Thailand’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Committee announced revised hours for alcohol sales beginning in 2026, as detailed in the Royal Gazette. Starting the day after publication, alcohol can be sold from 11am to midnight, with specific exceptions for airports, entertainment venues, hotels, and designated event areas. These changes aim to modernize Thailand's alcohol control policies while promoting tourism and retail activity.

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The revision comes after a prior 180-day trial that lifted long-standing afternoon bans, reflecting efforts to adapt regulations to current conditions. Authorities introduced these changes to encourage economic growth, although concerns persist over potential implications like increased drink-driving and youth access to alcohol. The government has balanced this flexibility by imposing stricter rules in sensitive areas, such as transport hubs and government properties.

Expert reactions are mixed. Some welcome the increased economic opportunities, while others worry about the possible public health impact. Special measures are required from sellers during exempted hours to ensure public order and safeguard minors from alcohol access.

Moving forward, authorities will monitor the impact of these regulatory changes, adjusting approaches as necessary to address any emerging issues. Additional guidance or amendments may be published to refine the balance between economic benefits and public health concerns.

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  Adapted by ASEAN Now · The Nation · 29 May 2026

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I haven't noticed any difference but it is more convenient to buy bulk beer when I go shopping in my car every week.

At least the Stupid Stupid Stupid Stupid Stupid Stupid 2PM to 5PM sales ban seems to be gone..

1 minute ago, redwood1 said:

At least the Stupid Stupid Stupid Stupid Stupid Stupid 2PM to 5PM sales ban seems to be gone..

Sadly the equally "Stupid Stupid Stupid Stupid Stupid Stupid" 11:00 am start remains in place. I still haven't seen any reasoning for this ridiculously late start to sales. If anyone knows why this insanely late start to alcohol sales is in place please post it.

15 hours ago, Rams86 said:

I haven't noticed any difference but it is more convenient to buy bulk beer when I go shopping in my car every week.

Not if you want to do your shopping in the morning before the heat sets in i.e. before 11:00 am.

5 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

Sadly the equally "Stupid Stupid Stupid Stupid Stupid Stupid" 11:00 am start remains in place

Yeah, some of us here would like to drink a beer at 6, 7 or 8 in the morning after they wake up. 😡

4 minutes ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Yeah, some of us here would like to drink a beer at 6, 7 or 8 in the morning after they wake up. 😡

Got nothing to do with that. It's about being having the ability stock up (or even buy a can of beer) before 11. Some people prefer to do their shopping earlier in the day. Obviously you don't have an answer to WHY 11:00 am?

12 minutes ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Yeah, some of us here would like to drink a beer at 6, 7 or 8 in the morning after they wake up. 😡

Easily done.

2 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

Got nothing to do with that. It's about being having the ability stock up (or even buy a can of beer) before 11. Some people prefer to do their shopping earlier in the day. Obviously you don't have an answer to WHY 11:00 am?

I have no issue to stock up before 11am, why do you ?

7 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Yeah, some of us here would like to drink a beer at 6, 7 or 8 in the morning after they wake up. 😡

Got nothing to do with that

It has for me, a few times a month I'm out drinking early hours of the morning after waking up.

3 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

I have no issue to stock up before 11am, why do you ?

Because I like to buy wine whilst doing the shopping in the morning and only the supermarkets have this where I am. Apart from that the issue remains that their seems to be no rational reason not to open at 8 or 9 for example just as there was no rational reason for the 2-5 prohibition hours.

25 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

Sadly the equally "Stupid Stupid Stupid Stupid Stupid Stupid" 11:00 am start remains in place. I still haven't seen any reasoning for this ridiculously late start to sales. If anyone knows why this insanely late start to alcohol sales is in place please post it.

yes, terrible for all the people who need beer for their breakfast corn flakes

9 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

Because I like to buy wine whilst doing the shopping in the morning and only the supermarkets have this where I am.

Sucks to be you then.

It's pretty bad when some people go to bed with a bottle of alcohol and need more in the morning with there cereal and toast.

3 minutes ago, Jonathan Swift said:

yes, terrible for all the people who need beer for their breakfast corn flakes

Puerile comment. If you think a person walking along the beach at 10:00 in the morning for example fancies dropping into 711 for a can of beer means they must be having beer on their cornflake and are full blown alcoholics then your thought processes are weird. There is zero link between having the ability to buy alcohol at a reasonable time (NOT 11:00 am) and alcoholism. Again I say there is no logical reason for this as there was no logical reason for the 2-5 prohibition. Sorry if you disagree with common sense.

38 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

Easily done.

Yes it is. You can buy a beer as soon as the M&P shop opens but you can't buy a beer from 711 etc. at 10:59 in the morning. Please someone explain the 'logic' behind this.

40 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

I have no issue to stock up before 11am, why do you ?

You’ve probably never realised that there are people, like me, who enjoy drinking a particular type of wine that’s only available in the big shopping centres, and that those same people, like me, for example, live 50 km away from there.

When I go shopping, once a week or every ten days, I always set off at 9 o’clock, and it’s a nuisance when you can’t buy alcohol until after 11.

Right, over to you again.

7 minutes ago, Peterphuket said:

You’ve probably never realised that there are people, like me, who enjoy drinking a particular type of wine that’s only available in the big shopping centres, and that those same people, like me, for example, live 50 km away from there.

