

[josephbloggs]

Good news, but wonder whether this includes retail too?

[Jim Mac]

12 minutes ago, josephbloggs said:

Good news, but wonder whether this includes retail too?

Have you read the article? It says "strictly restaurants only".

[GreasyFingers]

What is the definition of a restaurant? We have coffee shops that have beer as well.

[Ralf001]

And the villagers rejoiced... ohhh wait, they give no fecks for sales timing !

[dinsdale]

Big deal. Most bars sell during these hours. This is not a 2-5 or even midnight-11 am lifting of this insane anachronistic law. As for restaurants they were selling in the 2-5 slot until Prayut closed this down.

[johng]

Why just restaurants ?  what about 7/11  Big C etc

the rubbish about protecting kids is as always just stupid   the law already says you have to be 20 to buy alcohol  just check the ID card if they look a bit young

let everyone else get on with their increasingly miserable,restricted life's FFS !!

[impulse]

I'm not against it, as long as they understand that more people will be on the road driving home from work with a snootful.

 

Safely ensconced in 4 wheels and seatbelts or on the BTS and/or MRT, it probably won't affect me.

 

On an aside, when I moved to from Yankeeland to Texas in the late '70s, I was gobsmacked that they allowed drivers to drive down the road sipping on a beer.  Something about deserving a cold one after a hard day of crushing bulls or whatnot.  Sadly, they banned the practice when more Yankees moved in.   Then I took the oath on 1988, but that's just a coincidence.

 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Strange that the OP article doesn't seem to say just WHO lifted the afternoon alcohol ban on restaurants?

 

Was it a PM Anutin decree?  A decision by some version of the Cabinet?  The Alcohol Control Board???

 

If it was a law, did the Thai Parliament actually ever meet and do anything?

 

Inquiring minds want to know!

 

 

 

[FritsSikkink]

27 minutes ago, impulse said:

I'm not against it, as long as they understand that more people will be on the road driving home from work with a snootful.

I think most people stop work at 5 or later, not at 2.

[bkk6060]

Seems very stupid to think serving booze in that time frame is some great break through that is going to help tourism

[fredwiggy]

23 minutes ago, impulse said:

I'm not against it, as long as they understand that more people will be on the road driving home from work with a snootful.

 

Safely ensconced in 4 wheels and seatbelts or on the BTS and/or MRT, it probably won't affect me.

 

On an aside, when I moved to from Yankeeland to Texas in the late '70s, I was gobsmacked that they allowed drivers to drive down the road sipping on a beer.  Something about deserving a cold one after a hard day of crushing bulls or whatnot.  Sadly, they banned the practice when more Yankees moved in.   Then I took the oath on 1988, but that's just a coincidence.

 

Texas finally got around to enforcing that law because of so many alcohol related deaths. Letting people drive and drink isn't a good thing so it had to be enforced.  Texas had grown a lot in the 70's with it's economic expansion and still now, more recently, since 2000, people coming from all other states but before the population was increasing anyway. so there were more drivers and more drunks. I was one of them living there in 1978-79, coming down from New Jersey first in 1978 and then back to stay in 1985. . The law was in effect in 1917 but was rarely enforced until a lot of people pointed out so many dying on Texas roads while and after drinking. 

[fredwiggy]

"The focus remains on cultivating a culture of awareness and responsibility, similar to successful campaigns in other areas, like road safety and environmental cleanliness."    Huh? Did he say successful?  And this,"Existing laws, such as the legal drinking age of 20 and stringent drink-driving laws, continue to protect young people"   Quite easy to more protect young and all people if the laws on the books were more enforced. Looking at the stats, which haven't changed for a long time, this isn't happening. .

[Trippy]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

stringent drink-driving laws

Stringent must mean almost no enforcement al all.

[GreasyFingers]

56 minutes ago, impulse said:

I'm not against it, as long as they understand that more people will be on the road driving home from work with a snootful.

 

Safely ensconced in 4 wheels and seatbelts or on the BTS and/or MRT, it probably won't affect me.

 

On an aside, when I moved to from Yankeeland to Texas in the late '70s, I was gobsmacked that they allowed drivers to drive down the road sipping on a beer.  Something about deserving a cold one after a hard day of crushing bulls or whatnot.  Sadly, they banned the practice when more Yankees moved in.   Then I took the oath on 1988, but that's just a coincidence.

 

Back in OZ in the old says no one could sell beer on a Sunday unless you were a traveller (?), so we had to drive 20 miles to have a beer and then drive home with a car full of drunks.

