'Outdated' 2-5pm booze ban faces fresh opposition
by Chairith Yonpiam
February 11, 2025
Hotels and businesses that sell alcohol on Monday called on the government to lift the ban on the sale of alcoholic beverages from 2pm to 5pm, saying the prohibition is outdated.
Such calls come while a bill amending the alcohol beverages control law is in line to next enter its second and third readings in the House of Representatives. The draft amendment has already been scrutinised and approved by the House's special committee vetting it.
The 2pm to 5pm alcohol sale ban was introduced in 1972 to prevent civil servants from drinking alcohol while working, said Kawee Sakawee, chairman of the Thai Alcohol Beverage Business Association (Tabba).
It's about time to change this more than five decade old regulation, he said.
"While Thai people might be familiar with the ban and have no problems with buying alcohol outside of the prohibited period, foreigners visiting Thailand might not be prepared to compromise on their relaxation time upon arriving here," Mr Kawee said.
The alcohol beverages industry has generated around 600 billion baht a year in income and pays about 150 billion baht in revenue to the government, he said.
Responding to concerns raised over the possibility of lifting the alcohol sale ban resulting in negative consequences, including a rise in drink-driving incidents, Mr Kawee said he fully supports strict law enforcement against driving under the influence, which should help foster responsible drinkers in Thai society.
Thienprasit Chaiyapatranun, president of the Thai Hotels Association, said the association continues to receive many complaints from hotel guests over the alcohol sales ban.
"The government's policy and campaigns for attracting more tourists into the country deserve credit, but outdated regulations which are no longer practical or suitable to the current social context, such as the 2-5pm alcohol sales ban, should be cancelled," he said.
A study has found that European tourists who visit a country in Asia typically set aside about US$250 (8,475 baht) per person for food and beverages per day, he said, adding if Thailand lifts the alcohol sales ban, the country will have a better chance of earning more tourist dollars.
"If the government decides to lift the ban now, not only hotels and large restaurants will benefit but also the many small eateries and bars," said Praphawi Hemathat, secretary-general to the Craft Beer Trade Association (Thailand).
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... opposition
2pm - 5pm controversial liquor sales ban - back in the news
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Gaybutton
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Re: 2pm - 5pm controversial liquor sales ban - back in the news
One of the justifications for the 2pm - 5pm prohibition of alcohol sales has been to prevent underage kids from getting their hands on alcohol. Does anyone actually believe that kids who want alcohol will have any problem getting it, no matter what kinds of restrictions are in place? Who are they kidding? Are they really that naive? These same kids also have no problem getting illegal drugs.
I'm glad to see the Prime Minister using common sense to "review" these absurd restrictions. I think we will soon see an end to the restrictions.
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Thai PM Orders Review of Alcohol Sale Restrictions, Including Afternoon Alcohol Sales Ban, to Boost Tourism
By Kittisak Phalaharn
12 February, 2025
At 11:50 AM on February 11th, 2025, Thai PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra announced after a Cabinet meeting that the government will review legal restrictions on alcohol sales following multiple complaints from business and tourism sectors.
The review aims to align regulations with Thailand’s Amazing Thailand Grand Tourism and Sports Year 2025 campaign.
Key areas under review include the ban on alcohol sales from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM, restrictions on Buddhist holidays, online sales prohibitions, and zoning regulations. Some of these laws date back decades or were introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
PM Paetongtarn stressed the importance of balancing economic benefits with public safety, particularly preventing underage access to alcohol. She acknowledged concerns that restrictions on Buddhist holidays may inconvenience foreign tourists unfamiliar with local customs.
The review follows a petition from the Thai Alcohol Beverage Business Association, led by Kawee Sakawee, urging the government to lift the afternoon sales ban and allow regulated online alcohol sales. The group argued that the current laws hurt businesses, tourism, and Thailand’s global competitiveness.
Business representatives expressed appreciation for the government’s willingness to modernize regulations and pledged to support responsible consumption initiatives.
https://tpnnational.com/2025/02/12/thai ... t-tourism/
I'm glad to see the Prime Minister using common sense to "review" these absurd restrictions. I think we will soon see an end to the restrictions.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Thai PM Orders Review of Alcohol Sale Restrictions, Including Afternoon Alcohol Sales Ban, to Boost Tourism
By Kittisak Phalaharn
12 February, 2025
At 11:50 AM on February 11th, 2025, Thai PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra announced after a Cabinet meeting that the government will review legal restrictions on alcohol sales following multiple complaints from business and tourism sectors.
The review aims to align regulations with Thailand’s Amazing Thailand Grand Tourism and Sports Year 2025 campaign.
