4 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

“Government officials no longer drink in the afternoon. Today, officials do not go out drinking during working hours, so the ban should be lifted,

Really??  THey've all been trained not to?

until next week.....

1 hour ago, redwood1 said:

 

A 12-11AM sale ban is not great but getting rid of the 2-5 sales ban is 1 million times better..

 

I really hope this is for real this time.The press release is very encouraging that this is the real deal, including 7-11 and Big C...

 

But the true test will come if we will all be able to buy a beer from 7-11 at 3PM soon....

 

The stupid 2-5 ban has messed up many many grocery shopping trips for me for many a year now...

 

 

As does going to Big C for example earlyish in the morning (e.g. 9:00 am) on what's going to be a stinking hot day but unable to buy alcohol at the same time.

Thailand the Hub of flip flop decisions 

5 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

 

File picture for reference only

 

The National Alcohol Policy Committee has decided to lift the long-standing ban on alcohol sales from 2pm to 5pm, citing the need to boost spending during festive seasons. The new regulation will take effect 15 days after public consultation, without requiring cabinet approval. The panel has yet to decide on extending drinking hours at entertainment venues.

 

The afternoon ban was originally introduced to prevent civil servants from drinking during office hours. Deputy Prime Minister Sophon Zarum, who chaired the committee’s second meeting at Government House on 13 November, said the rule is now outdated. “Government officials no longer drink in the afternoon. Today, officials do not go out drinking during working hours, so the ban should be lifted,” he stated.

 

Authorities began considering lifting the ban after criticism from businesses and the public. Tourism operators have also  proposed extending closing hours to 4am, but the Ministry of Public Health and medical experts have opposed this, citing accident statistics showing a spike in fatalities from 2am to 3am. Mr Sophon said the panel would continue discussions to reach a compromise.

 

The Ministry of Interior regulates operating hours for entertainment venues, so any extension must align with existing laws. While the Public Health Ministry promotes alcohol-free campaigns during New Year, Mr Sophon stressed that such measures must be realistic. “People celebrate during festivals. If the state wants to encourage abstinence, it must offer incentives, not just impose bans,” he said.

 

The committee will also review zoning rules for alcohol sales near educational institutions, clarifying whether distances should be measured from the school fence or building. Once a final decision is reached on drinking hours, it can be issued directly by the Prime Minister’s Office without cabinet endorsement. The announcement will be open for public comment for 15 days before taking effect, reported The Bangkok Post.

Picture courtesy of Bangkokpost- Deputy Prime Minister Sophon Zarum 

 

Key Takeaways

 

• The 2–5pm alcohol sales ban will be lifted after 15 days of public consultation.

• Extended drinking hours at entertainment venues remain under discussion.

• Zoning rules for alcohol sales near schools will be reviewed for clarity.

 

Related stories

 

Tightening-of-alcohol-laws-with-new-fines-for-drinkers

 

Scrap-the-booze-ban-tourism-groups-demand-PM-action

 

 

  Adapted  by  Asean  Now from Bangkokpost 2025-11-14

 

 

 

 

Put your left leg in, put your left leg out. Put your left leg in and shake it all about! This has been going round and round for the past few weeks, Have they finally put the two ends to ends together??

3 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

As does going to Big C for example earlyish in the morning (e.g. 9:00 am) on what's going to be a stinking hot day but unable to buy alcohol at the same time.

 

The best time for shopping at my local Big C is after 5 pm when loads of stuff gets the discounted yellow price stickers AND the beer aisle is open. Those 9 am expeditions see the socks and sandals brigade with their long-haired minders doing their trawl before it gets too hot for them. Heaven forbid one may get mistaken for a pensioner.

1 hour ago, 2long said:

Probably only available to Covid-vaccinated mask-wearing monks accompanied by wives, and only on a full moon in months with 29 days.

 

But we can hope!!

Either that, or over 90 and accompanied by both parents!

1 minute ago, NanLaew said:

 

The best time for shopping at my local Big C is after 5 pm when loads of stuff gets the discounted yellow price stickers AND the beer aisle is open. Those 9 am expeditions see the socks and sandals brigade with their long-haired minders doing their trawl before it gets too hot for them. Heaven forbid one may get mistaken for a pensioner.

You tried it then.............🤫

The whipsaw approach to this alcohol prohibition reminds one of Trump's whipsaw approach to tariffs, it's very confusing, incredibly unproductive for the economy and for businesses, and totally unnecessary. 

 

Hopefully they will follow through with this as that prohibition was beyond arcane, silly, and ridiculous. Does this mean we're actually seeing some progress? 

5 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

. “Government officials no longer drink in the afternoon. Today, officials do not go out drinking during working hours, so the ban should be lifted,” he stated.

 

Yeh so HE says.....

