Thailand’s parliament has recently passed a landmark alcohol bill, lifting advertising restrictions and removing the ban on sale of alcoholic drinks from 2-5 pm. Despite the positive news for the industry, concerns remain over ministerial regulations and whether the Senate will approve it, however the industry is optimistic that this new bill will be passed.
The passage of a new alcohol law, if approved, will usher in a more liberal era for the alcohol manufacturing and sales business in Thailand.
In summary, the new Alcohol Control Bill replaces a 2008 law. It is particularly seen as a victory for Thailand’s small brewers and a boost for the country’s emerging craft alcohol industry.
In addition, the repeal of Section 32, which previously restricted alcohol advertising, marks a major shift in Thailand’s alcohol policy despite opposition from lobby groups. This benefits the smaller breweries which have smaller marketing budgets, allowing them to post images of people with the beer logos, whereas the major breweries like Chang and Singha already gained visibility from international sports sponsorships.
Another major change in the new bill is the abolition of Thailand’s long-standing 2-5 pm alcohol sales ban. The lifting of this ban will benefit businesses as Thailand welcome more tourists to its country in 2025.
