Bangkok
AP
—
Thailand on Wednesday lifted a 53-year-old ban on the retail sale of alcoholic beverages in the afternoon. This is expected to boost year-end tourists and business at stores such as bars and convenience stores.
The ban from 2pm to 5pm will be lifted on a trial basis for 180 days, after which its effectiveness will be evaluated.
The ban on the sale of beer, spirits and wine in the afternoon was enacted in 1972 when Thailand was under military rule, but the original reasons for the measure are now unknown. Thailand is predominantly Buddhist, and although drinking alcohol is common, the religion prohibits the consumption of intoxicants.
Consumers will now be allowed to buy such drinks from 11am to midnight, according to draft amendments to the Alcoholic Beverages Control Act, which were officially published in the Royal Gazette on Tuesday. Sales end at midnight, but Night City customers can continue drinking until 1 a.m.
While this change was being considered, there were concerns that extending drinking into later hours could worsen the drink-driving problem.
The sale of alcoholic beverages in the afternoon is often a gray area, with exceptions made at airports, some entertainment venues and hotels. Enforcement varied by region, with small shops and restaurants often offering over-the-counter sales.
During the coronavirus pandemic, blanket bans on alcohol sales were temporarily imposed in many regions to slow the spread of the virus.
