BANGKOK — The directive issued by Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra at the cabinet meeting on February 11 is widely discussed in the Thai public. It instructs the relevant authorities to examine the possibility of lifting the ban on alcohol sales between 2 and 5 p.m. and on important Buddhist religious days.
The discussion primarily weighs up the social impact of alcohol control against the economic benefits of relaxing these regulations.
The Prime Minister explained that various sectors of the economy have lodged numerous complaints about the legal restrictions on the sale of alcoholic beverages, which they believe hinder economic revitalization. These restrictions are also seen as incompatible with the government’s promotion of tourism under the “Amazing Thailand Grand Tourism and Sports Year 2025” campaign.
In addition, concerns have been raised about bans on online alcohol sales, territorial restrictions and regulations originally introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Prime Minister has therefore instructed the relevant authorities to review these regulations.
Tourism Benefits vs Social Impact
The Prime Minister stated that the government is trying to balance tourism growth with social responsibility. “This is our tourism year, so we need to review these regulations. While there were no afternoon sales restrictions in the past, we must balance tourism growth with protecting youth from alcohol access,” she said. “Though lifting restrictions can boost business revenue and tourism, we must ensure young people don’t have easy access to alcohol. This is something we will not overlook.”
Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul stated that the Prime Minister has instructed the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Tourism and Sports to investigate this issue. As for the role of the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Department of Provincial Administration will oversee the overall framework, especially the zoning laws, which have been in place for a long time and need to be amended.
However, amending the zoning laws would also require an amendment to the Liquor Control Act, which must be proposed by Cabinet to ensure consistency. In addition, any amendment to the law should provide for stricter penalties.
Business Groups Push for Reform
Earlier, eight business associations from the food and beverage, tourism, hotel, restaurant and service sectors, led by Kawee, president of the Thai Alcohol Beverage Business Association, and Nattachai Ungsriwong, president of the Craft Beer Business Association, sent a letter to the prime minister on February 11.
They argued that the ban on alcohol sales from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. would significantly affect business opportunities and damage the image of Thai tourism.
“For a balanced approach to social and economic considerations, our business network calls on the government to take alternative measures to prevent and tackle irresponsible alcohol consumption. These include strictly enforcing existing laws, such as banning the sale of alcohol to people under 20 or to intoxicated people, and toughening penalties for drunk driving. We also propose to encourage collaboration between the public sector, the private sector and civil society to promote responsible drinking and a culture of service,” said Kawee.
Relaxed Rules Could Generate $1.48B
Thanakorn Kuptajit, former president of the Thai Alcohol Beverage Business Association, explained that the revision of these regulations is in line with the government’s “Tourism as a National Agenda” initiative. The hospitality and entertainment industries, which rely on tourism and leisure activities, inherently include alcohol-related services.
If restrictions on zoning, hours of operation and online sales of alcohol are eased, this could generate more than 50 billion baht ($1.48 billion) in direct economic activity from both foreign tourists and local consumers. During the peak festival season, this could increase to 100 billion baht ($2.95 billion) annually.
“Not only will the food and beverage sector benefit, but related industries such as hotels, entertainment venues, fine dining establishments, casual restaurants, transportation services, waiters and musicians will also see increased employment and revenue. From our discussions with business representatives, they would welcome a relaxation of these measures before the Songkran festival. This would boost commercial activities during this period,” he added.
Alcohol Ban Perplexes Tourists
Lisa Hamilton, president of the Pattaya Nightlife Business Association, explained that the ban on alcohol sales at certain times and on religious holidays has a direct impact on businesses and causes confusion for both operators and tourists.
“On every Buddhist religious day, store owners have to remind each other about the ban on alcohol sales, which significantly affects revenue. If these restrictions are lifted, stores can operate more smoothly. Many foreign tourists find the ban on alcohol sales on religious days confusing and inconvenient for their travel plans. Some have even wondered why the sale of alcohol is banned on certain days, even though they are visiting Thailand to enjoy the nightlife and tourist attractions to the fullest,” she said.
50 Years of Thai Alcohol Rules
The current alcohol sales regulations in Thailand trace back to 1972, when the military government implemented restrictions primarily targeting civil servants’ habit of extended lunch-time drinking. These initial regulations were later consolidated into the comprehensive 2008 Alcohol Control Act.
This law stipulates penalties for violating alcohol sales regulations, including imprisonment for up to 6 months, a fine of 10,000 baht, or both. Purchasers must be at least 20 years old, and sales are prohibited in certain areas under local administrative organization supervision, such as riverbanks, canal sides, and beaches. Violations carry maximum penalties of one year imprisonment, a 500,000 baht fine, or both, with strict enforcement promised.
The current government has begun relaxing some alcohol regulations. As of December 26, 2024, restrictions were lifted for international airport terminals, allowing alcohol sales without observing the five Buddhist holiday restrictions or time constraints. This change was implemented to better align with current circumstances and changing times.
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