Additionally, customers will be able to finish their drinks for another hour after midnight. These new rules will be in effect for 180 days.
The ban on alcohol sales from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM was introduced in Thailand in 1972. The government at that time explained this by concerns that civil servants might drink during working hours, and students right after classes.
The decision to temporarily lift this restriction was made in early November, and the new rules came into effect today, ahead of the winter holidays when the country sees a surge in tourists.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the level of alcohol consumption in Thailand is higher than in other Asian countries. From 2019 to 2023, nearly 33,000 people died as a result of alcohol-related traffic accidents, according to the Ministry of Health of Thailand.
