Thailand has introduced specific guidelines for alcohol vendors to assess customer intoxication before serving more drinks. This follows a regulation that prohibits the sale of alcohol to already intoxicated customers, as per Section 29 of the Alcohol Control Act. The guidelines published in the Royal Gazette aim to help vendors make informed decisions and avoid legal repercussions.

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The regulation was announced last December but lacked clarity on how vendors should evaluate intoxication. On March 30, the Royal Gazette detailed methods for assessing a customer's level of drunkenness, describing physical, verbal, and behavioral indicators of intoxication. The Disease Control Department's director, Monthian Kanasawat, highlighted that vendors should watch for signs like impaired balance, motor control issues, and behaviors that may threaten public safety.

Key methods outlined include three sobriety tests: a self nose-touching test, a foot-to-foot alternating test, and a single-leg counting test. Each method assesses coordination and balance, with specific criteria to determine intoxication. For instance, the nose-touching test involves closing the eyes and touching the nose, with signs of intoxication including noticeable hand tremors.

These guidelines are part of efforts to ensure public safety and prevent alcohol-related harm. Sellers may face legal consequences if they serve alcohol to intoxicated customers who then cause damage or injury. Authorities urge drinkers to self-assess their sobriety and stop consuming alcohol if signs of intoxication appear.

Looking forward, vendors and patrons are expected to adapt to these guidelines, which took effect on March 28. Effective implementation could lead to a decrease in alcohol-related incidents, promoting safer drinking environments. Authorities may monitor compliance and adjust measures as necessary.

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  Adapted by ASEAN Now · The Thaiger · 30 Mar 2026

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LMAO, how stupid is this

It is good that people who are drunk already don't get serviced anymore. However there should not be a law for. It should be the responsibility of the barowner. He should be fined for giving alcohol to too drunk customers. This law can not be enforced.

Nose test, balancing

That will add to the fun in Pattaya 🤣🤣

I suggest flamingo test (standing on one leg.) with closed eyes.

Try it 😁

Can you just picture the tiny 7-11 cashier barely out of high school, asking some sunburned retiree who’s already had a few, to stand on one leg, touch his nose, and count backwards from 20 before she'll hand over his six‑pack.

This is why I love Thailand 🥹

Another fantastic policy from the empty heads. I wonder how much money was spent on something that will never happened and won't and I'd be confident in saying cannot be enforced.

So this means I have to be on the barstool, not the floor, in future?

When I was supervisor in the arcade of a well known holiday park back in the UK, one of the things they tried to enforce was that if people had been on the machines for a substantial amount of time, supervisors (ie me) was to approach them and suggest to them that they had been on the machine for too long. Not wanting my face being rearranged I never got around to doing this😊😊

Maybe further tests are needed - on the goons that thought this lot up.

2 hours ago, Jim Waldron said:

Can you just picture the tiny 7-11 cashier barely out of high school, asking some sunburned retiree who’s already had a few, to stand on one leg, touch his nose, and count backwards from 20 before she'll hand over his six‑pack.

And speaking only in Thai.🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

12 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

It is good that people who are drunk already don't get serviced anymore. However there should not be a law for. It should be the responsibility of the barowner. He should be fined for giving alcohol to too drunk customers. This law can not be enforced.

How is the bar owner going to be fined if there is no law? Your logic escapes me.

4 minutes ago, Front Row said:

How is the bar owner going to be fined if there is no law? Your logic escapes me.

No.. you misunderstand me.... It should be the responsible of the bar owner. He/she should not serve someone who is drunk already. But there is no responsibility in Thailand so a law must do the job, but who is going to enforce that??? policemen at every bar to check??? No law needed for common sense. With this law the bar owner can be fined, which is correct but who will know if he served the drunk or not.

I am sober but I can give a drink when you are drunk.. Who is than responsible?

You are allowed to use the laughing emoji at the bottom of original thread people!! 😀

13 hours ago, smedly said:

LMAO, how stupid is this

It may seem stupid, but if you look in the U.S. and Canada, that is the way it is. Canada even took it a step forward; if you have a party at your house and a guest leaves and has an accident due to impairment, you are legally responsible for them and can be charged or sued.

