At 2.20pm this afternoon I was offered an extra beer, after my allotted 2-hour sushi and beer session.

I half tried to explain to the waitress that it's was now against the law, but the reality was that I was stuffed.

2 hours ago, Will B Good said:

 

 

I think the whole thing will just be ignored......as is the case so often over here.

 

 

In general terms, maybe, but it gives the cops an excuse to shake down bar patrons drinking in open 'bar beer' places like Pattaya and Bangkok's Nana. They can make a pretty penny off that for tea money. Meanwhile, the bar owners will be let off the hook (it seems). Also, note that most places (supermarkets, convenience stores and restaurants) were, so far, abiding by the 2-5 ban on selling booze.

1 hour ago, MalcolmB said:

Which is the reason. So they go to work and don’t get drunk.

You are overestimating your own self importance.

so you have no clue what the reason is.... except hiding behind stupid comments

15 hours ago, Stressed Eric said:

This is it.

The final nail in the proverbial coffin for the Land Of Fake Smiles...

 

No coming back from this one.

Utterly ridiculous.

 

Eric.

keep spilling your dribble... been hearing this line for 30 years and for some reason Thailand keeps chugging along with more tourists. 

 

Will it end some day, God I hope so Thailand just seems to be pushing the limits of how many people they can handle. 

14 hours ago, CallumWK said:

 

I remember when the 2pm > 5pm rule was introduced under Thaksin, soi 6 bars could not open in the afternoon.

Maybe we're back there again

Pls dun conveniently blame Thaksin again.

The 2-5pm has been around for decades 

Though Thaksin did implement the 2am bar closure 

13 hours ago, cooked said:

Special zoning for tourists will be worked out. This has been done before, I remember having to drink beer out of a coffee cup. while the waitress hid the bottle. Then there was the decision to ban shops from selling alcohol within a radius of 3 (I think) hundred metres of schools.  Meanwhile, mom and pop shops will continue to sell beer, as they did last time, apart from the first few days. "This too, will pass".

But back then only the shops will get fined 

Now the customers will also be fined

Same same but different 

18 hours ago, davb said:

 

There seems to be a strain of a very punitive mentality in a small segment of Thai society. The rhetoric associated with making cannabis illegal again crossed the line into petty nastiness as well.  

Indeed and not sure about a "small segment" being small. Weed, alcohol and now this TM30 nonsense, wtf is going on here?

On 11/9/2025 at 5:42 AM, gargamon said:

Why is Thailand always about “How can we suck more money out of these tourists“?

Well....in most western countries...the governments suck more and more money labelled as tax!

The laws are there....it's not science...break the law...expect a punishment

On 11/9/2025 at 7:28 AM, SAFETY FIRST said:

This is a genius idea for Thailand. 

 

Have the cops booking all the foreigners drinking beer on the beach, early afternoon (2 to 5pm). 😂

 

The revenue will sky-rocket. 

 

It's a new way of increasing salaries, the government is happy, the police are happy, but the farangs are not happy.

On 11/9/2025 at 7:28 AM, SAFETY FIRST said:

This is a genius idea for Thailand. 

 

Have the cops booking all the foreigners drinking beer on the beach, early afternoon (2 to 5pm). 😂

 

The revenue will sky-rocket. 

 

Not a bad idea. Have every tourist in Phuket go to the beach at 2.05. Open a beer and see what happens. Mass extortion? The western media would love that. 

10 hours ago, ronnie50 said:

In general terms, maybe, but it gives the cops an excuse to shake down bar patrons drinking in open 'bar beer' places like Pattaya and Bangkok's Nana. They can make a pretty penny off that for tea money. Meanwhile, the bar owners will be let off the hook (it seems). Also, note that most places (supermarkets, convenience stores and restaurants) were, so far, abiding by the 2-5 ban on selling booze.

 

Agree...it will rapidly go from 10K fine to 1K tea money.

Fines for drinking???

 

That should help tourism.

On 11/9/2025 at 7:58 AM, quake said:

Grow up Thailand.

It's the 21st century. 

 

It's not a matter of “growing up” but more of intelligence, which they lack, but they are in charge and feel all-powerful.

2 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

 

Agree...it will rapidly go from 10K fine to 1K tea money.

Indeed and the Government is talking about decrease the corruption, but they have no idea how as this example shows... More tea money from tourists and no enforcement of laws for Thais... next year proudly presents.. The corruption is down in Thailand( but not real if foreigners are involved)

 

 

Just now, ikke1959 said:

Indeed and the Government is talking about decrease the corruption, but they have no idea how as this example shows... More tea money from tourists and no enforcement of laws

 

 

 

 

It is ripe for corruption.

