Thailand’s National Alcohol Policy Committee has unanimously approved the repeal of a longstanding prohibition on alcohol sales during afternoon hours. The decision, announced late Thursday following a marathon three-hour meeting, scraps the ban on selling alcoholic beverages between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m., a restriction dating back to 1972 when it was imposed by the Revolutionary Council to curb civil servants’ drinking during work hours. However, it won’t be immediate…read on.
Chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Sophon Saram, the committee cited the need to stimulate consumer spending during key holiday periods, including New Year’s and Songkran, as the primary rationale. “Many are concerned about the upcoming tourism festivals; if we enforce the old law rigidly, it could deter visitors and dampen domestic spending,” Sophon told reporters at Government House. The policy shift aligns with the government’s designation of 2026 as the “Year of Tourism,” a campaign already marred by a slowdown in international arrivals—down roughly 5% year-over-year through October, according to preliminary Tourism and Sports Ministry data.
The ban, enshrined in the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act, has long been a point of contention for the hospitality industry, which contributes about 20% to Thailand’s GDP. Restaurant and bar owners have lobbied for decades for its removal, arguing recently that it stifles afternoon trade in a sector already reeling from post-pandemic recovery challenges and stricter enforcement under a new alcohol control law that took effect in September. Industry leaders, including the Thai Restaurant Association, hailed the decision as a “long-overdue lifeline,” estimating it could boost sales by 20-25% during peak hours previously deemed “dead time” for alcohol service.
Public Health Minister Pattana Promphat, who attended the meeting, discussed about a balanced approach. As for later drinking hours past midnight, the committee also greenlit a separate six-month pilot program starting in early December to extend drinking hours at select entertainment venues not in entertainment zones until 1 a.m., pending further evaluation on road safety impacts. “We’ve weighed economic benefits against public health risks, drawing on scientific models to find a middle ground,” Pattana said, noting that extending hours to 4 a.m. in pilot tourist hotspots like Bangkok and Phuket had previously correlated with spikes in alcohol-related accidents. That being said, current entertainment zones with 4 AM exceptions, like parts of Pattaya and Phuket, WILL NOT CHANGE to earlier hours and will remain the same, ending speculation they would be forced to stop serving alcohol at midnight again after a long and hard battle for the longer hours last year.
Additionally, the panel agreed to review zoning regulations for alcohol outlets near schools and temples, clarifying whether buffer zones should be measured from building entrances or perimeter fences—a tweak long sought by businesses to reduce compliance ambiguities.
The new rules bypass Cabinet approval and will take effect 15 days after a mandatory public consultation period, with the Prime Minister’s Office issuing the formal announcement. This streamlined process, enabled by the committee’s statutory authority, marks a rare fast-track for alcohol policy reforms in a country where Buddhist precepts traditionally discourage intoxicants.
Critics, including public health advocates, expressed cautious optimism but warned of potential overindulgence. Dr. Kamon Unchusak, a committee advisor, urged provincial oversight committees—chaired by governors—to monitor compliance and underage access, especially in high-traffic areas like international airports and beach resorts where exemptions already apply on Buddhist holidays. However, some anti alcohol groups have already said they plan to protest against the removal of the law, citing it allegedly saving lives.
Thailand’s alcohol market, valued at over 200 billion baht ($6 billion) annually, has seen incremental liberalizations this year, including eased advertising curbs and online sales pilots. Yet, with global competitors like Vietnam and Bali ramping up nightlife offerings, officials hope this afternoon thaw will help reclaim Thailand’s edge as Southeast Asia’s premier party destination—without tipping into excess.
For the original version of this article, please visit The Pattaya News.
