PATTAYA, Thailand – The President of the Nonthaburi Restaurant and Nightlife Association has called on the government to reconsider the recently enacted Alcohol Control Act, which imposes fines of up to 10,000 baht for drinking alcohol in establishments during restricted hours. He warned that the law could further strain restaurants, bars, and entertainment venues during an already weak economic period.
Following the implementation of the law on November 8, which bans alcohol consumption in shops and venues from midnight to 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., association president Ittipol Kongpasitporn criticized the measure as unfair to business owners. He said the restrictions risk reducing customer visits, as patrons may fear fines if they inadvertently exceed the permitted drinking hours.
Ittipol emphasized that in the current economic climate, the government should instead support restaurants, shops, and entertainment venues to sustain their businesses and prepare for the upcoming high season for tourism. He also noted that some foreign governments have already warned their citizens to avoid exceeding Thailand’s legal drinking hours.
He added that political parties that propose easing alcohol restrictions could gain strong support from business owners nationwide, who feel the current law fails to consider the economic pressures they face.
