Thai News

Thailand has temporarily lifted a decades-old ban on the sale of alcoholic drinks in the afternoons as it seeks to boost tourism.

Liquor stores, restaurants and other accredited establishments can now sell beer, wine and spirits from 14:00 to 17:00 as part of a six-month trial.

The move comes just days ahead of Christmas and the New Year holiday, both peak seasons for tourist arrivals.

Alcohol sales in the country are now allowed from 11:00 to midnight for the next 180 days while a committee studies its impact.

The impetus for change started when it was announced that drinkers rather than bar owners would be punished for out of hours drinking. The fine was set at 20,00 Baht (£235). It was feared that tourists would stay away rather than risk being arrested for crimes they couldn't possibly be expected to know the details of. Its a nightmare to tangle with the police in Thailand as there is a significant risk of being taken to the cleaners by corrupt people in the law enforcement system.

Drinkers face hefty fines from 8 November under new amendments to the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act, which strengthen restrictions on hours of alcohol sales. Individuals caught drinking or being served alcohol between 2pm and 5pm, or from midnight to 11am, could face penalties of 10,000 baht or more.  Of course it is not as simple as that, both the location (eg undefined entertainment zones) and premises type (eg restaurant/bar) have an impact too.

The law, first enacted in 1972 to restrict alcohol sales between 2pm and 5pm at most retail outlets and supermarkets, has now been updated to shift responsibility from sellers to consumers. Although licensed entertainment venues, hotels, certified tourist establishments and international airports are exempt, customers themselves are now liable for violations. Authorities say the move is aimed at curbing excessive drinking and promoting public order, though critics argue it will damage the hospitality sector.

Restaurant owners have voiced concerns that the legislation will harm their businesses. Thai Restaurant Association president Mr Chanon Koetcharoen said the restrictions will impede growth because customers are now directly penalised. He cited an example where a customer who buys a beer before 2pm but continues drinking after the cutoff could be fined under Section 32. This will impede the growth of the restaurant industry, said Mr Chanon,.

On Bangkoks Khao San Road, known for its nightlife and backpacker crowd, businesses are continuing to serve alcohol throughout the day, despite the restrictions. One assistant manager said sales could halve during the banned hours as customers become more cautious. With the possibility of drinkers themselves being fined, sales of alcohol may halve during those times.

In compliance with the international civil aviation standard regarding the use of standard passenger and baggage weights for weight & balance calculation purposes, the conducting of a standard weights survey is essential to the safety and efficiency of a flight in determining that the actual weight does not exceed the maximum take-off weight limitation. From 15 September to 31 October 2023, we would like to collect the information by weighing passenger including carry-on baggage at the boarding gate.

Therefore, we assure that the information will be kept confidential and will be used to update standard passenger and baggage weights information.