I think what will be interesting to watch is the number of bouncer customer issues that pop up. It is also going to give a bar an out to get rid of customers that are beligerent by cutting them off and removing them from the bar.

2 hours ago, jacko45k said:

So this means I have to be on the barstool, not the floor, in future?

Yes- which I think will disqualify many young lads on holiday in Thailand

20 minutes ago, kingstonkid said:

you are legally responsible for them and can be charged or sued.

not sure you are correct about that, maybe while they are on your property but not after they leave

how many would have called this an April Fool if it had appeared tomorrow

57 minutes ago, kingstonkid said:

It may seem stupid, but if you look in the U.S. and Canada, that is the way it is. Canada even took it a step forward; if you have a party at your house and a guest leaves and has an accident due to impairment, you are legally responsible for them and can be charged or sued.

I think what will be interesting to watch is the number of bouncer customer issues that pop up. It is also going to give a bar an out to get rid of customers that are beligerent by cutting them off and removing them from the bar.

But you forget that Canada, the Us and Europe have a working police force. Here in Thailand they don't enforce any law...It seems that they think Ok there is law, we are finished now

Inflammatory posts have been removed. @damo1967

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Glad to see, that Thailands biggest problem is finally adressed! ;-)

The amusing point is enforcing any law relating to alcohol sales . This was thought up to deter Songkran devotees getting Alcohol and being a nuisance, however if enforcement is required the question will be by whom. So often the enforcers will have also copnsumed alcohol ( No matter how they are dressed ) so it will be a mute point who is the offender or the enforcer.

Yet ads with all things here best foreigner advice do not test the waters as so often no matter what the foreigner will lose especially regarding alcohol abuse / usage . Always remember this short joke.

Bar lady to drunk,

Sir you drunk, he replies , Madam you are ugly, but tomorrow I will be sober BUT you will always be ugly ...

This new regulation like all new idiot regulations, due to inactive enforcement, will end up in the toilet before the weekend.

Thailand may introduce this law but in no way will it be enforced.

16 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

It is good that people who are drunk already don't get serviced anymore. However there should not be a law for. It should be the responsibility of the barowner. He should be fined for giving alcohol to too drunk customers. This law can not be enforced.

Bull<deleted>! IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE DRINKER! Christ, take some responsibility.

8 hours ago, KhunBENQ said:

Nose test, balancing

That will add to the fun in Pattaya 🤣🤣

I suggest flamingo test (standing on one leg.) with closed eyes.

Try it 😁

I do flamingo every day! (Yoga) 😇

Maybe they are just copying how things are in the UK?

This is governed by the Licensing Act 2003 (Section 141), which makes it a criminal offence for a person working at a licensed premises to sell or attempt to sell alcohol to a person who is drunk, or to knowingly allow it to be sold.

7 hours ago, Jim Waldron said:

Can you just picture the tiny 7-11 cashier barely out of high school, asking some sunburned retiree who’s already had a few, to stand on one leg, touch his nose, and count backwards from 20 before she'll hand over his six‑pack.

Could be a challenge for the cashier to say these questions in English

2 hours ago, Vlada Floric said:

Bull<deleted>! IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE DRINKER! Christ, take some responsibility.

Don't you think I know??? but some people can't take their responsibility and the bar owners, surely in Thailand are only thinking about money. Wake up please in every country it is the same.... People drink too much and don't accept no from the barkeepers.. Responsibility has be learned but with 500 THB fine or no enforcement of laws people here in Thailand don't learn anything

19 hours ago, smedly said:

LMAO, how stupid is this

Stupid or not Responsible Service of Alcohol Legislation was introduced in most States in Australia over twenty years ago.

Anyone employed to serve alcohol had to undertake a course with big fines foe breaches and possible loss of the Liquor Licence.

I remember police walking through Pubs, Clubs etc checking for inebriated persons.

Thailand well late to the party.

So when I'm intoxicated, I simply send someone who's (relatively 555) sober to buy me more alcohol, is that right!? 🤣