This weekend and next its time for election again, Alcohol ban.

6.00pm on 31 January 2026 until 6.00pm on 1 February 2026

6.00pm on 7 February 2026 until 6.00pm on 8 February 2026

And.....?

And time stock up again ☹️

17 hours ago, PoorSucker said:

This weekend and next its time for election again, Alcohol ban.

6.00pm on 31 January 2026 until 6.00pm on 1 February 2026

6.00pm on 7 February 2026 until 6.00pm on 8 February 2026

Going to be interesting in 7-11s when they have to pull the shutters down at 6pm, specially like the busy ones at sunset points like soi 5 Pratumnak

I wish they would stop with this silliness...☹️

My nearest sewell had not got the no sale dictate from head office as of about midday

I'll go back before the 6pm deadline to see if they have changed their tune.

On 1/30/2026 at 2:06 PM, johng said:

I wish they would stop with this silliness...☹️

Absolutely, its not as if foreigners can vote, so what is the point?

Just back from the sewell elewell they have got the message from head office

no sales from 6pm this evening to 6 pm tomorrow evening, notice's on the fridges

my fridge now stocked.

I occurs to me with the great concern about short term bans on alcohol sales that many posters on

AN are posting in a daily alcohol induced haze.

I guess that would explain a lot.

15 minutes ago, cdemundo said:

many posters on

AN are posting in a daily alcohol induced haze.

Guilty as charged your honour 😋

1 hour ago, mikeymike100 said:

Absolutely, its not as if foreigners can vote, so what is the point?

Most countries apply rules to everyone. It's just easier that way.

57 minutes ago, Upnotover said:

Most countries apply rules to everyone. It's just easier that way.

But surely Toorists are special no?

1 hour ago, Upnotover said:

Most countries apply rules to everyone. It's just easier that way.

Thai know where to buy, this only affects tourist.

7 hours ago, cdemundo said:

I occurs to me with the great concern about short term bans on alcohol sales that many posters on

AN are posting in a daily alcohol induced haze.

I guess that would explain a lot.

The title of the post regards tourists not alcoholics. A majority come from countries that do not have multiple "Buddhist holidays" and one election after another.

One or two years ago I saw a foreign lady filling her basket in BigC Extra during the 2-5PM period. Obviously avoided the signs and went behind the ropes to enter the huge alcohol zone. I almost said something, decided to either mind my own business or allow auntie to discover the unique contradictions of Thailand on her own.

Why do they ban the weekend before the election?

5 hours ago, Asean Tiger said:

The title of the post regards tourists not alcoholics. A majority come from countries that do not have multiple "Buddhist holidays" and one election after another.

There have not been many elections over recent years, and Buddhist holiday closures are no longer enforced in the tourist areas.... so things are heading the other way in reality.

Cue the donkeys with the ‘it’s only one day’, ‘can’t you not drink for one day?’, ‘why not stock up the day before?’, etc etc. 😴 Puerile, as is the ban on foreigners, like they can fkn vote anyway.

Tourists first time in Thailand… I’ll think we’ll go to Vietnam next time.

2 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

Why do they ban the weekend before the election?

Advance voting?

14 hours ago, mikeymike100 said:

Absolutely, its not as if foreigners can vote, so what is the point?

not everything in Thailand is dictated by what the tourist wants

Seems that posters on this topic are of similar mind.

Me too. IT IS JUST BIZARRE TO HAVE THESE 24 HOUR BANS FOR REASONS OF THE SECURITY OF ELECTION DECORUM. It makes NO sense, because Voters can still drink and fight and riot and forget/make mistakes casting their votes, (or whatever it is the Authorities fear), because it's a simple task to buy your booze before 6 p.m.

It's the unaware, (mainly tourists), who will be confused and probably angry when they find they can't have a pint !

I can identify with that - at a pleasant riverside location I frequent for my nightly Chang beer, they recently held a LeO promo night and would not serve Chang at all. I was boiling, (and laughing at myself), and protested my case to the LeO Rep., so I can imagine how an unsuspecting tourist would feel. A 7 night holiday becomes a 6 night holiday etc and a 14 day holiday a 12 night holiday. Fact is, Folks will book somewhere else !! It's madness.

I can respect these occasions for religious reasons, (though Falang could be sensibly exempted) but for elections, this is just SILLY !

Moderation edit: too many capital letters used.

So the idea is to stop voters getting ratted the night before and making the 'wrong' choice.

Why do us foreigners who do not have the right to vote be denied a drink?

Oh the horror. I remember well blue laws in USA which still exist in some states where thanks to bible beaters no booze was sold (legally) on Sundays. Praise jesus and pass the moonshine.

10 hours ago, Asean Tiger said:

One or two years ago I saw a foreign lady filling her basket in BigC Extra during the 2-5PM period. Obviously avoided the signs and went behind the ropes to enter the huge alcohol zone. I almost said something,

Now why am I not surprised ,?

people like you always feel the need to say something, despite having so little to say

There are numerous days in Thailand when the sale of alcohol is restricted, for various reasons, Without exception, every one of them results in a thread identical to this one,

in which our resident alcoholics express their concern for the poor tourists, and predict the end of the tourism industry here as a result.

The more practical amongst them offering vital advice as to how to "beat the ban" by the sophisticated method of stocking up beforehand And the smug ones amongst them, telling the others that they already have.

Comedy gold, and another gift that keeps on giving.

If there was no such outrage and concern, I wonder would it be possible to start , or at least "encourage" some ?

The Op's suggestion to look out for "confused tourists" should also advise about looking out for triggered Expats suffering from early stage withdrawal symptoms

7 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

Why do they ban the weekend before the election?

Duh ! never heard of advance voting ? That's quite unusual for the members of the "know it all" community isn't it ?

3 hours ago, wil iam not said:

So the idea is to stop voters getting ratted the night before and making the 'wrong' choice.

Why do us foreigners who do not have the right to vote be denied a drink?

It would invoke jealousy and resentment amongst the indigenous population , the media would have a field day, and imagine how many netizens would be in "uproar" it could overload the entire internet.

2 hours ago, Bday Prang said:

If there was no such outrage and concern, I wonder would it be possible to start , or at least "encourage" some ?

clearly it is possible , as it happens several time a year without fail on this forum,

One question is , does this outrage actually exist or is it ever even mentioned "out there in the real world"

Another one being "has anybody ever actually revised or cancelled their travel plans because of this ...."yet another nail in the coffin of tourism" as we are frequently warned ?

You come to Thailand, you respect the rules. It's their country.

1 hour ago, Bday Prang said:

clearly it is possible , as it happens several time a year without fail on this forum,

One question is , does this outrage actually exist or is it ever even mentioned "out there in the real world"

Another one being "has anybody ever actually revised or cancelled their travel plans because of this ...."yet another nail in the coffin of tourism" as we are frequently warned ?

Yes people have cancelled their travel plans as they need that poison called alcohol