My MIL runs a very small home based shop, quite far from the madding crowd, in a small village near Korat.

She has been informed by Government officials that she is not to sell any alcohol during Songkran.

Same goes for the other shops in the village.

She ain't happy as she struggles to make decent money off the shop as it is.

Is this official or bogus?

Not aware of any country-wide directive, just some specific areas.

I expect the 'Government Officials' if they were real (did she see ID?) are after a little tea money.

Possibly, seems a bit odd to me.

Not sure if it is a directive from the local Wat (which is quite prominent), but Government officials wouldn't act on a directive from the Wat would they?

Try these: NCPO Thai government. 24 hour Call Center 1111 http://www.1111.go.th/

Alcohol is available where I am in a northern province, I do know that the main area set up for the Songkran main activities have banned alcohol sales but otherwise it is a normal day here and will be during the rest of the holiday. It sounds like they are trying to squeeze some money out of your poor MIL. This is not an official Buddhist holiday so they have no rights to stop her selling unless she is in a designated no selling zone near a Songkran activity site.

Even when sales are prohibited in the like of bars,shops, disguise is utilised as in drink beer from cup or bottles placed in buckets etc,c'mon i seen it done it got the tee shirt,and will do again lol.

Alcohol not being banned at my local 7-11. Lucky me.

Well down here in Songkhla in the south of Thailand all Alcohol has been removed for sale from all Shops , Restaurants and Bars , Last night I went into 7/11 and everything was removed for how long I dont know but Songran without Alcohol its going to be a very slow day .

I also noticed while on train a few weeks ago going from Bangkok to Hat Yai that you can no longer buy Alcohol due to killing on the train a few months ago , Business is bad all over let alone putting in place all these bans as we all know people will just but there booz in coffee mugs .

So I wonder when they will start selling beer in the south again because Songran in Songkhla is only one day but in the north its about a week .

they just have time restrictions in Pattaya 7-11 - can still get it between certain hours