Impact on tourism acknowledged, income restrictions on sacred time could also be reviewed
PUBLISHED: 11 Feb 2025 at 16: 06
Following firm demands from government agencies, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has ordered a review of the restrictions on the sale of alcohol from 2pm to 5pm.
According to Jirayu Houngsub, the excellent secretary ordered a review of the 53-year-old concept to make it more appropriate for the current circumstances.
The Alcoholic Beverage Control Act does not cover the prohibition. It was made known in a decree issued by the Thanom Kittikachorn revolution program in 1972 to address concerns about officials drinking during work hours, and it has never been reversed.
Numerous businesses have urged the government to revoke the moratorium because it is out of date. Their names correspond with legislation to update the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act.  ,
The House of Representatives is scheduled to hold its second and third observations of the document revisions because they have already been approved by a House special commission.
Speaking after the regular case meeting, Ms. Paetongtarn claimed that numerous business organizations had complained that restrictions on the sale of alcoholic beverages were a hindrance to the growth of the nation’s economy.
The prime minister claimed to have contacted the important organizations to inquire about the day restrictions and the restrictions on revenue on Buddhist holy days in order to assess their impact on tourism.
Alcohol sales are prohibited on election times in Thailand, starting the night before polls open.  ,
Regulators have also been asked to review the prohibition on liquor selling through electronic means, the limits on the sale of alcohol in designated areas, some regulations passed during the Covid-19 crisis, and any other regulations passed since 1972.
Ms. Paetongtarn argued that safety must be taken into account in order to stop young people from having simple access to adult beverages.
While people are more intelligent, she said, more attention is needed on who has access to alcohol and where, with a emphasis on younger people. ” Not everyone will be able to sell it when]sales of adult drink] are allowed. This is what we had emphasise”, she said.
When a writer inquired about whether the sale of alcoholic beverages may be done on Buddhist divine days, Ms. Paetongtarn said she would request a federal panel to investigate it.
She noted, however, that hospitality would be impacted by foreigners usually not being aware of local divine times or other times when the sale of alcoholic beverages was prohibited.
” We view that this year’s theme is the year of commerce. So, this problem may be considered again”, she said, referring to the president’s recent news of Amazing Thailand Grand Tourism and Sports Time 2025.