Thailand, March 5th, 2025 —Thanakorn Kuptajit, advisor to the Thai Alcohol Beverage Business Association (TABBA), expressed disappointment over the National Alcohol Policy Committee’s decision to ease alcohol sales restrictions only on select religious holidays.
Speaking on behalf of tourism-related businesses, he stated that the move fails to provide meaningful economic support ahead of the upcoming peak season.
Read about Thailand planning to ease alcohol bans on Buddhist holidays in select locations, including international airport terminals, licensed entertainment venues, hotels, and designated tourist areas approved by the Public Health Ministry.
He emphasized that Thailand is competing globally for tourists and spending power, yet outdated alcohol laws still hinder the hospitality sector.
Thanakorn called for urgent review of the 2–5 PM alcohol sales ban, arguing that lifting it could inject 50 billion baht annually into the economy, doubling to 100 billion during peak tourism periods.
He also warned that restrictive regulations could limit the economic benefits of major events like Songkran, urging authorities to modernize policies instead of delaying reforms.
This article originally appeared on our sister website The Pattaya News.
