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Rules and Laws Regarding Alcohol in Thailand
It doesn’t matter if you’re coming to Thailand for a few days or a few years, there are a few things you might not be aware of and need to know about alcohol in the country. Because no, you can’t buy alcohol anywhere anytime in Thailand. And it’s a shame if you ask us. But yes, you can find almost everything here, even though some brands can be really expensive. So today, let’s talk about everything you need to know about alcohol in Thailand.
Alcohol Sales Times in Thailand
In Thailand, nobody can explain a weird law that could be pretty surprising to many foreigners. Alcohol buying time in Thailand is ONLY certain times every day. The alcohol selling times is from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm and from 5:00 pm to midnight. This includes local shops, supermarkets, and 7-11 alcohol hours in Thailand are the same,
It’s an old law from the Thai government. It’s illegal for all shops to sell alcohol in the afternoons. And nobody knows why. The only thing for sure is the shop owners are strict about the rules. So stock up when you can, and remember to keep some alcohol at home somewhere in case you want a drink during these dry hours. But curiously enough, this law only applies to local stores. You can still buy drinks in bars, restaurants, and entertainment venues at any time during the day, as long as you drink there. No take-away allowed. The only exception would be some clubs and bars. In some late-night clubs and bars, you can take your bottle home with you if you haven’t finished it. For example, you can order a bottle in a club at 1.30 am and take it home with you when the club closes at 2:00 am. That’s an expensive option, but the only one you have is if you want to keep the party going on at home and you don’t have any booze at home to drink.
Where Can you Buy Alcohol in Thailand?
In Bangkok and Thailand, you can buy alcohol pretty much anywhere. The retail locations include local convenience stores like 7/Eleven and Family marts, supermarkets (Big C, Tesco, Makro…), liquor shops, etc. As long as you try to buy when it’s allowed, coming across beers or bottles to buy isn’t too hard. Even for international brands. You can find pretty much any premium brands in Thailand, including rare wines and Champagnes. And for those we found Villa Market and Tops to have really good prices.
Buy Bottles at the Duty-Free on the Way In
When you come to Thailand, buy alcohol at the duty-free shops of the international airport terminals on your way in!
Alcoholic beverages are heavily taxed in Thailand.
So unless you can survive on Thai beers and alcohol during all your stay, take time to go shopping in the transit airport and buy a bottle at the duty-free. And ask your friend to do the same. You’re allowed to bring up to 1 liter per person (but you can try to bring more, they usually don’t check). The price difference can be quite significant. And if you’re coming to party in Thailand with a few friends, with 1 liter of spirits each, what you bought at the duty-free shop might last you for an entire trip.
Tips:
You can only bring 1 liter of alcohol into Thailand. But you can always put a bottle of 1 liter in your check-in baggage and buy more at the duty-free.
It doesn’t matter if you’re coming to Thailand for a few days or a few years, there are a few things you might not be aware of and need to know about alcohol in the country. Because no, you can’t buy alcohol anywhere anytime in Thailand. And it’s a shame if you ask us. But yes, you can find almost everything here, even though some brands can be really expensive. So today, let’s talk about everything you need to know about alcohol in Thailand.
Alcohol Sales Times in Thailand
In Thailand, nobody can explain a weird law that could be pretty surprising to many foreigners. Alcohol buying time in Thailand is ONLY certain times every day. The alcohol selling times is from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm and from 5:00 pm to midnight. This includes local shops, supermarkets, and 7-11 alcohol hours in Thailand are the same,
It’s an old law from the Thai government. It’s illegal for all shops to sell alcohol in the afternoons. And nobody knows why. The only thing for sure is the shop owners are strict about the rules. So stock up when you can, and remember to keep some alcohol at home somewhere in case you want a drink during these dry hours. But curiously enough, this law only applies to local stores. You can still buy drinks in bars, restaurants, and entertainment venues at any time during the day, as long as you drink there. No take-away allowed. The only exception would be some clubs and bars. In some late-night clubs and bars, you can take your bottle home with you if you haven’t finished it. For example, you can order a bottle in a club at 1.30 am and take it home with you when the club closes at 2:00 am. That’s an expensive option, but the only one you have is if you want to keep the party going on at home and you don’t have any booze at home to drink.
Where Can you Buy Alcohol in Thailand?
In Bangkok and Thailand, you can buy alcohol pretty much anywhere. The retail locations include local convenience stores like 7/Eleven and Family marts, supermarkets (Big C, Tesco, Makro…), liquor shops, etc. As long as you try to buy when it’s allowed, coming across beers or bottles to buy isn’t too hard. Even for international brands. You can find pretty much any premium brands in Thailand, including rare wines and Champagnes. And for those we found Villa Market and Tops to have really good prices.
Buy Bottles at the Duty-Free on the Way In
When you come to Thailand, buy alcohol at the duty-free shops of the international airport terminals on your way in!
Alcoholic beverages are heavily taxed in Thailand.
So unless you can survive on Thai beers and alcohol during all your stay, take time to go shopping in the transit airport and buy a bottle at the duty-free. And ask your friend to do the same. You’re allowed to bring up to 1 liter per person (but you can try to bring more, they usually don’t check). The price difference can be quite significant. And if you’re coming to party in Thailand with a few friends, with 1 liter of spirits each, what you bought at the duty-free shop might last you for an entire trip.
Tips:
- If you love Champagne, purchase a bottle or two at the duty-free on your way in. Fine wine and Champagne are ridiculously expensive here.
- The laws are the same for foreigners and Thai people, if you forget to buy, don’t expect any help from the pretty girl you met outside 7/11.
- The rules only apply to the sale of alcohol. The law does not control alcohol consumption. So if buy in advance or have a stockpile at home, you’re allowed to drink around the clock, including religious holidays.
You can only bring 1 liter of alcohol into Thailand. But you can always put a bottle of 1 liter in your check-in baggage and buy more at the duty-free.