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Beach Businesses Hit by Alcohol Ban Enforcement in Pattaya

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File picture for reference only

 

Beach chair operators and tourism-related businesses in Pattaya have lodged complaints to the Senate over the enforcement of alcohol sale restrictions, saying it is disrupting their operations and discouraging visitors. Under the Alcoholic Beverage Act B.E. 2568, Section 32, venues without a sales licence are prohibited from selling alcoholic drinks, leading to tourists being fined for consuming alcohol on the beach. Operators fear the law could damage tourism during the upcoming high season.

 

The complaint was formally submitted at Parliament on 6 October by Ms Lisa Hamilton, President of the Pattaya Nightlife Business Association, to senators Mr Phisit Apiwatthanaphong, spokesman of the Senate Affairs Committee and Ms Pratum Wongsawasdi. Ms Hamilton said business owners in key tourist provinces were increasingly worried about the law’s strict interpretation, which affects both local vendors and visitors. She urged the government to review the legislation, noting that its current enforcement is harming tourism and creating opportunities for officials to demand bribes.

 

Ms Hamilton cited Pattaya as an example where tourists sitting on beach chairs and drinking alcohol have reportedly been arrested or fined. She warned that if the issue is not addressed promptly, it could lead to negative publicity and tarnish Thailand’s international reputation as a tourism-friendly destination. The crackdown coincides with the start of the high season, when thousands of foreign tourists are expected to visit coastal cities.

 

Senator Phisit confirmed he had accepted the petition and would forward it to Senate President Mr Mongkol Surasajja and Prime Minister Mr Anutin Charnvirakul for consideration. He said the matter would be reviewed to ensure the law is applied fairly and does not unduly impact tourism businesses.

 

Business associations have called for a balanced approach that upholds public order while supporting tourism recovery. The government is expected to clarify enforcement guidelines in the coming weeks to prevent further confusion among local authorities and business operators.


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Picture courtesy of MGR
 

Key Takeaways

 

• Pattaya business owners petitioned the Senate over alcohol sale restrictions impacting beach operations.

• Tourists have been fined for drinking on beach chairs under Section 32 of the 2025 Alcoholic Beverage Act.

• The issue has been escalated to the Senate President and Prime Minister for review ahead of the high season.

 

Related Stories

 

Afternoon-alcohol-sales-ban-still-in-force/

 

Thailand-awaits-details-on-alcohol-advertising-restrictions

 

image.png  Adapted by Asean Now from khaosod 2025-10-07

 

 

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  • blaze master
    blaze master

    Great news. If smoking cannabis on the beach isn't allowed why should alcohol be allowed.   The stench of cheap beer and wine coolers makes me want to vomit.

  • so is drinking alcohol not allowed or sales not allowed on the beach, if only the latter why are tourists being fined

  • So somebody could buy beer at a 7/11 and sit outside and drink it and it's okay. But if they walk across the street with the same beer and sit on a beach chair they can be arrested/fined? It's gotta b

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so is drinking alcohol not allowed or sales not allowed on the beach, if only the latter why are tourists being fined

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45 minutes ago, Georgealbert said:

"Ms Hamilton cited Pattaya as an example where tourists sitting on beach chairs and drinking alcohol have reportedly been arrested or fined."

WHAT THE HELL?!?!?

One more instance of why tourism here is dying on the vine.

 

And Section 32 of the 2025 Alcoholic Beverage Act addresses advertising booze. It says NOTHING about having a beer on a beach chair. Just another shakedown.

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So somebody could buy beer at a 7/11 and sit outside and drink it and it's okay. But if they walk across the street with the same beer and sit on a beach chair they can be arrested/fined? It's gotta be a shakedown.

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13 minutes ago, gargamon said:

So somebody could buy beer at a 7/11 and sit outside and drink it and it's okay. But if they walk across the street with the same beer and sit on a beach chair they can be arrested/fined? It's gotta be a shakedown.

I thought drinking on the beach was not allowed end of! Although I do struggle to keep up with the situations and rules in Thailand. It was always one of the attractions of the place, that it was so liberal, aone could have a cold beer as the sun set in a deck chair...... 

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Does TAT know about this?  Thailand seems determined to kill off what remains of tourism here.  TDAC + the 'new' 300 baht levy at the airports have sent Vietnam numbers soaring, whilst this country remains mired in overcomplicating every facet of life here.

  • Popular Post

Great news. If smoking cannabis on the beach isn't allowed why should alcohol be allowed.

 

The stench of cheap beer and wine coolers makes me want to vomit.

  • Popular Post

Just another way to discourage tourism. They should come to Jomtien at 5 am. Lots of drinking and drugs.

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45 minutes ago, blaze master said:

Great news. If smoking cannabis on the beach isn't allowed why should alcohol be allowed.

 

The stench of cheap beer and wine coolers makes me want to vomit.

You should stay off the beach then.

Or do you subscribe to the belief hat the minority should tell the majority what do?

