The owner of a restaurant in Bangkok - Mr. Sorathep Steve - said that he was complained about by customers when a group of diners who had just flown from the US ordered a bottle of wine but were informed that Thailand was applying a ban on alcohol and beer due to the early election on February 1, 2026.
They were very annoyed and I was forced to explain the provisions of the law," Mr. Sorathep recounted. 4 guests at his Thai restaurant complained that they came to Thailand not to vote, before finally agreeing to order lemon soda.
According to current law, within 2 24-hour time frames associated with voting activities, all forms of selling, buying or giving alcoholic beverages are prohibited. The first restricted period takes place on the afternoon of January 31, 2026, when voters vote early. The second period will start from 6 pm on February 7, before the general election takes place on February 8.
The Thai Election Commission said that the regulation has existed for a long time, aimed at preventing vote buying and ensuring social order, according to SCMP.
Revenue decreased by up to 50% during the ban on selling alcohol and beer to serve early voting," Mr. Sorathep said. He currently runs 5 restaurants in Bangkok and said that foreign tourists account for about half of the number.
As the second largest economy in Southeast Asia, famous for its beaches and relaxed lifestyle, Thailand is considered a tourism powerhouse. However, the number of international visitors last year decreased by 7.2%, to 33 million. Floods, earthquakes and border conflicts with Cambodia are factors contributing to this decline.
Although many countries around the world also apply alcohol and beer restrictions during elections, some businesses dependent on tourism in Thailand believe that "beer and alcohol ban days" falling right into the peak tourist season of January risk causing a serious drop in revenue and negatively affecting the image of the destination. Previously, elections often took place in the middle of the year - the off-season of tourism.
Repeated disruptions during peak seasons risk turning Thailand from a continuous resort destination into an unpredictable place, and that impression is much harder to reverse than any short-term revenue loss," said Bill Barnett, representative of hotel consulting firm C9 Hotelworks, while emphasizing the key role of the group of tourists returning many times.
On the resort island of Phuket, Mr. Benny De Bellis - owner of a chain of restaurants and bars - said that his revenue decreased by about 30% during the early voting week.
“We proactively provide information to customers, including direct explanations to passersby,” said, adding that facilities all hang signs to avoid confusion. According to Mr. Benny De Bellis, revenue during the election period may decrease by up to 50%.
Meanwhile, Mrs B Bar & Table restaurant on Phuket island forecasts that revenue from bars will plummet by 90% throughout the election week, according to the restaurant owner Sumitha Soorian.
