Alcohol restrictions, including the 11:00am-5:00pm sales ban, may soon be lifted

[Gaybutton]

And it's about time! I'm not a drinker, but I've always thought the 11:00-5:00 ban is just ridiculous. I can understand if they continue the alcohol bans on important religious holidays, but even those bans might be lifted.

Part of the article says, "The original ban on afternoon sales was imposed to prevent civil servants from drinking on the job." That's the first time I've heard that one. I was always told it was to prevent school kids from getting their hands on alcohol. Either way, that is bizarre thinking. Does anyone really believe school kids can't get alcohol if they want it? Did they think civil servants never heard of hip flasks?
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Thailand moves to ease curbs on alcohol

House votes to end ban on afternoon sales and advertising, but Senate approval needed

March 20, 2025

The Thai House of Representatives has voted to ease restrictions on alcohol sales and advertising, stepping up a push to liberalise a market seen as likely to spur tourism and support smaller breweries.

Lawmakers on Wednesday passed an amended alcohol control bill, although the legislation still needs approval from the conservative Senate. Among other changes, the bill would revoke an infamous 1972 military government order that bans sales of alcohol anytime before 11 am and again between 2 to 5 pm.

The bill would also soften the country’s very strict rules on advertising to allow the promotion of alcoholic drinks. The law currently bans the display of names or trademarks of alcoholic drinks, or the use of pictures of such products for promotional purposes, making it difficult for small businesses to gain greater visibility.

The amendments are aimed at relaxing “unreasonable control” to stimulate economic activity, said People’s Party MP Chanin Rungtanakiat, a deputy head of the house committee in charge of steering the bill.

The original ban on afternoon sales was imposed to prevent civil servants from drinking on the job.

The move comes amid a loosening of control over the booze market, which has long been a duopoly held by Singapore-listed Thai Beverage Plc and Boon Rawd Brewery Co. Earlier this year, lawmakers also passed a bill to promote liquor production by microbreweries and small distilleries.

Thailand is a major tourist destination and is taking a number of steps to boost its attractiveness. It is the only country in Asia with legal cannabis, and is also planning to legalise casinos.

The government will be reviewing a number of restrictions on alcohol that may pose issues for tourism, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said last month. These included the ban on sales of alcoholic beverages on Buddhist holy days and via online channels.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... on-alcohol

[Jun]

And it's about time! I'm not a drinker, but I've always thought the 11:00-5:00 ban is just ridiculous.

It is ridiculous, but other than people stocking up in the supermarkets, I suspect it would make very little difference to us.

Walk through Boyztown at about 5:30pm. Panorama & perhaps one or two other bars will be open, with almost no customers. Keep walking and just outside Boyztown, the first straight bar will have at least half a dozen customers.

And whilst I'm thinking about it, some of the girly bars in the sois further up the beach will be doing a roaring trade by about 3:30 pm. The gay community seems to have less interest in all day drinking.

[Gaybutton]

The gay community seems to have less interest in all day drinking.

For me that's not the point. The point is some of the rules and regulations Thailand's powers-that-be come up with are so utterly asinine that it amazes me that whoever comes up with them is not laughed out of the room when proposing it.

Rules that never should have been put in place to start with ought to be abolished. If they want a suggestion for the next useless rule to get rid of, how about the 90-day address report? I doubt anyone is making tea money with that one . . .

[gerefan]

It’s quite the opposite in the rest of the alcohol world. All bars are open at lunch times!
What the fu** were they thinking about?

[Jun]

For me that's not the point. The point is some of the rules and regulations Thailand's powers-that-be come up with are so utterly asinine that it amazes me that whoever comes up with them is not laughed out of the room when proposing it.
Rules that never should have been put in place to start with ought to be abolished. If they want a suggestion for the next useless rule to get rid of, how about the 90-day address report? I doubt anyone is making tea money with that one . . .

No doubt both are stupid rules.
Whilst we're at it, I still don't see any purpose at all to the "re-entry" permit that some of you are supposed to get if leaving Thailand & intending to return.

[KeithAmbrose]

The ban is not 11am to 5pm! It's before 11am, and between 2pm and 5pm.

[Gaybutton]

The ban is not 11am to 5pm! It's before 11am, and between 2pm and 5pm.

You're right. I said it wrong. Whoops!

[2lz2p]

Part of the article says, "The original ban on afternoon sales was imposed to prevent civil servants from drinking on the job." That's the first time I've heard that one. I was always told it was to prevent school kids from getting their hands on alcohol. Either way, that is bizarre thinking. Does anyone really believe school kids can't get alcohol if they want it? Did they think civil servants never heard of hip flasks?

Like GB, the school kids purpose was the reason I heard. I always thought that was a bit funny since the non alcohol sales hours were before 11am and from 2pm to 5pm - all times when the kids should be in school. Whereas the sales hours were during what would be their lunch period and after they got out of school.

As to the civil servants, they could also just keep a bottle in a desk drawer to take a nip when they wanted.

[Gaybutton]

As to the civil servants, they could also just keep a bottle in a desk drawer to take a nip when they wanted.

And with most I meet, if they are, how can you tell . . . ?