Leaving for Thailand, I will get in touch with you t

1. What changed and when — the new alcohol law in plain terms

Thailand amended its Alcoholic Beverage Control Act (No. 2) B.E. 2568, effective 8 November 2025, expanding enforcement to penalise not only sellers but individuals who buy, sell or consume alcohol in unauthorised hours or places; multiple outlets report the banned windows as midnight–11:00 and 14:00–17:00, and fines for offenders can be up to THB 10,000 ^{[1] [7] [3]}.

2. Who is affected — tourists, restaurants and licensed venues

Coverage stresses that tourists can be fined if they drink in prohibited hours — even if they ordered a drink earlier and continue past the cutoff — although the law provides exemptions for licensed entertainment venues, hotels, certified tourist establishments and international airport lounges, so many hotel bars and big restaurants remain able to serve ^{[2] [7] [8]}.

3. Why authorities give this a higher profile — public health and enforcement

Reporting frames the change as part of a public-health and alcohol-harm reduction strategy: the law tightens advertising limits, raises penalties and expands enforcement power. Outlets say the government and health authorities view stricter hours and advertising controls as necessary to curb harmful drinking patterns ^{[9] [10]}.

4. Industry reaction and tourism concerns

Thailand’s hospitality and tourism trade has loudly warned the law risks hurting business and the nation’s hospitality reputation; restaurant associations and tourism-sector sources say penalising diners directly could deter visitors and harm smaller venues that can’t obtain the same licensing as big hotels ^{[2] [8] [3]}.

5. Practical travel takeaways — how to avoid problems while you’re there

Journalistic guidance across outlets recommends checking whether a venue is licensed before ordering alcohol during the day, watch the clock around the two banned windows (midnight–11:00 and 14:00–17:00 in reporting), and prefer hotel bars or certified tourist establishments during restricted times; signage in stores or restaurants may flag local variations or temporary bans on Buddhist holidays ^{[1] [7] [10]}.

6. Broader travel-context reminders beyond drinking rules

Travel-prep reporting notes other 2025 changes travellers already faced: the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) requirement that must be completed prior to arrival, and reinstated financial-proof requirements for some tourist visas — check embassy guidance and official immigration pages before travel ^{[4] [5] [6]}.

7. Disagreements, uncertainties and limits in coverage

Sources broadly agree on the effective date and the existence of fines and exemptions, but there is some variance in emphasis: some outlets stress enforcement and fines for individuals ^{[2] [3]}, while travel guides focus on exemptions and practical workarounds so most tourists “shouldn’t massively affect your trip” ^{[11] [7]}. Available sources do not mention details such as exactly how police will enforce minute-by-minute transgressions, whether foreign embassies will issue special guidance beyond travel advisories, or if there are national-level exceptions for festival days beyond the general mention of Buddhist holidays (not found in current reporting).

8. What you should tell the person you’ll “get in touch” with

If you need to postpone or confirm plans while abroad, tell them you’ll check venue licensing and local hours before meeting, avoid planning daytime drinking windows that overlap the banned hours, and confirm accommodations have hotel-licensed bars if you expect to drink during restricted periods ^{[1] [7]}. Also mention you’ll complete any pre-entry forms like the TDAC and have visa/financial documents ready ^{[4] [5] [6]}.

Final note: The reporting consistently flags the change as serious but workable for most visitors who use licensed hotels and mainstream tourist venues; monitor official Thai government or embassy pages for any late clarifications while you travel ^{[10] [4]}.