The Alcoholic Beverage Control Committee recommends lifting the alcohol ban on five holidays

Thai authorities are proposing to allow limited sales of alcohol, including beer, on Buddhist holidays to cater to tourists, another step in their campaign to attract more overseas visitors.

The government’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Committee has recommended allowing sales on Makha Bucha Day, Visakha Bucha Day, Asarnha Bucha Day, Buddhist Lent Day, and the end of Buddhist Lent, at international airports, nightlife establishments, hotels, tourist venues and sites of national events. A list of the national event sites will be released in due course. Major foreign tourist areas in Bangkok such as Thonglor and Patpong are expected to benefit from the measures.

The Committee has also approved the sale of alcohol at the waiting hall of Hua Lamphong Station in Bangkok and on chartered trains.

The changes could take effect as soon as Visaka Bucha day on 11 May this year, according to Deputy Prime Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong, who chairs the committee.

The decision follows Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra announcement in February that she had ordered a review of the ban on the sale of alcoholic beverages from 2pm to 5pm, following calls by business groups for eased regulations to support tourism. She said she had also asked authorities to review how the ban on sales on Buddhist holidays affected tourism.

The proposal, approved by the committee on 4 March is subject to public hearings for 15 days from that date, after which it will then go to the minister of public health for certification, and then on to the prime minister for approval.

Sellers of alcoholic beverages under the new measures must implement screening processes and measures to maintain public order and safety, as well as prevent access to alcoholic beverages by underage persons.