File picture for reference only.

 

Thailand has broadened exemptions to its alcohol-sale restrictions, confirming that three types of venues may sell alcohol every day, including during regulated hours, under the updated framework introduced by the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act (No. 2) 2025. The move follows the Act’s enforcement on 8 November 2025 and forms part of a wider reform of national alcohol regulations. The immediate impact is a clearer legal basis for international airports, licensed entertainment venues and hotels to continue selling alcohol without hour-based limitations.

 

The reforms advanced on 13 November, when the Alcoholic Beverage Control Committee, chaired by Public Health Minister Pattana Promphat, approved a Tourism and Sports Ministry proposal to relax long-standing rules. The committee agreed to lift the 2pm–5pm sales ban, extend drinking time by one hour past midnight and subject the changes to a six-month review. These adjustments require a formal announcement and must pass through a 15-day public consultation.

 

The Department of Disease Control opened this consultation between 15–29 November 2025 through the government’s LAW online platform. The draft announcement outlines that it will take effect the day after publication in the Royal Gazette and will revoke the existing 2015 regulation on sales hours. It will then set permitted sales periods at 11am–2pm, 2pm–5pm for 180 days, and 5pm–12pm, with Bangkok’s Alcohol Control Committee and provincial committees tasked with assessing impacts before the 180-day window closes.

 

Section 4 of draft announcement also confirms that sales restrictions will not apply to three exempt venue categories: international airport terminals, licensed entertainment venues operating within legal hours and hotels permitted under the Hotel Act. These venues had already received similar exemptions under earlier Prime Minister’s Office announcements issued in May and June 2025. Those announcements also allowed five types of locations to sell alcohol on major Buddhist holidays, including airports, entertainment venues, tourist-area establishments, hotels and venues hosting major approved events.

 

Taken together, the regulations mean that international airport terminals, licensed entertainment venues and hotels may legally sell alcohol every day, including during restricted hours. Prior to the new Act, the government had already eased rules for Bangkok’s Hua Lamphong Station, which had been covered by a 2015 prohibition on alcohol sales and consumption on trains and railway premises. In 2025, that rule was revised to permit alcohol in designated event areas within the air-conditioned hall, subject to access control, safety measures, youth-protection protocols and prior ministerial approval for each event.

 

The Nation also reported that these latest reforms also liberalise advertising and vending-machine regulations under the 2025 Act. Alcohol vending machines, previously banned, are now allowed if they can verify buyer identity. Advertising rules have been eased by removing the previous prohibition on showing products or packaging, although detailed conditions will still be set by the Public Health Minister based on committee recommendations, and academic communication featuring beverage names or symbols is now permitted when shared with limited groups.

 

Key Takeaways

 

• Thailand’s 2025 alcohol-control reforms formally exempt airports, licensed entertainment venues and hotels from hour-based sales restrictions.

• A draft announcement outlining the new sales periods is undergoing public consultation from 15–29 November 2025 before taking effect.

• The 2025 Act also loosens rules on alcohol vending machines and advertising, expanding permitted activities under ministerial oversight.

 

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Afternoon-alcohol-ban-government-sets-six-month-lifting-trial

 

 

 Adapted  by  Asean  Now from Nation 2025-11-24

 

 

 

36 minutes ago, Georgealbert said:

Alcohol vending machines, previously banned

I remember these vending machine, I thought they removed because of the woke brigade. 

 

Saw these vending machines everywhere, I remember Mityon service centre on Pattaya Tai had one, out side next to service desk.

I'd pull up on my PCX, on a hot afternoon, hand over the keys and book, straight to the vending machine for a cold Leo. 

 

It was usually a 2 can wait for an oil and filter change 🍺

1 hour ago, Georgealbert said:

The draft announcement outlines that it will take effect the day after publication in the Royal Gazette and will revoke the existing 2015 regulation on sales hours. It sets permitted sales periods at 11am–2pm, 2pm–5pm for 180 days, and 5pm–12pm, with Bangkok’s Alcohol Control Committee and provincial committees tasked with assessing impacts before the 180-day window closes.

Wasn't 11am part of the 2015 regulation? My concern is the usual dodgy surveys and reports will be flowing from the wowser brigrade 'showing a negative impact' and this will be reversed. My hope is it's locked in. My disappointment is the ridiculous 11am start remains in place. As for vending machines for anyone who has been to Japan they're very handy. I've never seen one in Thailand didn't even know they existed.

Why different rules for similar venues... How do you become a licensed entertainment venue??? why are other bars not allowed? As soon as you pass the immigration in fact you left Thailand, so there should be no restrictions at all on the airports. Why not stop with the controlling of peoples doings?? Make people responsible for their acts and instead of all the screaming soaps on TV, educate people

So, am I correct to assume that the 2 - 5pm restriction on selling alcohol in shops and bars has been suspended for 180 days? Or am I confused?

4 minutes ago, JAG said:

So, am I correct to assume that the 2 - 5pm restriction on selling alcohol in shops and bars has been suspended for 180 days? Or am I confused?

Yes. After........

 

2 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

These adjustments require a formal announcement and must pass through a 15-day public consultation.

 

The Department of Disease Control opened this consultation between 15–29 November 2025 through the government’s LAW online platform. The draft announcement outlines that it will take effect the day after publication in the Royal Gazette

So looking at early December. My guess is it will happen in the 1st week of December.

1 minute ago, dinsdale said:

Yes. After........

 

So looking at early December. My guess is it will happen in the 1st week of December.

Thank you.