When I go shopping, once a week or every ten days, I always set off at 9 o’clock, and it’s a nuisance when you can’t buy alcohol until after 11.

Right, over to you again.

How about going shopping slightly later in the day....And do all your shopping first....So the wine goes in the cart at 10.59 last....

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Thailand’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Committee announced revised hours for alcohol sales beginning in 2026, as detailed in the Royal Gazette. Starting the day after publication, alcohol can be sold from 11am to midnight, with specific exceptions for airports, entertainment venues, hotels, and designated event areas. These changes aim to modernize Thailand's alcohol control policies while promoting tourism and retail activity.

Get today's headlines by email

The revision comes after a prior 180-day trial that lifted long-standing afternoon bans, reflecting efforts to adapt regulations to current conditions. Authorities introduced these changes to encourage economic growth, although concerns persist over potential implications like increased drink-driving and youth access to alcohol. The government has balanced this flexibility by imposing stricter rules in sensitive areas, such as transport hubs and government properties.

Expert reactions are mixed. Some welcome the increased economic opportunities, while others worry about the possible public health impact. Special measures are required from sellers during exempted hours to ensure public order and safeguard minors from alcohol access.

Moving forward, authorities will monitor the impact of these regulatory changes, adjusting approaches as necessary to address any emerging issues. Additional guidance or amendments may be published to refine the balance between economic benefits and public health concerns.

Join the discussion?

Already a member?

  Adapted by ASEAN Now · The Nation · 29 May 2026

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The rules change are like the British weather, different from one day to the next.

1 hour ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Yeah, some of us here would like to drink a beer at 6, 7 or 8 in the morning after they wake up. 😡

You seem to believe that buying beer before 11am is the same as drinking it. It isn't. Most people know this. Most people clearly doesn't include you.

1 hour ago, dinsdale said:

I still haven't seen any reasoning for this ridiculously late start to sales.

It's to 'protect the children' stop them from buying a drink on the way to school 😋

50 minutes ago, Jonathan Swift said:

yes, terrible for all the people who need beer for their breakfast corn flakes

You seem to believe that buying beer before 11am is the same as drinking it. It isn't. Most people know this. Most people clearly doesn't include you.

17 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

Yes it is. You can buy a beer as soon as the M&P shop opens but you can't buy a beer from 711 etc. at 10:59 in the morning. Please someone explain the 'logic' behind this.

This law is to inconvenience the foreigner, it's to stop the drunks on soi Buakhou drinking in the morning before breakfast.

1 minute ago, Bangkok Barry said:

You seem to believe that buying beer before 11am is the same as drinking it. It isn't. Most people know this. Most people clearly doesn't include you.

Well said, coming from the grumpy guy 😊

29 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

Sucks to be you then.

Ridiculous comment that adds nothing to the discussion about the 11:00 am start. Hate to break this to you but the world doesn't revolve around you. People (i.e. people other than you) are inconvenienced by this stupid law for which there seems to be no reason for it to exist. 11:00 am start is simply stupid. Why would opening the alcohol sales at let's say 8 or 9 o'clock in the morning be a BAD thing? Road safety? Protecting society on the basis of spurious health reasons? Protecting the youth? These of course are the usual (flawed) 'reasons' used. I remember some were saying that abolishing the ridiculous 2-5 prohibition would increase road deaths/injuries. It didn't.

47 minutes ago, OldmanJ said:

It's pretty bad when some people go to bed with a bottle of alcohol and need more in the morning with there cereal and toast.

It's called full blown alcoholism. Thing is not everyone is like this. Indeed only a small % of people that imbibe are full blown alcoholics. That % may very well be overrepresented here.

1 hour ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Yeah, some of us here would like to drink a beer at 6, 7 or 8 in the morning after they wake up. 😡

Luckily I do not wake up/get out of bed before 8am.

I could go down to my fridge for a can which I bought on my last bulk buy last week, or I can go to the local shop to buy one, or I can be sensible and have a coffee/tea, some breakfast, then if I am desperate, I can go to the nearest bar at 11am, which is 13km away from my home.

19 minutes ago, redwood1 said:

How about going shopping slightly later in the day....And do all your shopping first....So the wine goes in the cart at 10.59 last....

9:00 am 32° C. 11:00 am 38° C. Fairly simple to discern which time is best to avoid the heat of the day.

4 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

9:00 am 32° C. 11:00 am 38° C. Fairly simple to discern which time is best to avoid the heat of the day.

When would you feel the heat ?

From an air conditioned car , park inside supermarket car park , then into air conned supermarket and then back home .

When would you be in the heat ?

18 minutes ago, wil iam not said:

Luckily I do not wake up/get out of bed before 8am.

I could go down to my fridge for a can which I bought on my last bulk buy last week, or I can go to the local shop to buy one, or I can be sensible and have a coffee/tea, some breakfast, then if I am desperate, I can go to the nearest bar at 11am, which is 13km away from my home.

Such a sad story, sorry to hear.

Sounds like you have no friends, drinking alone.

Maybe you could invite a few of AN forum members, the red thumbs guys around to join you for a drink.

Ha ha, I bet that would be a barrel of laughs. 😂