BANGKOK, THAILAND – A new study from the Centre for Alcohol Studies (CAS) has warned that plans to extend alcohol sales and nightlife hours could place serious strain on Thailand’s public health system.
The researchers found strong links between later club closing times and a rise in road accidents, deaths, and drunk driving cases.
Government weighs liberalisation of alcohol policy
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has tasked the Interior and Public Health ministries with reviewing proposals to allow bars and clubs to stay open until 4 a.m. The initiative, promoted by major business and tourism groups, aims to boost tax revenue and visitor spending. The government requested that the assessment be completed by January to decide whether the measure could support a broader economic recovery.
However, public health specialists expressed deep concern. Dr. Polathep Vichitkunakorn, director of CAS, said the findings from a pilot project in five major tourism areas – Bangkok, Phuket, Chon Buri, Chiang Mai, and Koh Samui – already pointed to significant harm.
Accidents and deaths rise sharply in nightlife zones
According to the CAS study, road accidents and injuries climbed by 12% in pilot zones where operating hours were extended. Traffic fatalities increased by 13%, and in the largest tourist provinces – Bangkok, Phuket, and Chon Buri – the death rate surged by 22%.
Even more alarming was the rise in drink-driving cases, which more than doubled – up 115% compared with the previous year.
“ALKOHOL LIBERALISATION MAY BE MARKETED AS A SHORTCUT TO ECONOMIC GROWTH, BUT EVIDENCE SHOWS IT IS A DEAD END FOR PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY,”
Dr. Polathep warned.
Economic impact remains uncertain
The CAS report also found that the policy’s economic benefits were unclear. Provinces not included in the pilot zones reportedly achieved twice the revenue and visitor numbers of areas with extended nightlife hours. Researchers concluded that longer bar openings did not deliver the anticipated financial gain.
Dr. Polathep criticised both proposed relaxations – the late closing times and the elimination of the afternoon alcohol sales ban – for encouraging continuous drinking habits. He explained that allowing alcohol sales during mid-afternoon would make alcohol more accessible to workers and younger consumers, undermining measures designed to reduce daily consumption.
Experts call for stricter controls, not longer hours
Rather than further liberalising sales, the CAS recommended several preventive steps:
• Mandatory ID checks at bars and clubs
• Random breath tests at entrances and exits
• Promotion of quality tourism based on culture, nature, and wellness instead of alcohol-driven nightlife
“THE EVIDENCE CLEARLY SHOWS HEALTH AND SOCIAL COSTS OUTWEIGH ANY ECONOMIC ADVANTAGE,”
Dr. Polathep noted, urging the government to prioritise lives over revenue.
As Thailand seeks to balance economic revival with public safety, the cabinet faces a critical choice: whether to extend opening hours to draw tourists, or maintain current limits to protect public health and reduce deaths on the road.