Sale of alcoholic beverages to be banned via electronic channels

The announcement, signed by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, stated that due to the popularity of e-commerce, some entrepreneurs opted to sell alcoholic beverages via electronic channels, making it difficult to control the date, time, venue and target groups buying alcohol to be in compliance with the legal limit as stated in the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act BE 2551.
Therefore, the prime minister, after getting advice from the National Alcoholic Beverage Policy Committee, announced that sales or “other actions” related to the selling of alcoholic beverages via electronic channels will be prohibited. This includes direct selling, persuading, introducing the product or related services via electronic channels that enable sellers and consumers to complete a sale without physically meeting.
This prohibition does not include the selling and paying for alcoholic beverages via electronic methods at stores, restaurants or establishments that serve alcohol.
The ban will take effect within 90 days of being announced in the Royal Gazette.