Anyone know the laws on restaurants selling beer/spirits in the afternoons in Thailand? Seems to be lots of buzz about police stepping up enforcement.

According to the Alcohol Beverage Control Act B.E.2551 (2008 A.D.), under section 28 it states that: “Sale of alcohol beverage is prohibited on the date or time announced by the Minister with consent of the Committee. In this regard, such announcement may indicate conditions and restrictions as deemed necessary.

The provision in Paragraph 1 above shall not apply to sale of alcohol beverage by manufacturer, importers or agents to the sellers authorized by the law governing liquor.”

Such act were based on the Announcement Number 253 (dated November 16, B.E. 2515) (1973 A.D.) made by the Council for National Security.

The recent announcement identified eligible hours for retail sales of alcoholic beverages to be between 11.00a.m. to 02.00p.m. and between 05.00p.m. to 00.00a.m.

From this interpretation, only for Liquor Store Wholesalers would be eligible to sell (that is no less than 10 litres per transaction). If less than this, such shall be considered as retailing and a violation of the law. This includes sales of alcohol at a restaurant.

Exceptions were made for Hotel Businesses, airports, train stations, Terminal bus stations, piers (but they must obtain prior approval which can be made at the Local Police Station which is then to be forwarded to Commissioner of the National Police Office). There is no general exception for a restaurant just because they sell food with their alcoholic beverages as is often stated but not so under the actual law.

www.sunbeltlegaladvisors.com