Thailand Alcohol Ban Days: Dry Day Calendar for Phuket and How to Prepare

Thailand has five Buddhist holidays a year when the retail sale of alcohol is banned for 24 hours. These Thailand alcohol ban days, usually called dry days, apply across the whole country, Phuket included. The practical rule is simple: get what you need before the ban starts, and the easiest way is to order delivery from ALCOSHOP Phuket the day before.

This page explains who is covered by the ban, where alcohol can still be served, what a violation can cost, which sale hours apply on a normal day and how to prepare. The calendar sits in its own block: see the dates for this year.

Quick answer: what is a dry day in Thailand?

A dry day is a day when shops are not allowed to sell alcohol. In Thailand it is tied to Buddhist holidays and lasts 24 hours. What matters, in a few lines:

• The ban rests on an announcement of the Office of the Prime Minister that sets the days when the sale of alcoholic beverages is prohibited.
• Five holidays are covered: Makha Bucha, Visakha Bucha, Asalha Bucha, Khao Phansa and Ok Phansa.
• The ban applies to shops, convenience stores and ordinary restaurants. Several categories of venues are exempt (see below).
• Violations can be punished with a fine of up to 10,000 baht and/or up to 6 months in prison.
• Alcohol can also be restricted during elections and on other major religious days, so announcements are worth following.

For a visitor to Phuket this means one thing: on a dry day no shop will sell you a bottle. Drinks for the villa or the boat have to be ordered ahead of time.

Why the dates change every year

The five holidays follow the Buddhist lunar calendar, so their dates on the regular calendar are different every year. That is why this guide keeps the rules and the dates apart: the rules below stay the same, and the dates live in one block that is rechecked.

Thailand alcohol ban days: dates this year

Current dates · We update this block as soon as the official announcement for each date is published.

Next dry day: Ok Phansa, Monday 26 October. Order your drinks by the evening of Sunday 25 October.

Holiday	Date	Day of the week	Status
Makha Bucha	3 March	Tuesday	Passed
Visakha Bucha	31 May	Sunday	Passed
Asalha Bucha and Khao Phansa	29–30 July	Wednesday–Thursday (two days in a row)	Passed
Ok Phansa	26 October	Monday	Next

Two notes on the table. First, in July the ban covered two days without a break, from 00:01 on 29 July to 24:00 on 30 July. Second, the Ok Phansa date comes from holiday calendars and Thai media. The official notice for a particular day is usually published shortly before it, and we update this block when it is.

A short plan for the next dry day, which falls on a Monday:

1. Saturday 24 October. Decide who is drinking what and how many people will be at the table on Monday.
2. Sunday 25 October. Place your order with ALCOSHOP Phuket for the whole of Monday, with a reserve. Ice and water are not in our catalogue, so pick them up at a nearby shop the same evening.
3. Monday 26 October. Build the day around things that do not depend on a shop: the beach, a boat trip, a long lunch at the villa with the drinks you ordered.

Dates for next year are not announced yet; we will add them as soon as they are published.

What is banned on a dry day, and where alcohol can still be sold

The ban is aimed at retail sale. According to Thai press coverage of recent bans, it covers shops, convenience stores and ordinary restaurants. Exemptions exist, but they are categories of venues, not a promise that any particular bar will pour.

What does not sell alcohol

• Convenience stores such as 7-Eleven and other minimarkets.
• Supermarkets and liquor shops.
• Ordinary restaurants.
• Other shops.

Do not assume that all of Phuket goes silent, and do not assume that the nightlife areas run as usual: conditions depend on the venue and its licence. The only plan that does not depend on anyone’s licence is your own supply, ordered from ALCOSHOP Phuket the day before.

The five exemptions

The official exemptions, as reported by the Thai media for recent bans, are these:

1. Terminals of international airports. The exemption is for terminals handling international flights.
2. Venues operating under the law on entertainment places.
3. Similar venues in tourist zones, as defined by the Ministry of Public Health.
4. Hotels.
5. Venues of major national or international events.

What this means in practice:

• Hotels. The exemption covers the hotel’s own bar and restaurant, not the shops around it. A minibar is not a plan either: it may be limited or empty. Have your own drinks delivered to your room the day before.
• Airports. Alcohol may be sold in passenger terminal buildings at airports that handle international flights, which includes the international terminal of Phuket International Airport. We have not found official confirmation for the domestic terminal, so do not count on buying alcohol there on a dry day.
• Tourist-zone venues. Which of them qualify depends on the definition of the Ministry of Public Health. Whether a particular venue serves on the day is its own decision, so do not build the evening around it.
• Events. A large event may have its own arrangements, and they apply only on its territory.

Areas of Phuket

If you are staying in one of the main areas, such as Patong, Kata and Karon, Kamala, Bang Tao, Rawai, Surin, Laguna or Phuket Town, the rule is the same: shops do not sell alcohol, and venue exemptions vary from place to place. For Nai Yang and Mai Khao, near the airport, the airport exemption covers international terminals only and does not extend to shops in the area. ALCOSHOP delivers to all these areas, so order the day before.

Elections and other temporary bans

Besides the five Buddhist days, sales can also be limited around elections and on other major religious days. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) mentions this in its published guidance on sale hours. These restrictions are announced separately and are not part of the calendar of Buddhist holidays, so if an election is scheduled during your stay, look for the announcement a few days before the vote and order your drinks ahead.

Penalties: what a violation can cost

A violation of the ban on sale can be punished with a fine of up to 10,000 baht and/or up to 6 months in prison. These are the figures reported by the Thai press for the dry-day announcement.