 

Won't really affect me, don't buy the stuff really to drink at home, and just the odd beer Laos or glass of red wine on my occasional jaunt to display my "hansumness". Nice to know a little sanity may be prevailing!

This is not about retail sales.

If it was about retail sales, it would be written explicitly.

That's all I care about.

13 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

This is not about retail sales.

If it was about retail sales, it would be written explicitly.

That's all I care about.

I think being able to buy alcohol between the hours of 2-5 anywhere in Thailand that sells alcohol would qualify as retail sales. Sure the line pushed is about tourism but retail sales are also part of it.

Just now, dinsdale said:

I think being able to buy alcohol between the hours of 2-5 anywhere in Thailand that sells alcohol would qualify as retail sales. Sure the line pushed is about tourism but retail sales are also part of it.

No it is not.

This was covered before on another topic.

6 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

No it is not.

This was covered before on another topic.

 

3 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

The committee agreed to lift the 2pm–5pm sales ban

This is nation wide. If you have any information to say it isn't please post it.

10 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

I think being able to buy alcohol between the hours of 2-5 anywhere in Thailand that sells alcohol would qualify as retail sales. Sure the line pushed is about tourism but retail sales are also part of it.

 

I would say 7-11 and Big C qualify as retail sales....So we can buy beer between 2 and 5 soon from a retailer..

Regard the 2-5 lifting, believe it when I see it. Children are still in charge remember. 

2 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

Why different rules for similar venues... How do you become a licensed entertainment venue??? why are other bars not allowed? As soon as you pass the immigration in fact you left Thailand, so there should be no restrictions at all on the airports. Why not stop with the controlling of peoples doings?? Make people responsible for their acts and instead of all the screaming soaps on TV, educate people

Exactly have one law for all, sales at any venue from 10am to 2am, with a 2 hour extension to 4am for specific enclosed clubs.. licensed and inspected by police.

When one day you walk into 7 or big C and see you can buy alcohol during the 2-5 time period you will know that current rules have been changed.

 

Until then, find something else to worry about.  

4 hours ago, dinsdale said:

 My disappointment is the ridiculous 11am start remains in place. 

 

Indeed, I find it highly annoying not being able to enjoy a glass of red with the mega breakfast at Nicky's at 8.30am.

7 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

 

Indeed, I find it highly annoying not being able to enjoy a glass of red with the mega breakfast at Nicky's at 8.30am.

wine at breakfast???? No thanks...even lunch is too early for me...but at 15.00 I would like to have drink sometimes.....

They will be pouring bottles of booze down the tourists necks at the arrivals gate soon. 

Yawnn... ping pong politics.. Same as with visa's and weed. Just see this timeline to realize how insane it is here, zero progress. In a few years all 3 of these items are in politics for over a decade without resolutions. I mean let's get fking real, it starts to become really tiring and pathetic.

 

Will the so called licensed entertainment venues display a sign confirming that they are licensed, or do we have to guess?

Exemptions - do I read Exemptions? 

Whoever proposed the rule of "alcohol banning hours for the protection of children" needs to be exempted from any public office - me thinks!

But yes, they know everything better. Let them lift the exemption in six months which will be yet another solid nail into the coffin of tourism ........... as the rest does simply not care, except possibly the supermarkets which might have slightly higher sales during "alcohol selling hours" to compensate for the ridiculous timetable of mindless ignorance. 

So new policy announced but cannot be implemented until after "public consultation". Does the word "consult" mean something different in Thai?

7 minutes ago, Mario Cosmopolite said:

So new policy announced but cannot be implemented until after "public consultation". Does the word "consult" mean something different in Thai?

Cannot be implemented until the day after it is published in the  Royal Gazette.

3 hours ago, dinsdale said:

 

This is nation wide. If you have any information to say it isn't please post it.

Retail sales are stores like7 11, lotus, big c, etc... The regs are adressing resturaunt bars  that provide food and entertainment. Pretty clearly outlined in the OP. Yes it's nation wide with provincial oversite

3 hours ago, redwood1 said:

 

I would say 7-11 and Big C qualify as retail sales....So we can buy beer between 2 and 5 soon from a retailer..

No

14 minutes ago, Dan O said:

Retail sales are stores like7 11, lotus, big c, etc... The regs are adressing resturaunt bars  that provide food and entertainment. Pretty clearly outlined in the OP. Yes it's nation wide with provincial oversite

Ok you say only in specific areas and others like myself say nation wide which means every single 711 that sells alcohol in Thailand, and all Big C, Lotus etc. We'll find out if your right or wrong soon enough. Please copy and paste where in the OP it says this doesn't include the stores previously mentioned nation wide. I read it as a blanket lifting except for Buddhist holidays where the same restrictions and exeptions hold.

I remember when the drink companies give glasses and free things then that rule and all that stopped.The beer ban during the day in places like 7/11 was also silly and i wondered why,has weed caused a problem no except shops are not empty for yrs.So these silly rules  should be gone look at the west.

      Go to the villages and the mom and pop shops sold anything  and the police brought too never a problem.Some of the rules in thailand are stupid from the start

So I can get p@ssed all day long (of which I have absolutely NO interest in) but can't buy a bottle of wine for the evening between 2 and 5? A well thought out policy here!

9 minutes ago, nglodnig said:

So I can get p@ssed all day long (of which I have absolutely NO interest in) but can't buy a bottle of wine for the evening between 2 and 5? A well thought out policy here!

introduced in 1972 by a decree from the Revolutionary Council.

6 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

wine at breakfast???? No thanks...even lunch is too early for me...but at 15.00 I would like to have drink sometimes.....

 

Goes good, Ideally I would do whisky would put me into alcoholic teritory.