If you are planning a trip to Thailand and looking forward to getting a bottle of beer to relax during your holidays, this detailed article about the sale of alcohol in Thailand should be handy. Find detailed information about the legal drinking age, Thailand alcohol sale hours, alcohol ban, and other regulations.
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Legal drinking age in Thailand
The legal drinking age in Thailand is 20 years; therefore, retail sellers and service providers such as bars and restaurants are not allowed to sell alcohol to people under the age of 20.
You might be asked to show a proper document to prove that you are at least 20 years old.
Sellers not complying with this regulation are subject to a fine of up to 20,000 THB, but quite often they might not be taking it too strictly, especially if you are a foreigner and look older.
Thailand alcohol sales hours
Starting from 3 December 2025, Thailand alcohol sales hours are 11:00–24:00, meaning that convenience stores, wine shops, and other retailers are not permitted to sell alcoholic beverages outside these hours.
For a long time, Thailand alcohol sales hours were 11:00–14:00 and 17:00–24:00, with a three-hour afternoon ban. After the latest update published in the Royal Gazette on 2 December 2025, registered outlets can now sell alcoholic beverages during the previously banned period of 14:00 to 17:00. However, the removal of the three-hour afternoon ban has a trial period of 180 days, during which the impact of the change will be assessed.
However, alcoholic beverages can be sold in Thailand at other times by the shops located in the international airport building and by the service places (bars, restaurants, nightclubs) in accordance with the opening and closing schedule of the service place that is confirmed by authorities.
Starting from 27 June 2025, outside the above-mentioned hours, alcoholic beverages can also be sold in hotels. Previously, the exceptions were applied only for airport terminals and entertainment venues.
In short, you won’t be able to buy alcoholic beverages from 00:00 to 11:00 at convenience stores like 7-Eleven, Family Mart, Lotus’s, Big C, and other shops, but you can get a drink at the bar during this time frame, if only it’s open.
Convenience stores usually make it very clear that alcoholic beverages are not sold at that time.
Some local shops might still sell you drinks outside the official alcohol sale hours, especially if they know you. However, people selling alcohol in violation of this requirement are liable to a fine of up to 10,000 THB or even imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months, so be understanding if they won’t be willing to risk it.
Alcohol ban in Thailand
In addition to the restricted alcohol sale hours mentioned above, there’s an alcohol sales ban in Thailand several days a year. Thailand's alcohol sales ban is imposed on important religious days and during the election.
Alcohol sales ban during Buddhist holidays
Alcoholic beverages are not allowed to be sold on 5 important Buddhist holidays in Thailand:
- Makha Bucha Day - the first major Buddhist festival of the year, which takes place on a full moon day on the third lunar month (in February or March).
- Visakha Bucha Day – the day that falls on the full moon of the sixth month of the lunar year (is generally celebrated in May or June).
- Asahna Bucha Day – the day that falls on the full moon of the eighth lunar month (is celebrated in July or at the very start of August).
- Buddhist Lent Day (Khao Phansa) - the day marking the beginning of the three-lunar-month period, during which all monks should stay in their temples and not travel, that is celebrated the next day after Asahna Bucha, making it 2 days in a row with no alcohol sales in Thailand.
- The End of the Buddhist Lent (Maha Pavarana Day) - the day 3 months after the Buddhist Lent, and it falls on the 15th day of the waxing moon of the eleventh month of the lunar year (usually October).
Alcoholic beverages are not allowed to be sold from 00:00 to 24:00 on any of the listed Buddhist days.
Exceptions to Thailand's alcohol sales ban
According to an announcement published on the Royal Gazette website on 9 May 2025, the amendment to the Thailand alcohol ban rules was made. While in general the sale of alcoholic beverages remains prohibited on the above-mentioned Buddhist holidays, there are now exceptions on alcohol sales at:
- International airport terminals
- Entertainment venues
- Establishments located within designated tourism areas
- Hotels
- Venues hosting special events attended by large crowds.