One less trip to the 7-11.

2 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

The inability to get booze for 3 hours a day will definitely cut down on Brit and Aussie tourists

 

Too right. Nothing like a cold beer in the afternoon.

 

The Yanks should be OK though, I don't think they've banned quadruple cheeseburgers and 60 inch waistlines. 

The off license on my road is open seven days a week from 4am .p

31 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

I thought they were enforcing the ban last week?

They had to sober up first, before realizing their mistake....

26 minutes ago, stevenl said:

This has nothing to do with holiday makers. Holiday makers are not going to cancel a holiday due to an official 2-5 alcohol ban

 

Nonsense.

 

Like it or not, a lot of holiday makers come to Thailand to drink, party and fornicate.

 

It's hardly the incense burning, avocado quaffing, Machu Picchu crowd.

 

1 minute ago, JonnyF said:

t's hardly the incense burning, avocado quaffing, Machu Picchu crowd.

 

Yeah. Those fruits are on an Island singing kumbaya while the rest of us have a doobie in our mouth, a beer we just bought at 2pm and going ballsdeep on 941 out of Rainbow 5

2 hours ago, ChipButty said:

Will someone tell 7/11 that they can sell Heineken zero at anytime, It's none alcoholic, but no they wont have it, 

I could be wrong (again) but maybe the zero beer is in the alcohol section of the cash register which can't be used during banned times.

I know one C shop couldn't sell anything in the alcohol section if it went thru the cash register at certain times, so just paying cash for alcohol overcame that problem.

Before at Makro was the same problem buying zero beer, but they've sorted that out now.

7 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

Too right. Nothing like a cold beer in the afternoon.

 

The Yanks should be OK though, I don't think they've banned quadruple cheeseburgers and 60 inch waistlines. 

We are number 1!

And the Thai circus continues! I think the prerequisite for becoming a politician in this country is - MUST HAVE A DEGREE IN BEING A CLOWN

7 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

Nonsense.

 

Like it or not, a lot of holiday makers come to Thailand to drink, party and fornicate.

 

It's hardly the incense burning, avocado quaffing, Machu Picchu crowd.

 

Therefore an after midnight ban would be more detrimental. An official 2-5 ban doesn't hurt tourism, an after midnight ban will.

5 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

The afternoon ban was originally introduced to prevent civil servants from drinking during office hours.

I guess none of them work between 10am and 2pm. 

Convenient how they left the lunch hours open for drinking.

4 hours ago, CharlesHolzhauer said:

Because some government officials' misconduct has led to the entire population of the country and their guests being penalized?

Same with the trains.

Years ago, a drunk train guard r*ped and killed a young girl whilst drunk on duty.

They then decided to ban drinking alcohol on trains for everybody (still in place today)

4 minutes ago, stevenl said:

Therefore an after midnight ban would be more detrimental. An official 2-5 ban doesn't hurt tourism, an after midnight ban will.

 

Never heard of an all dayer?

 

A friend told me that the Gentlemen's clubs in Pattaya are packed in the afternoons. So are many of the beer bars. 

4 hours ago, HappyExpat57 said:

Never wanting to be one who assumes - will this include 7/11's, Lotus, Big C, etc.?

Yeah, good luck indeed trying to convince them to sell you booze (7/11 usually will at night time - they put the money to one side then ring it through the next day) If you take a look at the existing law, you are legally allowed to purchase booze at all of the major stores during the 2pm-5pm, there is a sign in Tesco, Big C etc. But you have to be buying a larger quantity, and it is supposed to be a type of "Wholesale" 

Just try getting them to sell it though, not a cat in hell's chance.

10 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

We are number 1!

 

For type 2 diabetes.

1 minute ago, JonnyF said:

 

For type 2 diabetes.

Keeps the numbers of fatties down.

2 hours ago, redwood1 said:

.

 

The stupid 2-5 ban has messed up many many grocery shopping trips for me for many a year now...

 

 

You have known about the 2 to 5 ban for many years and yet here you are crying about your grocery trips.

 

slow learner comes to mind!

Timing. 🤔

 

Jolly good news, though it could be that while they who've proposed this certainly want the ban lifted in time for the coming NY holiday period to bring the big bucks in......., they may already plan to re-impose the ban post-NY, for whatever reason they come up with. 

 

Just sayin'.

1 hour ago, Peterphuket said:

And as for sales before 11 a.m., I have to go shopping in town every 10 days, so do I have to wait until 11 a.m. to buy wine?

sounds like it so far.

1 hour ago, Yagoda said:

The inability to get booze for 3 hours a day will definitely cut down on Brit and Aussie tourists

As it stands the abilitity to buy alcohol from stores like Big C and 711 is only for 10 hours a day which obviously means there are 14 hours of prohibition per day. The prohibition hours are insane.