What changes to alcohol sales were introduced in Thailand in November 2025?
Insider's Response
The Thai authorities decided to tighten alcohol sales regulations but then lifted the restrictions just a few days later. Moreover, there is a possibility that the rules may even be relaxed. Let’s break it down.
For a long time (since 1972), alcohol sales in Thailand were allowed only from 11:00 to 14:00 and from 17:00 to 00:00. From 14:00 to 17:00, buying alcohol was prohibited. During these hours, supermarket shelves with beer, wine, and spirits were closed.
In November, media outlets began spreading information that the Thai government was introducing fines starting from 10,000 baht even for simply holding alcohol between 14:00 and 17:00.
This caused a wave of outrage among representatives of the tourism industry, who began losing revenue. After numerous complaints, the authorities canceled the ban on alcohol sales from 14:00 to 17:00. Public hearings on this matter will continue until November 29, after which the changes will take effect.
These measures will be tested for six months before becoming law. The authorities will monitor the economic, medical, and social impact of the new rules and then make a final decision.
We wrote more about this in the article Alcohol Reform 2025 in Thailand: Is Everything Allowed Now?
Let’s follow the situation together.