The strange afternoon drinking ban in Thailand has been lifted. Starting from Wednesday, locals and tourists can now buy beer, wine, and spirits during the earlier ban hours.
The government, for the next six months, is testing out this change on a trial basis. They’ll see how things go for 180 days before deciding if they want to keep it this way or make any adjustments.
What Actually Changed
Thailand used to follow a weird afternoon alcohol ban rule that applied from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. During this period, liquor stores were not allowed to sell alcohol.
But now with this new law, locals and tourists can freely pick up alcohol drinks from 11 in the morning all the way until midnight.
The Thai government made it official by putting it in the Royal Gazette on Tuesday. It’s an update to the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act, which sounds fancy. Still, it means the law that controls when and where you can buy drinks.
Also, there is one interesting thing: while shops stop selling at midnight, people who are already at bars and clubs can keep drinking until 1 a.m. So you’ve got that extra hour to finish your drinks if you’re already out.
Why Did The Ban Even Exist
The afternoon alcohol ban started back in 1972, during a time when the military was ruling the country. But nobody remembers why the rule was put in place.
Many say Thailand is a Buddhist country, and Buddhism teaches people to avoid getting drunk or using substances that mess with their minds. But the reality is that drinking is pretty common there anyway.
The Gray Area
If you’ve ever been to Thailand, this rule wasn’t exactly followed everywhere. It was more like a gray area that some used to follow, and some did not.
Like Airports could sell alcohol whenever they wanted, there were some hotels and bars that had special permission too.
Small shops and restaurants would often do under-the-counter sales if you asked nicely. Plus, it was a good opportunity to earn some extra bucks.
It was one of those rules that existed on paper but didn’t always match what was happening in real life.
Why Make This Change Now
Thailand hasn’t fully gotten out of the coronavirus effect. They are hoping this will give their tourism industry a nice boost, especially with the holiday season coming up.
Tourists bring in a lot of money, and making it easier for them to grab a drink when they want could make the country more appealing.
Plus, it’s just good news for businesses. Bars, restaurants, and convenience stores can now make sales during hours that were previously dead time. That’s more money in their pockets and potentially more jobs, too.
What About Safety Concerns
Not everyone was thrilled about this change when they were talking about it. Some people worried that making alcohol available for more hours each day might lead to more drunk driving problems.
It’s a fair concern. Thailand already has issues with traffic accidents, and adding more drinking hours could make things worse. That’s one of the main things they’ll be watching during this 180-day trial period.
The government will need to balance the economic benefits against any safety issues that pop up. If drunk driving incidents spike or other problems come up, they might need to rethink the whole thing.
