BANGKOK, THAILAND – Thailand’s tightened alcohol law took effect with provisional sobriety tests that bar and shop staff must use to refuse drinks to clearly drunk customers.
New alcohol restrictions took legal effect
Since 8 November 2025, a stricter version of Thailand’s Alcohol Act had been in force, with paragraph 29(2) clearly prohibiting the sale of alcoholic drinks to obviously intoxicated people. As detailed implementing regulations were still pending, the Ministry of Public Health issued a provisional guideline intended to apply until an official regulation followed. Health Minister Pattana Promphat personally approved the rules, which were based on recommendations from the Royal College of Psychiatrists of Thailand.
Official signs of intoxication
According to the guideline, a person was considered drunk once they had lost control of their movements, including an unsteady gait, difficulty standing or uncontrolled motions. Noticeable behaviour or speech that could disturb public order, as well as the typical smell of alcohol combined with physical signs, also counted as clear warning signals. Red or watery eyes, trembling hands or difficulty walking straight were listed, and the document stated:
“Slurred speech, aggression or threatening behaviour are also clear indicators.”
said the guideline paper.
Finger-to-nose test on the bar floor
To give staff a way to check this on site, the ministry proposed three concrete sobriety tests. In the finger-to-nose test, the customer had to close their eyes, stretch out an arm and touch the tip of their nose with one finger; if they missed it by more than one centimetre or if the hand shook, they were to be regarded as drunk. A heel-to-toe walk required ten steps in a straight line, with each heel touching the toes of the front foot, and swaying or compensating movements meant the customer failed.
One-leg stand as the toughest assessment
The strictest check was the one-leg stand, in which the customer had to stand on one leg, raise the other foot by 15 centimetres and count aloud from “one thousand and one” to “one thousand and thirty”.
“If the person puts the foot down before the 30 seconds are over, sways heavily or needs their arms to keep balance, they should be classified as drunk,”
said the guideline in a clear instruction. If a customer failed a test in two rounds, serving them alcohol was strictly forbidden, and venue operators who ignored this faced potential fines under the law.
Uneasy staff, divided guests
The new rules triggered mixed reactions among business owners and patrons, with many bar and shop operators feeling uncertain about their new role. One bar owner in Bangkok asked:
“Am I supposed to make every guest who orders a beer hop on one leg first?”
said a Bangkok bar owner. Guests sometimes reacted with amusement, though some also feared arbitrary harassment or embarrassing situations when being tested in public.
Provisional phase and open questions
The ministry announced that official, legally binding documents were expected within the next 180 days, leaving the provisional guideline in force until then. During this interim phase, Thailand’s venue operators effectively became voluntary intoxication inspectors, deciding who could still be served a drink. Open questions remained over whether visual judgment and balance tests were enough to distribute responsibility fairly, or whether the system risked conflicts and arbitrary decisions at the expense of both staff and guests.