A notice in the Royal Thai Government Gazette has announced that there will be a ban on sales of alcohol through electronic channels, believed to refer to websites and social media channels.

This new ban will come into effect in December 2020, 90 days after it’s publication on the government website on 8th September.

The new regulation is an addendum to the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act, Section 30, which outlines various sales methods that are prohibited such as through automatic vending machines and purchase inducements, already in effect.

Receiving advice from the National Alcoholic Beverage Policy Committee, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha decided to prohibit selling alcohol online without the buyer and seller physically meeting as well as prohibit other online actions relating to alcohol sales.

The announcement, signed by the Prime Minister, stated that due to the popularity of e-commerce some entrepreneurs opted to sell alcoholic beverages via electronic channels, making it difficult to control the date, time, venue and target groups buying alcohol to be in compliance with the legal limits as stated in the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act.

The Nation Thailand says the ban also includes persuading, introducing the alcoholic product or related services through electronic channels. Customers will still be able to pay for alcohol through online channels.

A group of Thai craft brewers, already having to produce their beers overseas due to restrictive legislation regarding beer production in the Kingdom, have formed a working group to appeal this new sales ban.