Thailand exempts airports, hotels, licensed nightlife venues from Buddhist holiday alcohol ban

Thailand put into effect a revised national rule on Saturday, November 7, barring the sale of alcohol on five major Buddhist holy days while allowing sales in a limited set of venues tied mainly to tourism, travel and licensed nightlife.

The measure was published in the Royal Gazette on Friday, November 6, and took effect the following day. It was issued by Thailand’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Committee and replaces an earlier order from 2025.

Under the new notice, alcohol sales remain prohibited on five Buddhist observances: Makha Bucha Day, Visakha Bucha Day, Asalha Bucha Day, the start of Buddhist Lent and the end of Buddhist Lent. Thai authorities kept the core ban in place but spelled out several exceptions under defined conditions.

Sales are still allowed inside passenger service buildings at international airports, in businesses operating legally under Thailand’s entertainment venue law, in certain tourism-area establishments with features similar to entertainment venues, in hotels regulated under hotel law, and at sites hosting special national or international events that draw large crowds.

Some of those exceptions depend on further designation by ministers. The tourism-area establishments must be located in recognized tourist zones and fall under criteria to be announced by the public health minister on the recommendation of the interior minister. Special event venues must also appear on a list to be issued by the public health minister based on the recommendation of the tourism and sports minister.

The notice was signed on October 9 by Public Health Minister Pattana Promphat in his role as chair of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Committee. It was published after the committee’s meeting on April 17, according to the text cited by Thai media.

The new order also places obligations on sellers that qualify for an exemption. Those operators must put in place screening and other necessary measures to preserve public order, protect public safety and restrict access to alcohol by children and young people.

The regulation was issued under Sections 16(3) and 28 of Thailand’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Act of 2008, as amended by a 2025 law. It formally revokes a Prime Minister’s Office announcement dated May 7, 2025.

For the drinks industry, the rule sets the national operating framework for beer, wine and spirits sales on some of the most sensitive dates in Thailand’s religious calendar. Hotels, airport retailers, nightlife operators and organizers of large events now have clearer guidance on when sales can continue and what compliance steps are required, while producers and distributors face continued restrictions on broad retail activity during those holidays.

The updated approach also underscores Thailand’s effort to balance religious observance and alcohol control with the demands of tourism and major events. For businesses that fall outside the exemptions, the ban remains in force on all five holidays. For businesses inside the exempted categories, the ability to sell depends not only on location but also on meeting legal conditions and any ministerial designations that apply.