Jetsada Homklin
PATTAYA, Thailand – The Alcohol Control Act (Amendment 2), which took effect on November 8, bans alcohol consumption during prohibited hours in commercial establishments, with fines of up to 10,000 baht for violations. Restricted hours are from 12:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., though hotels and airports are allowed to sell alcohol 24 hours.
Thanet Supornsahasrangsri, president of the Chonburi Tourism Federation, said the law’s restrictions risk harming Pattaya’s nightlife-driven economy and urged the government to allow licensed venues to operate according to their actual closing hours, especially during the peak tourist season.
Tourist cities like Pattaya have a “special character,” with foreign visitors enjoying nighttime leisure. Restricting alcohol sales could harm the local economy, especially during peak tourist season. Suparoshasrangsri suggested allowing venues to follow their actual closing times rather than rigid government-imposed hours, noting that “tourist venues in Pattaya do not close at midnight.”
He emphasized that Pattaya’s tourism-driven economy relies heavily on nightlife, bars, and restaurants catering to international visitors. Extending the 24-hour alcohol sales allowed for hotels to other licensed venues would better support tourism and economic growth.
