Drinking Age In Thailand & Other Important Laws
Knowing the drinking age in Thailand is important to stay out of trouble during your trip to the Land of Smiles.
Whether you’re a teenager visiting Thailand with your family or a young adult setting out on a backpacking trip, you might be interested in enjoying a few drinks during your trip.
I’ve spent a lot of time in Thailand, and I visited when I was 20, so I’ve been in your position before too.
So to help you out, I’ve put together a guide with everything you need to know about Thailand’s alcohol laws.
Drinking Age In Thailand
Disclaimer: This article is written as a result of thorough research. Make sure to check with the official sources in order to get the most up-to-date information. This article is not legal advice, simply a result of my research.
The legal drinking age in Thailand is actually 20 years old. Quite surprising, right? Especially considering Thailand’s reputation for being a lenient country when it comes to laws.
But because of this, if you’re 18, you won’t be able to buy alcohol in Thailand.
If you are aged 18-20 then you can drink alcohol if you are accompanied by someone over 20 years old, but you are not able to purchase alcohol yourself in Thailand legally.
It’s a shame since backpacking in Thailand is so popular, especially amongst those who have just finished school and are taking a gap year.
That being said, they aren’t as strict with ID checks in Thailand as they are in the US or Europe. I’m not saying you should buy and drink alcohol as an 18-year-old because that would be illegal, but I’ll just say that you likely wouldn’t have your ID checked if you attempted to buy alcohol.
There is a lot of misinformation online, such as Reddit posts saying that the legal minimum age is 18 in Thailand, but this is not the case. It is 20. But as I said, an 18-year-old won’t be asked for ID.
Unfortunately, this does not make it legal. Thailand’s drinking age is 20 years old, but you can drink from 18 if accompanied by someone over 20.
Punishment For Underage Drinking In Thailand
I’ll begin by saying I never advise you to drink underage. Not only is it illegal, it’s disrespectful to the local culture, as the laws and customs are part of the culture of a country.
The punishment for drinking while underage in Thailand is a fine of up to 10,000 THB (roughly $279/£220/€257).
You can also go to prison for up to 6 months. But that’s a very unlikely outcome.
The police in Thailand turn a blind eye to a lot of things, and underage drinking (within reason) is one of these things. But you may be questioned and potentially be asked for a bribe.
In this situation, it’s worth paying it to get out of the other potentially bad outcomes. I’ll also say in this hypothetical situation, it would be better to have no ID than to have an ID which proves you are underage….
Or again hypothetically, fake IDs do exist, and their chances of success are much higher in a foreign country…
Can You Drink In Public In Thailand?
The rule regarding alcohol in Thailand is that as long as there is no sign saying otherwise, you are free to enjoy a drink in public.
That means you can enjoy a cocktail on the beach in Phuket, or a beer in the streets of Bangkok.
There are some exceptions such as around the moat in Chiang Mai, which is probably the most “popular” place where drinking is not allowed, obviously excluding temples and other religious sites.
But in short, you can drink alcohol anywhere unless it says otherwise.
What Time Can You Buy Alcohol In Thailand?
You can buy alcohol in Thailand from 11 am until 2 pm and from 5 pm until midnight. This is in stores and supermarkets. The reason for the gap between 2 and 5 is to promote safe alcohol consumption and prevent alcoholism.
To be honest, not really sure how 3 hours in the middle of the day will do anything, but I guess it’s a start.
You’ll also find that many places won’t stop selling alcohol at midnight. As long as there are paying customers, most stores will sell alcohol anyway. As I said, some things the police just turn a blind eye to.
As I said, this is just for stores and supermarkets. You can buy alcohol from hostels, hotels, bars, clubs, restaurants, etc. at any time of the day.
Note that alcohol is not sold in Thailand during some holidays, such as Makha Bucha (a Buddhist festival celebrating the full moon day of the third lunar month).
How Much Is Alcohol In Thailand?
Like anywhere in the world, the price of alcohol depends on the type of alcohol, and where you’re buying it.