It means that during the most important Buddhist holidays, you still can't buy alcohol at the supermarket, but you are now allowed to enjoy a glass of beer at a bar or your hotel. This update also impacts the schedule of the Full Moon Party, as the exception to the Thailand alcohol ban lets parties in all months take place on the actual night of the full moon.
Thailand's alcohol sales ban during elections
In Thailand, an alcohol sales ban is also placed during the election of members of the House of Representatives and senators.
During the election, sale of alcoholic beverages is prohibited between 18:00 on the day before election day until the end of the election, which is normally 18:00 of the election day.
Other Thailand alcohol sale restrictions
Not only are Thailand alcohol hours restricted, but there are also prohibited alcohol sales and drinking places as well as restricted alcohol sale practices and buyers set by the government in Thailand.
Prohibited alcohol drinking places and areas in Thailand
According to Thai law, you shouldn’t drink alcohol at or within the following places or areas:
- a temple or any place of worship, except where drinking thereof is a part of worship;
- a state public health service unit, sanatorium under the law on sanitaria and pharmacy under the law on drugs, except the area designated as the living area of an individual;
- a public office, except the area designated as the living area of an individual or for the establishment of a club or in the case of a convention banquet;
- an educational institution under the law on national education, except the area designated as the living area of an individual or club or in the case of a convention banquet or educational institution providing the course relevant to the mixing of alcohol that is permissible under the law on national education;
- a petrol station under the law on fuel oil control or a shop within a petrol station;
- a public park provided by the government for public recreation;
- other places notified by the minister with advice from the committee.
Violators of this restriction are liable to a fine up to 10,000 THB or even to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months.
Normally, in such places, you should notice a sign warning that drinking alcohol is not permitted.
Restricted alcohol buyers in Thailand
According to Thai law, alcohol shouldn’t be sold to the following persons:
- a person under twenty years of age;
- a person who is drunk and becomes insensible because of being drunk.
Prohibited alcohol sale practices in Thailand
According to Thai law, alcohol shouldn’t be sold through the following practices or manners:
- using an automatic vending machine;
- hawking;
- providing a discount as a sale promotion;
- giving or offering the right to attend a competition or performance, to provide services, or to join a lucky draw; or by giving or offering other benefits to a buyer of alcohol, or a person who brings a package, a label, or any other thing related to alcohol, to exchange or trade for alcohol;
- dispersing, providing, giving, or exchanging with alcohol or any goods or services, as the case may be, or distributing alcohol in the form of samples or in order to promote alcohol consumption by the public, including the determination of sale conditions as compulsory buying, whether in a direct or indirect manner, of alcohol;
- any other practice or manner notified by the minister with the advice of the committee.
Prohibited alcohol sale places and areas in Thailand
In Thailand, alcoholic beverages cannot be sold in places such as temples or religious places, nursing homes, government agencies, dormitories, schools, fuel stations, parks, factories, bus stations, public passenger piers, railway stations, national parks, etc.
According to Thai law, the selling of alcohol at or within the following places or areas is prohibited:
- a temple or any place of worship;
- a state public health service unit, a sanatorium under the law on sanitaria, and pharmacy under the law on drugs;
- a public office, except the area designated for the establishment of a shop or club;
- a dormitory under the law on dormitories;
- an educational institution under the law on national education;
- a petrol station under the law on fuel oil control or a shop within a petrol station;
- a public park provided by the government for public recreation;
- other places notified by the minister with the approval of the committee.
Tips
Thai beer is the most popular alcoholic drink in Thailand. There are a number of local beer brands that you can try in Thailand, and the 3 major beer brands, Singha, Leo, and Chang, are present all over the country. Find an introduction to the most popular Thai beers and beer prices here: Thai Beer.
Experience Bangkok after dark on a food tour by tuk-tuk. Explore the city's street food neighborhoods to discover secret landmarks and local favorites as well as try Thai alcoholic drinks in late hours.
