Thailand has relaxed its decades-old alcohol sales restrictions, allowing consumers to buy wine, beer, and spirits during previously prohibited afternoon hours in a six-month trial, officials announced Wednesday.
The Southeast Asian nation, predominantly Buddhist, has long enforced strict alcohol laws, limiting sales to specific hours and banning them on religious holidays. The new rules permit sales from 11:00 a.m. to midnight, replacing the previous ban from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m., while a government committee evaluates the trial’s impact.
“In the past, there were concerns that government employees would sneak out to drink, but it’s a different time now,” Deputy Prime Minister Sophon Saram told reporters last month, explaining the rationale behind reviewing the long-standing restriction.
Health Minister Pattana Promphat described the policy change as “appropriate to the present situation”, according to a statement in the Royal Gazette published Tuesday.
Thailand’s alcohol restrictions are historically rooted in Buddhist teachings, which view drinking as a moral transgression. Despite this, the country remains a tourism and nightlife hub and ranks among Asia’s highest in alcohol consumption, with popular beers including Chang, Singha, and Leo.
Public health concerns persist, particularly regarding road safety. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Thailand ranked 16th globally for road traffic deaths per capita in 2021. Data from the public health ministry show that nearly 33,000 people died in drunk driving incidents from 2019 to 2023.
The government has stressed that the trial will be closely monitored to assess social and health impacts, aiming to balance consumer freedoms, tourism growth, and public safety.
About the Author
