Thailand on Tuesday finally lifted a five-decade ban on the sale of alcohol in the afternoon, just in time for the New Year holiday.
New regulations to lift the ban for a six-month trial period were published in the Royal Gazette by Public Health Minister Patna Promft.
It will run on a 180-day trial until the end of May 2026, during which officials will look at road accidents, hospital admissions and overall consumption before deciding whether to make the relaxation permanent.
According to a statement in the Royal Gazette, Mr Pattana said the move was “appropriate to the current situation”.
The Buddhist-majority country has banned the sale of alcoholic beverages before 11 a.m. and between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. The 20th Century Act – first introduced in the 1970s amid martial law – was formalized in 2008 to prevent public servants from drinking alcohol during the workday.
That changed after the country’s National Alcohol Policy and Liquor Control Committee proposed ending the ban in November after years of demand and pressure from the tourism and hospitality sectors.
The decision to lift the ban was made as a 180-day trial to stimulate the economy.
The decision follows intense lobbying by the tourism and hospitality industry, which argued that the afternoon restrictions had become a major disincentive for foreign visitors and hurt Thailand’s competitiveness against neighbors such as Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia.
The 15-day mandatory public hearing process to gather opinions on lifting the ban has ended, Deputy Prime Minister Soufon Zaroon said on Tuesday. Bangkok post.
However, he said not every shop could apply the new regulations and acknowledged there had been widespread misunderstandings. Only registered establishments, including grocery stores, will be allowed to sell alcohol between 2 and 5 p.m., he said.
The relaxation means tourists and locals can now buy beer, wine and spirits from shops and supermarkets continuously from 11am to midnight every day, with no afternoon blackout.
Drinking on premises, restaurants and bars etc is allowed until 1am, although sales must stop between midnight and 11am.
While reviewing the ban last month, the deputy prime minister said there had been concerns in the past about civil servants sneaking out to drink during working hours but “it’s a different time now”.
