The Thai Ministry of Public Health has announced that the revised Alcoholic Beverage Control Bill will be submitted to parliament next month, aiming to align national regulations with global standards. Nipon Chinanonwait, director of the Office of Alcohol Control Committee, provided updates on Sunday, noting that the draft law is set for review in January during its second and third parliamentary readings.
Key elements of the proposed legislation include regulations on permissible alcohol sales hours, with a potential adjustment to the current 2–5 pm ban. While the bill will not allow 24-hour alcohol sales, the ministry intends to establish provincial alcohol control committees to prevent underage access and enforce stricter measures.
Concerns about alcohol consumption were amplified by over 30 anti-alcohol advocacy groups, who submitted a petition to the ministry on December 6. The groups urged the government to impose stricter bans on “drinking games,” citing risks such as alcohol poisoning and unconsciousness.
Ahead of the New Year holiday, Vice Minister of Public Health Thanakrit Chit-areerat emphasized the dangers of drink-driving, urging sobriety among drivers. Similarly, campaigns led by the Child Youth and Family Foundation and the Stop-Drink Network Thailand, supported by the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth), aim to prevent accidents linked to alcohol consumption.
ThaiHealth director Rungarun Limlahaphan highlighted a slight decline in national drinking rates, dropping from 28.4% in 2017 to 28% in 2021. Despite this progress, heavy drinking persists, with over 5.7 million adults reporting binge drinking last year. Alarmingly, 34% of fatal accidents last New Year were attributed to drink-driving.
Road safety expert Thatchawut Jardbandista expressed concerns that extending alcohol sales hours might exacerbate traffic incidents. He advocated stricter penalties, including mandatory jail time, for drunk drivers to mitigate risks.
The ministry has instructed provincial offices to intensify inspections and hold alcohol producers and vendors accountable to improve public safety during the holiday season and beyond.