Key areas under review include the ban on alcohol sales from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM, restrictions on Buddhist holidays, online sales prohibitions, and zoning regulations. Some of these laws date back decades or were introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
PM Paetongtarn stressed the importance of balancing economic benefits with public safety, particularly preventing underage access to alcohol. She acknowledged concerns that restrictions on Buddhist holidays may inconvenience foreign tourists unfamiliar with local customs.
The review follows a petition from the Thai Alcohol Beverage Business Association, led by Kawee Sakawee, urging the government to lift the afternoon sales ban and allow regulated online alcohol sales. The group argued that the current laws hurt businesses, tourism, and Thailand’s global competitiveness.
Business representatives expressed appreciation for the government’s willingness to modernize regulations and pledged to support responsible consumption initiatives.
https://tpnnational.com/2025/02/12/thai ... t-tourism/
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Gaybutton
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Re: 2pm - 5pm controversial liquor sales ban - back in the news
Personally I am in favor of lifting the 2pm to 5pm alcohol sales ban, a ban I think is absurd, but I am not in favor of letting things go too far. I see no need whatsoever of selling booze on railway trains - and I have never seen a need for it on airplanes either. Then again, I am not a drinker myself - I almost never drink and there is no alcohol in my house except for a bottle of wine which I use for cooking, so I can fully understand why others may disagree with my opinion.
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Bid to end booze ban still in play
February 18, 2025
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) is set to propose lifting a ban on alcohol sales on trains at a meeting of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Committee on Friday, according to a source familiar with the matter.
At the last meeting, the committee under the Public Health Ministry rejected a proposal to allow the sale of alcohol on trains at certain times.
Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin, who chairs the committee, said that the proposal had not been adopted after a study found it could do more harm than good. However, the source said that the SRT is not giving up and plans to resubmit the proposal on Friday.
"The SRT will ask the committee to consider making exemptions for the ban … in train stations or on trains to promote local tourism, particularly for tourist train services," said the source.
Dr Udomsak Sae-Ngow, a researcher at the Centre of Alcohol Studies (CAS), said that a previous opinion poll had found that most people disagreed with lifting the ban on alcohol sales on trains.
The poll, which was conducted in August last year on 3,055 train passengers at 25 train stations across the country, showed that 80% of occasional drinkers and 67% of regular drinkers did not support the proposal.
Their main concerns involved travel safety, public annoyance and the risk of sexual harassment, with 86% of the respondents recalling the rape and murder of a 13-year-old passenger on a train in 2017, according to Dr Udomsak.
He said that incident had resulted in the current ban.
Thirapat Khahawong, coordinator of a network seeking to prevent the negative impacts of alcohol, called on the committee to prioritise public health over the interests of the alcohol industry. He also expressed disappointment with the government for relying on alcohol consumption to stimulate the economy despite its negative effects on society.
Last week, hotels and businesses that sell alcohol called on the government to lift the 2-5pm alcohol sales ban, introduced in 1972 to prevent civil servants from drinking alcohol while working, saying it is outdated.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... ll-in-play
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Bid to end booze ban still in play
February 18, 2025
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) is set to propose lifting a ban on alcohol sales on trains at a meeting of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Committee on Friday, according to a source familiar with the matter.
At the last meeting, the committee under the Public Health Ministry rejected a proposal to allow the sale of alcohol on trains at certain times.
Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin, who chairs the committee, said that the proposal had not been adopted after a study found it could do more harm than good. However, the source said that the SRT is not giving up and plans to resubmit the proposal on Friday.
"The SRT will ask the committee to consider making exemptions for the ban … in train stations or on trains to promote local tourism, particularly for tourist train services," said the source.
Dr Udomsak Sae-Ngow, a researcher at the Centre of Alcohol Studies (CAS), said that a previous opinion poll had found that most people disagreed with lifting the ban on alcohol sales on trains.
The poll, which was conducted in August last year on 3,055 train passengers at 25 train stations across the country, showed that 80% of occasional drinkers and 67% of regular drinkers did not support the proposal.
Their main concerns involved travel safety, public annoyance and the risk of sexual harassment, with 86% of the respondents recalling the rape and murder of a 13-year-old passenger on a train in 2017, according to Dr Udomsak.
He said that incident had resulted in the current ban.
Thirapat Khahawong, coordinator of a network seeking to prevent the negative impacts of alcohol, called on the committee to prioritise public health over the interests of the alcohol industry. He also expressed disappointment with the government for relying on alcohol consumption to stimulate the economy despite its negative effects on society.
Last week, hotels and businesses that sell alcohol called on the government to lift the 2-5pm alcohol sales ban, introduced in 1972 to prevent civil servants from drinking alcohol while working, saying it is outdated.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... ll-in-play