4 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

Beach chair operators and tourism-related businesses in Pattaya have lodged complaints to the Senate over the enforcement of alcohol sale restrictions, saying it is disrupting their operations and discouraging visitors. Under the Alcoholic Beverage Act B.E. 2568, Section 32, venues without a sales licence are prohibited from selling alcoholic drinks, leading to tourists being fined for consuming alcohol on the beach. Operators fear the law could damage tourism during the upcoming high season.

Rubbish

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Easy turn to thai solution to a thai problem!

Put beer in coffee mugs or lao kao in water bottles!

🤣🤣🤣🚀

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When God distributed reason, Thailand came up short.

Friend in Jomtien has given up the beach since long.

But what's new?

No smoking,  no beer on the beach for half an eternity?

Completely stupid.

Hypocritical zealots.

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37 minutes ago, Smokey and the Bandit said:

Are there any signs posted about drinking is forbidden on the beach?

How are tourists supposed to know?

Exactly!  A tourist coming to Pattaya for a couple of weeks is not going to know all the rules and regs, as they seem to change on a daily basis!

2 hours ago, mikebell said:

the 'new' 300 baht levy at the airports have sent Vietnam numbers soaring

 Oh really? Only place I read that is your post. So for a 9 bucks/7 quid charge that's not even enforced yet, travelers are off to Vietnam in their droves?  Pull the other , its got bells on........😄

 

 

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If the beach is a non drinking area they need to post that.

 

If chair vendors want to sell beer then get a license, its only a few hundred baht if that solves the problem.

 

They should be fining the chair vendors for selling beer in a non drinking area as they certainly know about the restriction. 

 

 

44 minutes ago, KhunBENQ said:

Friend in Jomtien has given up the beach since long.

But what's new?

No smoking,  no beer on the beach for half an eternity?

Completely stupid.

Hypocritical zealots.

I visited Bondi not long back, no smoking, no booze on the beach there too, didn't seem to be spoiling anyone's day.

When I go to Hua Hin I have a cold beer at the beach in the afternoon 

Mind you last there 2 years ago

Is  this a new law no drinking alcohol at the beach in the afternoon say 1200hrs onwards okay at 1700hrs same as 7-11 🤔

 

3 hours ago, blaze master said:

Great news. If smoking cannabis on the beach isn't allowed why should alcohol be allowed.

 

The stench of cheap beer and wine coolers makes me want to vomit.

 

In the 1970s and 1980s people were smoking cannabis and drinking alcohol on the beaches. There was even some nude sun bathing. Free and easy in those days, less so today but still a place where people go to enjoy themselves. There is nothing new about what is going on . One wonders why you chose to live there given your austere views on such activities.

48 minutes ago, shackleton said:

When I go to Hua Hin I have a cold beer at the beach in the afternoon 

Mind you last there 2 years ago

Is  this a new law no drinking alcohol at the beach in the afternoon say 1200hrs onwards okay at 1700hrs same as 7-11 🤔

 

I was in HH in May just past; no issue with getting a beer late at night, after the main bars etc. were closed.  Was very civilised.

Thailand more and more becoming a police state. And they wonder, not to mention other reasons, why the tourists stay away... 😆 

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5 hours ago, blaze master said:

Great news. If smoking cannabis on the beach isn't allowed why should alcohol be allowed.

 

The stench of cheap beer and wine coolers makes me want to vomit.

 Throwing up on the beach is not allowed ! 

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Nothing nicer than having a bevvy on the beach, counting the turds float by. 🤣😂🤣 

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6 hours ago, blaze master said:

Great news. If smoking cannabis on the beach isn't allowed why should alcohol be allowed.

 

The stench of cheap beer and wine coolers makes me want to vomit.

Then stop trying to smoke "cheap beer and wine coolers and you won't be sick. By the way Thai beer is OK and is no longer "cheap", due to the inflated exchange rate.

9 hours ago, jacko45k said:

I thought drinking on the beach was not allowed end of! Although I do struggle to keep up with the situations and rules in Thailand. It was always one of the attractions of the place, that it was so liberal, aone could have a cold beer as the sun set in a deck chair...... 

We could drink beers on Phuket beaches and elsewhere since my earlier memories of the early 80s , what’s changed ? Is it the chair owners that are not allowed to sell ? So if I was in a restaurant or cafe, having being served a beer, I, as the customer would be fined if the owner had no license ?

8 hours ago, mikebell said:

Does TAT know about this?  Thailand seems determined to kill off what remains of tourism here.  TDAC + the 'new' 300 baht levy at the airports have sent Vietnam numbers soaring, whilst this country remains mired in overcomplicating every facet of life here.

Very clever. It’s better to spend 25$ on a Vietnamese visa than 9$ for the airport tax ? 

8 hours ago, emptypockets said:

You should stay off the beach then.

Or do you subscribe to the belief hat the minority should tell the majority what do?

 

And you should go rent a lounge chair and have a beer. 

12 hours ago, smedly said:

so is drinking alcohol not allowed or sales not allowed on the beach, if only the latter why are tourists being fined

Is this law known in Koh Samui?

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