Thailand is not one of those countries where alcohol is strictly prohibited due to ethical or religious beliefs. You can purchase alcoholic drinks of all kinds and brands here completely freely in any store, just like in our home.
The local population also enjoys drinking alcohol, and sometimes even more actively than tourists. They say that Thais are much more prone to alcoholism than Europeans. We don’t know for sure whether this is true or not, but, be that as it may, seeing a Thai man with crazy eyes staggering from side to side is not such a rarity.
In this regard, exercise caution. It’s better not to drink alcohol with Thais, and don’t get into arguments or conflicts with drunk locals. There are many stories of drunken Thais becoming so inappropriate that it ended in stabbings and shootings.
Therefore, the Thai government took up the task of “dealcoholization” of the population, which resulted in some restrictions on the sale of alcohol. Read more about all alcohol issues in Thailand:
Variety of local whiskey
Prohibitions and restrictions on the sale of alcohol in Thailand
- Alcoholic beverages can only be sold at retail in Thailand from 11:00 to 14:00 and from 17:00 to 24:00
. Of course, the law is strictly enforced only in stores with automatic checkouts, and in small shops you can buy it at any time, however, it turns out that this is potentially illegal. Also in cafes, restaurants and bars they pour without restrictions - Entertainment centers (bars, clubs, etc.) have the right to sell alcohol only from 21:00 to 24:00.
- In 2015, an additional restriction was introduced on the sale of alcohol in any form at a distance of less than 300 meters from educational institutions.
- Sometimes a complete ban on the sale of alcohol throughout the country is introduced in connection with particularly important events, usually elections and religious holidays. The authorities are notified in advance of the start of such “bans” on the sale of alcohol, so you can buy intoxicating liquor in stores in advance.
What can be imported to Thailand, import rules
Goods the import of which is permitted, but strictly regulated:
- alcohol;
- cigarettes;
- money;
- personal belongings;
- products;
- medicines;
- objects of art;
- antique goods;
- Pets;
- rare species of animals and plants.
Alcohol
You can bring no more than 1 liter of alcohol per person into Thailand, no younger than 20 years old. In the Kingdom there are no restrictions on the sale of alcohol of any type or strength, so a ban on the import of 1 liter is not so terrible.
Cigarettes
It is allowed to import no more than 200 cigarettes or 250 grams of tobacco per adult into Thailand, and it is advisable that the packs be kept in separate bags and not arouse suspicion. Excess will be confiscated and a fine of 5,000 baht will be issued.
Persons under 18 years of age are not allowed to transport cigarettes and tobacco products. Cigarettes can be bought in Thailand, although in terms of quality and price they are significantly inferior to their domestic counterparts. Do not forget that in Thailand you cannot smoke on the street; for this you will be fined a hefty fine of 2,500 baht.
Money
You can bring money in any amount to Thailand without restrictions. But we must remember that if the imported cash is more than 20,000 US dollars at the exchange rate in Thailand at the time of import, then this amount must be declared.
Personal items
Personal belongings can be freely transported to Thailand:
- personal belongings;
- camera;
- video camera;
- laptop;
- tablet.
If you are bringing new items, packed in original packaging and with a label, then the cost of such items should not exceed 20,000 Thai baht. If you plan to take expensive items with you, they must be declared in advance, indicating unique identification numbers. This will help you avoid customs duties on the way back.
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All items, especially new ones, must be unpacked so that customs does not assume that these items are being transported for sale. Please note that any number of items in a package exceeding 1 piece can be regarded as a commercial (wholesale) batch of goods. If you are bringing things for yourself, then unpack them first and make it appear that they have been used. If you are bringing it as a gift, it is better to declare it to avoid possible troubles at customs.
Products
All food products imported into Thailand must be officially registered and have the appropriate certificates. On the website of the Thai Customs Service regarding food and medicine there is a regulation:
The import of drugs, foods, and supplementary products requires prior licensing from the Food and Drug Administration, the Ministry of Health.
This means: Imports of drugs, food and ancillary products require prior licensing from the Food and Drug Administration of the Ministry of Health.
The products you are bringing for yourself are unlikely to be declared, so be prepared for them to be confiscated at customs and a fine issued. Although most travelers manage to carry some food in their bags and suitcases, since luggage is checked randomly. It is better not to carry food in hand luggage.
Customs officers are more critical of the number of cigarettes and the volume of imported alcohol; food products are not subject to thorough inspection.
Fruits
Durian cannot be exported from the country due to its strong unpleasant odor. From Thailand to Russia you can export no more than 5 kg of fresh and dried fruits per person without phytosanitary control. If there is more, the excess will be confiscated. https://
Medicines
Almost all drugs sold without a prescription in Russia can be imported into Thailand. You cannot import medications containing narcotic and psychotropic substances into Thailand.
Before packing a first aid kit for your trip, read the list of prohibited medications that cannot be imported into the Kingdom, then carefully study the composition of the medications for prohibited medications.
If you constantly take any pills that contain psychotropic substances, then you can take them with you for exactly 30 days, having first received a prescription from your doctor and permission to carry them from the Drug Administration. To obtain permission, you must send a letter to the Narcotics Control Division of Thailand before traveling. The prescription written by the doctor must indicate the tourist's full name, his residential address, the name of the disease, the name of the medicine and the reason for taking it, indicate the daily dosage, as well as the doctor's full name, his residential address and the number of the license document.
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Pets
The import and export of ordinary domestic animals of other species is carried out according to international rules, according to which the animal must have an international veterinary passport with a photograph of the pet and notes on all necessary vaccinations.