[greeneking]

'Afternoon alcohol ban lifted, anticipating a 25% sales boost. '

 

I can not see any rational reason for believing this at all. Anyone?

It is very welcome, though.

 

[impulse]

21 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

The law was in effect in 1917 but was rarely enforced until a lot of people pointed out so many dying on Texas roads while and after drinking. 

 

True, DWI has been illegal since 1917.  But not drinking while driving (as long as you're not over the BAC limit)

 

Here's an article from the LA Times on Jan 26,1985 indicating it was still legal to drink and drive in Texas (and 25 other states).  

 

HOUSTON — In this city of clogged highways, the evening drive from office to home can be as much as two beers long.

 

A trip to Dallas could easily be a six-packer, necessitating an ice chest to keep the road beers chilled for the five-hour drive.

In Texas, drinking and driving is as common as the 7-Eleven store. The state has no law against quaffing a Lone Star or sipping on a Scotch and soda while cruising down the interstate. Often, trips here begin at the package store.

 

While that may seem odd indeed to residents of California, where such practices have been banned since 1961, drinking and driving is legal in 26 states, according to statistics provided by the National Safety Council. Drivers and passengers can drink as they roll down the road in Maine and Mississippi, Vermont and Wyoming, so long as they are not legally drunk.

 

Allowed in 26 States : Drinking and Driving: a Legal Mix - Los Angeles Times

 

I'm not sure what year Texas made it illegal to drink and drive, and later, to pass an open container ban (which means even passengers can't sip a cold one).  But I'm pretty sure it followed a Yankee invasion.

[fredwiggy]

10 minutes ago, impulse said:

 

True, DWI has been illegal since 1917.  But not drinking while driving (as long as you're not over the BAC limit)

 

Here's an article from the LA Times on Jan 26,1985 indicating it was still legal to drink and drive in Texas (and 25 other states).  

 

HOUSTON — In this city of clogged highways, the evening drive from office to home can be as much as two beers long.

 

A trip to Dallas could easily be a six-packer, necessitating an ice chest to keep the road beers chilled for the five-hour drive.

In Texas, drinking and driving is as common as the 7-Eleven store. The state has no law against quaffing a Lone Star or sipping on a Scotch and soda while cruising down the interstate. Often, trips here begin at the package store.

 

While that may seem odd indeed to residents of California, where such practices have been banned since 1961, drinking and driving is legal in 26 states, according to statistics provided by the National Safety Council. Drivers and passengers can drink as they roll down the road in Maine and Mississippi, Vermont and Wyoming, so long as they are not legally drunk.

 

Allowed in 26 States : Drinking and Driving: a Legal Mix - Los Angeles Times

 

I'm not sure what year Texas made it illegal to drink and drive, and later, to pass an open container ban (which means even passengers can't sip a cold one).  But I'm pretty sure it followed a Yankee invasion.

The open container law came in in 2001. It was illegal since 1917 but rarely enforced until people had enough of seeing family and friends dying on the roads from drunk drivers. I'm thinking that author wasn't aware there was a law on the books, but seeing it wasn't readily enforced, many took it for granted they could drink while driving. When I first came there, i too was amazed how many people I knew drank while driving.

 

Texas used to be the wide open spaces but it's grown so much it's sad, with the major cities expanding miles past their previous boundaries. I35 used to have nothing past San Antonio until New Braunfels, then again until San Marcos, then on to Austin. Now they're almost all connected. This link explains the legislation over the years.............https://www.lgrlawfirm.com/blog/the-evolution-of-drunk-driving-laws-in-texas/.

[StayinThailand2much]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Thailand has officially lifted its ban on selling alcohol in restaurants from 2 PM to 5 PM, a decision set to increase sales by 25%.

 

Only restaurants?? Okay, then. Let's go to restaurants to get drunk at 2 PM... 😆

[freedomnow]

Ridiculous they did this at all in a major tourist hub...bunch of flip-flop knuckleheads.

 

Nanny state like UK and police state soon like China....gung-ho Thailand long-gone...the reason many moved here to be away from authoritarian states.

 

[roo860]

4 minutes ago, freedomnow said:

Ridiculous they did this at all in a major tourist hub...bunch of flip-flop knuckleheads.

 

Nanny state like UK and police state soon like China....gung-ho Thailand long-gone...the reason many moved here to be away from authoritarian states.

 

You can buy beer all day in the UK 

[Trippy]

22 minutes ago, roo860 said:

You can buy beer all day in the UK 

You can buy tea all day in China.

[roo860]

36 minutes ago, Trippy said:

You can buy tea all day in China.

Yorkshire Tea for me, but thanks for the info🙂