Last week, Patong Mayor Lalita Manisri and City Council Head Wirawit Khruasombat separately confirmed to the newspaper…

Alcohol sales will be prohibited on Phuket on March 3rd. A dry law will come into force on Phuket at midnight in connection with the Buddhist holiday Makha Bucha and will remain in effect throughout the day on March 3rd. A corresponding reminder was published by police stations and municipalities of the province, including the municipality of Patong. Exceptions to the ban (according to PR Patong): 1. International airport terminals 2. Licensed entertainment venues 3. Establishments similar in nature to entertainment venues located in recognized tourist areas. 4. Licensed hotels registered under hotel legislation. 5. Venues for international and national mass events. Last week, Patong Mayor Lalita Manisri and City Council Chairman Wirawit Kruasombat separately confirmed to the newspaper that municipal employees and police are aware of the latest changes in alcohol legislation and will not bother business operators falling under the five points above. Since last year, Thailand has allowed the sale of alcohol on Buddhist holidays to both hotels and entertainment venues with appropriate licenses, and to non-entertainment venues in designated areas. Thus, almost all licensed tourist businesses in Patong will be able to serve customers on March 3rd as usual. However, alcohol should not be sold in stores and ordinary cafes. "Venues with entertainment licenses can sell alcohol as usual. Venues without such licenses will be held accountable if violations of the ban are detected," The Phuket News quotes Mr. Kriasombat, who remains the president of the Patong Entertainment Business Association (PEBA). Similar comments were provided to the newspaper at the Cherng Talay Tambon Police Station (responsible for Bang Tao Beach and Boat Avenue) and at the Phuket Town Police Station. The sale of alcohol there will be permitted to venues with entertainment licenses. The penalty for violating the ban and selling alcoholic beverages (in restaurants, shops, etc.) is standard: up to 10,000 baht fine and/or up to 6 months in prison. Although the police often accompany their notices with images of people with bottles crossed out, the ban specifically on drinking alcohol is not stipulated in the legislation. The restrictions only concern sales. However, this does not negate the fact that the police can detain a person simply for drinking alcohol in a public place or for being in a public place in a state of severe intoxication. Read more about the changes to the Thai Alcohol Act in 2025 (including a number of relaxations) [here]. We wrote about the vicissitudes surrounding the latest (November) amendments to the Alcohol Act [here]. Photo: Patong Police, Patong Municipality. For readers: Check if the establishment has an alcohol license to avoid misunderstandings. March 3.