Online alcohol sales in Thailand banned under new law to come into effect in 90 days

As Thailand descends into an ever more dictatorial country under the leadership of prime minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, new rules are to come into law regarding alcohol sales in Thailand.

They will be banned.

Under the new law, that means anyone used to buying beer or wine online, or ordering imported or craft beers they cannot get anywhere else, will no longer be able to. Not after the law takes effect 90 days from now.

It will also mean any website selling only alcohol in Thailand will go out of business or have to adapt to a new even more draconian climate.

According to the announcement signed by PM Prayut Chan-o-cha, the sale of beer, wine and spirits online is becoming too difficult to monitor (and we all know how much his government loves monitoring everything everyone in Thailand does!).

That means they are unable to monitor if alcohol is sold online in Thailand only during the legal hours named under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act, or who it is sold to.

The new alcohol ban in Thailand will mean, once the 90 days are over and the law goes into effect, anyone buying alcohol must be physically present in front of the seller in order to be able to purchase it.

With many foreign residents in Thailand ordering much of their alcohol online, this is sure to please, and likely to be just one more nail in the coffin of Thailand as a place foreign residents will consider moving to for work or when they retire.