Hotels, airport terminals and licensed clubs may now sell alcohol on Buddhist holidays

Thailand still bans alcohol sales on Makha Bucha, Visakha Bucha, Asarnha Bucha, Khao Phansa and Ok Phansa days, but since 7 November 2026 five kinds of venue are allowed to keep selling. The Alcoholic Beverage Control Committee notice was published in the Royal Gazette on 6 November and replaces the Prime Minister's Office notice of 7 May 2025.

The exempt venues are passenger buildings at airports with international flights, hotels licensed under the Hotel Act, entertainment venues licensed under the relevant law, bar-style venues in tourist areas that the public health minister designates on the interior minister's advice, and large national or international events on a list the public health minister approves on the tourism minister's advice. Venues that sell under the exemptions must screen customers and keep alcohol away from minors.

For a visitor, the practical change is that a hotel bar or a licensed club in Bangkok can serve on those five days, while 7-Eleven, supermarkets, restaurants and ordinary bars cannot. We had not found the lists of designated tourist areas and events as of 8 November 2026. Election-day bans are a separate rule and are unchanged. The nightlife rules on this site were updated the same day.