Thailand-
Thailand is actively considering amendments to its alcohol control laws for the upcoming year. The Thai Ministry of Public Health has announced that the Alcoholic Beverage Control Bill is set to be submitted to parliament in January 2025. This bill aims to align Thailand’s alcohol regulations with global norms but with a strong focus on public health and safety.
Key points of the proposed changes include:
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Sales Hours: There is a clear intention not to allow 24-hour alcohol sales. Instead, specific regulations will determine the allowable hours for sales, potentially adjusting the current restriction on afternoon sales between 2pm and 5pm to more international standards. The 2PM to 5PM ban has been criticized for many years, especially in tourism destinations, and many lawmakers have sought to remove the decades old law for some time now, TPN Media notes. Hours will likely be adjusted by area and not by any national standards, allowing greater adjustments for tourism areas versus quiet residential areas.
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Public Health and Safety: The new laws emphasize strict enforcement to prevent underage access, including the formation of provincial alcohol control committees. There’s also a push to ban ‘drinking games’ due to health and legal risks they pose. It’s not completely clear what this means but could potentially endanger popular bar drinking games like connect four or jackpot if it seems to be connected to doing shots or more drinks. Feedback on social media around this proposal is nearly universally negative, with many claiming it would be an unenforceable law and some concerned it could affect pool or darts.
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Drink-Driving Prevention: Advocacy groups and public health officials are concerned about the impact of alcohol on road safety. There’s a current campaign aimed at reducing drink-driving during peak times like the New Year, with new policies potentially aiming to curb the 34% of fatal accidents linked to alcohol consumption during the last New Year’s celebration.
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Public and Political Support: The proposal has garnered attention from various sectors, including health advocacy groups and political parties. For instance, anti-alcohol advocacy groups have supported the move for stricter controls, while some political entities like the Move Forward Party have proposed bills in the past to ease restrictions for local producers but keep public health in mind.
The final decisions will likely involve significant debate and adjustments based on public feedback, political negotiations, and expert recommendations. TPN media notes that these are proposals and by no means guaranteed to pass as law.
Photos are recent stock photos of Jomtien, Thailand, from TPN Media.
