How Thailand's drinking culture works — hours, festivals, pricing, and the social norms around alcohol.
Alcohol can only be sold 11 AM–2 PM and 5 PM–midnight officially — convenience stores, restaurants, and clubs follow this; enforcement varies by venue and district.
No alcohol sales on Buddhist holidays (Visakha Bucha, Makha Bucha, Asanha Bucha, and several others) — restaurants close the bar, shops don't sell; plan around these dates.
Birthdays, ordinations, Songkran, and major sporting events are drinking occasions; the communal bottle of whisky with shared ice and soda is the standard format.
Bars legally close at 2 AM; some areas (RCA, Silom) operate until 3–4 AM with varying enforcement; an official crackdown happens periodically.
Zero tolerance — 50 mg/100 ml legal limit but police checkpoints operate; Grab is the right choice after drinking.
