It is illegal to sell alcohol between the hours of 2pm and 5pm…. unless you are at a restaurant…. or if you are in a ‘tourist’ zone… – but there could be fines… but not by the local police force…
There have been so many changes and competing stories, it gives a little Alcohol Law Reform Whiplash.
Alcohol Law Reform Whiplash Timeline
Using screenshots from Bangkok Post Facebook:
- October 23rd – Government looks to ease afternoon drinking laws
- November 9th – news of increased fines and laws for drinkers breaking the afternoon prohibition.
- November 12th (approx) – public and businesses respond to confusion about the law and what it means to tourism.
- November 13th – Government responds to public outcry, that laws are under review
- November 14th – National Alcohol Policy Committee has agreed to scrap the long-standing ban on the sale of alcoholic beverages between 2pm and 5pm
- to take affect in 15 days
More info from BK Magazine
'After 53 years, authorities finally set to scrap Thailand’s 2-5pm booze prohibition'
- 14 November, 2025 Bangkok time
- BK Magazine.com
“The archaic 1972 drinking hours law was meant to discourage office workers from having long, drunken lunches (which sound brilliant, by the way), but rather than abolition, the revised Alcohol Control Act earlier this week kept the strange prohibition hours and allowed drinkers to be fined as well as sellers.
This sparked backlash across sectors from tourism to breweries. But, despite all the column inches the world over, the government is walking this back a week after the original changes.
This isn’t the first time the death of the 2-5pm rule has been promised, but it’s looking official. The Prime Minister can make the change without cabinet approval with a 15-day public hearing, after which it will take effect.”