 

In fact, if you wanted to come up with a better scheme for the RTP to scam people you'd struggle.

I thought Anutin was pushing to stop the 3 hour afternoon alcohol sales curfew.

2 minutes ago, Peterphuket said:

It's not a matter of “growing up” but more of intelligence, which they lack, but they are in charge and feel all-powerful.

No they need people to educate about handling freedom... That is what Thais can't.. Just this weekend there is a party for several days going on in a temple with very loud music, although the government ask to low tone because of the late Queen.. But even in a temple nobody is doing anything and the noise goes on as usual, and another exapmle the helmets on motorcycles.. If nobody cares about anything no laws are needed, but only to use when they can get money for their own good out of it..Alcohol manufacturers will start to complain soon enough, as they will sell less and make less profits and when it shows that tourists are staying away it will be withdrawn soon enough, but always when it is too late.. Damage is done, just because a lack of intelligence, a lack of responsibility and a lack of education...Thais are acting like akindergarten kids their whole life

I've been here for more than 20 years – but this is easily one of the most harebrained and ridiculous ideas I have ever seen Thailand's wholly ignorant political class implement. Utter stupidity.

On 11/9/2025 at 3:13 AM, Georgealbert said:

Drinkers face hefty fines from 8 November under new amendments to the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act, which strengthen restrictions on alcohol sales and consumption during prohibited hours. Individuals caught drinking or being served alcohol between 2pm and 5pm, or from midnight to 11am, could face penalties of 10,000 baht or more.

Don't worry about it guys you soon won't be able to afford the beer with how the exchange rates are going

Another solid nail into the Thai coffin of tourism. Do you - honestly - believe that a holiday maker in Thailand has waited for the blessings of the divine clowns hanging around in the parliament for gracing their stay with alcohol-ban hours - seriously?

Wondering what kind of absolutely excellent weed these boys must be smoking 24/7 ........... 

When this law was passed, the government must have been completely pissed...

On 11/9/2025 at 5:26 AM, smedly said:

just more confusion, how are customers supposed to know the licencing laws in force for any particular venue especially tourists on a 2 week holiday, this is insane

No wonder tourists are leaving Thailand for other destinations.

 

The core objective of these laws is to reduce alcohol related health issues.

 

If people are going to drink they will either ignore the law or drink in a licensed establishment, or drink in private

 

In the sticks there are no bars, people drink at home when they want to so this primarily about BKK, Pattaya, Phuket and the like.

 

Tourism it is claimed is protected by allowing airports/hotels to sell alcohol. Airports would be first on my list to ban the sale of alcohol.

 

It just seems to be a complete and utter farce from start to finish.

 

 

4 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

No wonder tourists are leaving Thailand for other destinations.

 

Surely it would make more economical sense to go direct to another destination rather than arriving here. having a dummy spit and then leave.

Didn't I just recently read that they were doing away with the 2 to 5 pm sales ban?....so did that get cancelled or what?  headline below dated sep 14 2025

 

End of Thailand’s 2-5 PM Alcohol Ban: A Win for Tourists and Economy

Thailand lifts its 53-year-old 2-5 p.m. alcohol ban, boosting restaurant sales by up to 25% and invigorating tourism. A major win for the economy, aligning hospitality with global standards.

Asia News Hub  14/09/2025 

1 hour ago, pomchop said:

Didn't I just recently read that they were doing away with the 2 to 5 pm sales ban?....so did that get cancelled or what?  headline below dated sep 14 2025

 

End of Thailand’s 2-5 PM Alcohol Ban: A Win for Tourists and Economy

Thailand lifts its 53-year-old 2-5 p.m. alcohol ban, boosting restaurant sales by up to 25% and invigorating tourism. A major win for the economy, aligning hospitality with global standards.

Asia News Hub  14/09/2025 

 

 

That was last Monday's law......555

 

 

It's like they can't decide if they want to be a conservative Buddhist state or the sex tourism capital of the world.

I see customers ordering/drinking beers on the beach everyday in Kamala between 2 and 5
so are the police now going to patrol an fine them?

talk about bad press

So you can get hammered between 11am -2pm 🙄

Why are they talking about extending opening hours for nightlife to 4am when you aren't allowed to drink after midnight until 11am 🙈

1 minute ago, NorthernRyland said:

It's like they can't decide if they want to be a conservative Buddhist state or the sex tourism capital of the world.

 

 

I think at the heart of is this is Anutin's total inability to take a principled stance on anything.

 

4AM closing times to boost the tourist economy?.....never enacted.....now it's midnight.

 

"Liberation day ", alcohol to be sold all day, no 2PM to 5PM ban.....now draconian fines.

 

Bars opening times severely curtailed without special licences.

 

Land of flip flops.