The Royal Gazette has published the announcement of “Prohibition of the sale of alcoholic beverages via electronic sales nationwide, B.E. 2563” yesterday, September 8, effective this December.
According to the notification, the legal measure is adapted to the current situation of the increase in online business in Thailand and it is issued to prevent young people under the age of 18 from having easy access to buying alcohol and to reduce the accidents that may have been caused by alcohol.
By virtue of Section 4 and Section 30 (6) of the Alcohol Control Act, B.E. 2551 (2008), the Prime Minister, with the advice of the National Alcohol Policy Committee, therefore issued the announcement as follows:
Clause 1: No person shall sell alcoholic beverages by means of selling alcoholic beverages or services in connection with the sale of alcoholic beverages by electronic channels directly to consumers or persuading any individual to purchase or offering or selling goods or services to consumers.
The term ‘electronic channels’ means the sales of alcoholic beverages are conducted in the form of electronic communication, where sellers and consumers can trade without meeting.
Clause 2: This announcement shall not apply with the online payment of purchasing alcoholic beverages at shops, restaurants, or places where alcoholic beverages are served
Clause 3: This announcement shall come into the implementation after ninety days from the date of its publication in the Government Gazette.
Announced on 7th August B.E. 2563
General Prayut Chan-O’Cha, Prime Minister of Thailand
