Thailand reviews alcohol dispenser rules to close retail loopholes
Thailand’s government is reviewing alcohol sales regulations in an effort to tighten controls on self-service alcohol dispensers, amid concerns that some retailers have exploited gaps in existing rules.
The Alcohol Control Committee agreed on Monday (29 June) to consider changes that would broaden the legal definition of convenience stores, bringing more retail outlets under restrictions governing alcohol dispensing machines, local Thai press has reported.
According to public health minister Pattana Prophat, who chairs the committee, the review was necessary as retail business models had evolved since the current regulations came into force in 2018.
“The review of alcohol dispenser sales will lead to a continued ban, but enforcement must be broadened to cover more types of shops, while still using convenience stores or other easy-access outlets as the main framework,” he said, as reported by The Nation.
Revisiting legal terminology
The existing rules were introduced after some shops began installing self-service alcohol dispensers, prompting concerns that the machines made alcohol more readily available, particularly near schools and residential communities.
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Officials have now been instructed to examine whether the legal definitions and categories of businesses covered by the regulations should be expanded to reflect changes in the retail sector.
The review will also consider factors including store size, proximity to educational institutions and limits on the amount of alcohol that can be dispensed.
Pattana said alcohol sold in bottles or cans allowed consumers to see exactly how much they were buying, whereas self-dispensing systems could make consumption more difficult to monitor.
The committee asked its secretariat to revise the draft regulations and present updated proposals at its next meeting.
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