Before leaving the country of departure, you must obtain a certificate from a veterinarian to transport an animal; this certificate is valid for 5 days and at the airport it is exchanged for an international certificate. The pet must have a chip or brand and a certificate stating that the animal has no breeding value. It is better to arrive at the airport in advance in order to have time to resolve all veterinary issues.
Where can you buy alcohol in Thailand?
It is most profitable to buy alcoholic drinks in large chain supermarkets like Big-C, Tesco Lotus, Makro, Tops. In smaller stores the prices are higher, but not by much. Alcohol is already noticeably more expensive at the hawkers on the beaches, but their selection is mostly just cold beer.
In cafes and restaurants, the markup on alcoholic drinks is not as high as when compared with Russia. In our experience, the markup on beer in a cafe is rarely more than half the price in a supermarket. But in nightclubs and bars, prices are several times higher than store prices.
Read more about prices for individual drinks below.
What kind of alcohol can you buy in Thailand? Prices
The range of alcoholic drinks in Thailand is huge. In any store you can find imported drinks: Scotch whiskey, Italian wine, Russian vodka, French liqueurs, in general, everything your heart desires. There is also a large selection of local alcoholic drinks at very low prices (the following are prices in supermarkets):
Thai beer
This is the most popular drink, and has rightfully earned the love of Russian-speaking tourists. Thai beer is even exported. Sold mainly in bottles of 0.64 l, sometimes in cans of 0.33. In a plastic container of 1.5 liters. not for sale.
The most popular brands are Singha, Tiger, Chang, Leo. Cost from 60 baht per 0.64l bottle. (approximately 136.1 rubles, see the currency of Thailand and its exchange rate), and 40 baht for 0.33l. Sometimes you can find very inexpensive promotional beer on sale in large supermarkets at a price of 50 baht per 0.64 liter.
Thai without beer - money down the drain
Thai wines
Thai wine, with rare exceptions, is not tasty. The best wines in Thailand are considered to be those produced from grapes grown in the vicinity of Hua Hin. This is a Monsoon Valley brand. You should also pay attention to a special variety of wine – rice Siam Sato. The prices for it are simply ridiculous - from 35 baht (79.39 rubles) for a 0.7 liter bottle, which is about 1 US dollar. Another interesting drink is Fresco fruit wine from 170 baht for 0.7 liters, which is about 385.62 rubles.
Monsoon Valley from Hua Hin
Thai rum
Thailand produces excellent rum and even exports it. The most popular and high-quality brand is Sang Som. It costs in supermarkets from 270 baht for 0.7 liters, which is about 8 dollars.
Thai whiskey
Whiskey in Thailand is of good quality and costs several times cheaper than imported whiskey. The truth in this case only means the good quality of the alcohol itself in the drink. As for the taste and aroma, for some reason Thai whiskey does not have the traditional oak aroma and taste, and some types of whiskey, for example Red Cock and Black Cock, are generally transparent in color. Here are the popular brands:
- Blend – from 250 baht for 0.7l. (567.08 rub.).
- Mekong - from 50 baht for 0.33l. (RUB 113.42). This is the legendary local herbal whiskey, but it tastes disgusting and will give you a headache.
- Red Cock and Black Cock - from 120 baht per 0.7 liter bottle (272.2 rubles). These are two types of clear whiskey. The taste and smell is reminiscent of moonshine with a light aroma and a sweetish aftertaste. Overall a good alcoholic drink, but it doesn’t smell like real whiskey.
- Lao Khao – from 48 baht for 0.33l. (RUB 108.88). This is the cheapest alcohol, rice whiskey. The “swill” tastes disgusting and is very painful in the morning.
Hong Thong – from 240 baht for 0.7l. (544.4 rub.).
This is the cheapest whiskey you shouldn't drink
Thai brandy
The brandy is also of good quality, but the price is also on par. The most popular brand is Regency from 220 baht for 0.35 liters, that’s 6 and a half dollars.
Exotic drinks
It is rare to find exotic tinctures made from various roots, herbs, insects and reptiles in Thailand. Usually this is an infusion of the cheapest types of purchased alcohol, and is not consumed by locals, but is intended for sale to tourists. You can drink such drinks (tested), but in small quantities. When you drink a little, you can then add whiskey or cognac to the bottle again.
And it’s up to you to decide whether to try it or not.
Total alcohol prices in Thailand:
| Beer | from 50 baht for 0.64l. / from 35 baht for 0.33l. |
| Wine | from 170 baht for 0.7l. |
| Rum | from 270 baht for 0.7l. |
| Whiskey | from 240 baht for 0.7l. |
| Brandy | from 220 baht for 0.35l. |
Where and how to fill out customs declarations
Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok has two zones for arrivals: “green” and “red” corridors. Those who do not need to declare anything are sent to “green”; those who need to fill out declarations for cash or property are sent to “red”. Blank forms are also provided there and employees explain how to fill them out. Everyone entering Thailand must submit a completed migration card. It is handed out by flight attendants on the plane, or you can receive it and fill it out directly at the airport upon arrival.
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Is it possible to drink alcohol on the streets of Thailand?
You can drink alcoholic drinks on the street in Thailand. There is no strict ban on consumption in public places, like in Russia. However, according to Thai laws, consumption is prohibited in certain places: gas stations, temples, hospitals, pharmacies, educational institutions, public recreation parks. Moreover, even from these restrictions there are many exceptions. So you can safely drink alcohol in any reasonable place in Thailand, and no one will touch you, or at most make a reprimand. If in doubt, you can read the full text of the relevant law of 2008 in English - Alcoholic_Beverage_Control_Act,_BE_2551_(2008).