At Supermarkets and Convenience Stores
- Beer: Thailand is famous for its local beers, with Singha, Chang, and Leo being the most popular brands. At a supermarket or a 7-Eleven, you can expect to pay around 35-50 THB (Thai Baht) for a small bottle (330 ml) or can. Larger bottles (620 ml) usually cost between 50-70 THB. Imported beers are pricier, often double the price of local beers.
- Wine: Wine is generally more expensive in Thailand due to import taxes. A bottle of decent imported wine starts at about 500 THB and can go up significantly from there. Thai wines are also available at lower prices but are less common.
- Spirits: Local spirits such as SangSom (a rum-like drink) and Hong Thong (a whiskey-like drink) are very affordable, with prices for a 700ml bottle starting at around 200-300 THB. Imported spirits like vodka, gin, and whiskey are more expensive, with prices starting at around 500 THB for a 700ml bottle.
At Bars and Restaurants
- Beer: In bars and restaurants, a small bottle or draft beer will cost you around 60-120 THB, depending on the establishment’s location and ambiance. Beachfront bars and high-end restaurants will charge towards the higher end of that range.
- Cocktails and Mixed Drinks: These can vary widely but expect to pay anywhere from 100 THB in a local bar to 300 THB or more in a swanky rooftop bar. The price is influenced by the type of alcohol used and the venue’s prestige.
- Wine: A glass of wine in a restaurant can start at 150 THB, with bottles starting around 600 THB and going up from there, especially in more upscale locations.
Of course, like anywhere in the world, the prices will be higher in touristy areas, but in general alcohol in Thailand is cheap, as is pretty much everything else in the country.
Other Important Laws In Thailand
Obviously there are laws in Thailand which are the same in every country, and should be common sense, such as don’t drink and drive, or don’t walk down the street in your birthday suit. But there are also some laws which you might not be aware of. Here are some things to take note of before taking your trip to Thailand:
- Respect the Monarchy: Thailand holds its royal family in the highest regard. It’s illegal to defame, insult, or speak poorly of anyone in the monarchy. Most Thais won’t even entertain a conversation about the King- it’s just not spoken about with tourists.
- Public Smoking Ban: Smoking in public places is banned, including beaches, parks, and around temples, and if you do so, you can incur a fine. Thailand has designated smoking areas, so look for signs or ask locals where it’s permissible to smoke.
- Gambling Prohibitions: Almost all forms of gambling are illegal in Thailand, except for the state lottery and horse racing at certain tracks. Engaging in or promoting gambling activities can lead to arrest.
- E-Cigarette and Vaping Ban: Thailand bans the sale and possession of e-cigarettes and vaping products. Tourists have been fined and detained for vaping, so it’s best to leave these products at home.
- Visa Overstay Penalties: Overstaying your visa in Thailand incurs a fine of 500 THB per day, capped at 20,000 THB. Unlike some countries in Southeast Asia where visa overstays might be overlooked, Thailand enforces this strictly, with potential detention and deportation for overstayers.
FAQs
Below are some questions related to the drinking age in Thailand along with my answers to each question.
Alcohol in Thailand can be consumed anywhere, unless there are signs stating otherwise. The legal drinking age is 20 years old. You can buy alcohol in stores between 11 am and 2 pm and 5 pm and midnight. Other than this, there aren’t any unusual laws when it comes to alcohol in Thailand.
There is a law in Thailand which prevents the sale of alcohol in stores between 2 pm and 5 pm to promote safe alcohol habits, and prevent alcoholism. You can still buy alcohol in restaurants and bars during these hours.
The legal age to go clubbing and drink alcohol in Thailand is 20 years old, but there are few places which are strict with this, and if you are 18, it is unlikely that they will check your ID.
18-year-olds cannot legally buy alcohol in Thailand, as the legal drinking age is 20. That being said, ID is not checked very often in Thailand, and many people get away with buying alcohol underage, especially as tourists.
Final Thoughts
And there you have it, a complete guide to the drinking age in Thailand.
To summarise, the legal age is 20 years old to purchase and consume alcohol in Thailand, but ID checks are not as common as in other countries.
So if you’re heading for a trip there as a young adult, you can probably enjoy the nightlife with no worries.
Continuing on the theme of drinking, make sure you know whether you can drink tap water in Thailand before your trip. You don’t want to assume incorrectly!
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