Also worth remembering:

• The minimum age to buy alcohol in Thailand is 20.
• Sale outside permitted hours is a separate matter: the current window is 11:00–24:00 (see the next section).
• This page does not interpret the law for specific situations. If you run a venue or need advice on a particular case, consult an official source or a Thai lawyer.

Normal alcohol sale hours in Thailand

Besides dry days, many visitors ask when alcohol can be bought on an ordinary day. Under the current rules, shops in general may sell alcohol from 11:00 to 24:00. The old daytime break of 14:00–17:00 has been cancelled. Who sells until when and what to do after midnight is covered in our guide to alcohol sales hours in Phuket.

Exceptions to the hours apply to:

• hotels;
• licensed venues (entertainment places);
• terminals of international airports.

The age limit is 20. Three things to keep in mind:

• Many older guides still repeat the afternoon break. If you see it, check the date of the article.
• These are the rules in force now. They can be changed again, for example for elections or holidays, and we update our guides when they are.
• Normal hours do not apply on a dry day. Retail sale is banned for the full 24 hours.

How to prepare for a dry day: a practical checklist

One 24-hour ban does not take much planning, but a last-minute search at 6 p.m. on the day itself is the worst way to deal with it. Here is a plan that works for a villa, a hotel stay or a group trip.

1. Check the calendar. Open the dates block and mark the dates in your phone. Confirm the official announcement for the next date a few days beforehand.
2. Buy the day before. The simplest rule: all shopping is done by the evening before the ban starts. The ban covers the whole calendar day, from midnight to midnight; exact hours are set by each year’s announcement. In recent years the ban started at 00:01, so do not count on shopping after midnight.
3. Estimate the volume. Count how many people will drink and what, over the whole 24 hours, and add a small reserve. If the group is bigger than planned, you cannot top up on the day. For a party, the villa party calculator gives quantities for 10, 20 and 40 guests.
4. Think about storage and ice. Wine, beer and mixers need a fridge or a cooler bag with ice. Ice is not in our catalogue, so pick it up at a nearby shop the evening before.
5. Add non-alcoholic drinks and food. Water, juice, soda, fruit, snacks. ALCOSHOP also delivers pizza, pasta and fruit, so dinner at the villa can come with the drinks.
6. Warn your guests. If you rent a villa for a group, tell everyone about the date. People who arrive that day will find the shops closed.
7. Do not build the evening around a bar. Whether a venue serves alcohol on a dry day depends on its licence; your own supply at the villa does not.
8. Have a plan for the day itself. The beach, a boat trip, a viewpoint, a spa, an unhurried brunch at home. Dry days suit things that have nothing to do with a shop.

Three days and one day before

• Three days before: decide who is coming, write a list and look through the ALCOSHOP catalogue; answers about ordering are in the FAQ.
• One day before: place your ALCOSHOP order, put the drinks in the fridge and buy ice at a nearby shop.

When two dry days fall in a row

Asalha Bucha and Khao Phansa (Buddhist Lent) usually fall on consecutive days, so the ban usually covers two days in a row. A plan for such a stretch looks a little different:

• Count drinks and ice for two days, not one.
• Keep the second day’s food simple: things that can be prepared in advance.
• Spread the activities: a boat trip on the first day, a beach and an early dinner on the second.
• Do the shopping a day earlier than usual, not on the evening before the second day.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Treating the minibar or the hotel bar as the plan. Exemptions are categories, not promises. Keep your own supply for the evening, ordered the day before.
• Trusting an old guide. Some pages still show the 14:00–17:00 afternoon break or a date that was never confirmed. Check the publication date and compare with the dates block.
• Counting on a convenience store “just this once”. The ban covers shops and convenience stores, so a quick run to the nearest minimarket will not work on the day.
• Forgetting the guests who arrive late. If someone joins the group on the dry day itself, they cannot top up the supplies. Count them in advance.
• Leaving the non-alcoholic part for the last minute. Ice, water, juice and food are what keeps a dry day easy.

Alcohol delivery in Phuket: why order with ALCOSHOP before a dry day

Instead of spending the day before the ban in shop queues, have everything delivered. ALCOSHOP Phuket delivers across the island, and the key is to place the order before the dry day starts: delivery takes 20–60 minutes, it costs ฿300, and orders from ฿3,000 with the promo code FREE are delivered free. There is no minimum order, and you pay on delivery in cash (Thai baht or US dollars), by bank transfer or USDT. All terms are on the page about delivery and payment.

• Categories include whiskey, wine and beer, as well as vodka, rum, gin, tequila and others. The range also has fruit, pasta and pizza, which helps for a day plan without alcohol.
• Products are original, with excise stamps.
• Delivery zones: Patong, Kata, Karon, Kamala, Bang Tao, Rawai, Surin, Laguna, Phuket Town, Nai Yang and Mai Khao.

You can order through the website, WhatsApp or Telegram @alcoshop_phuket; the manager confirms the order.

Plan your order before the next dry day. 20+ only.

What else is different on Buddhist holidays

The ban days are religious holidays. Ceremonies take place in temples, and for many Thai people these are days of quiet and merit-making. For a visitor it means a few things:

• Treat the day with respect: if you visit a temple, dress modestly.
• Venues work under their own licences on these days, so the calmest plan is an evening at your villa.
• Plan transport and bookings with a margin.

Frequently asked questions

What is a dry day in Thailand and how long does it last?

A dry day is a day when the retail sale of alcohol is banned. In Thailand it is tied to five Buddhist holidays and lasts 24 hours. The ban covers the whole calendar day, from midnight to midnight; exact hours are set by each year’s announcement. Some days come in pairs.

What are the alcohol ban days in Thailand this year?

Five days: 3 March (Makha Bucha), 31 May (Visakha Bucha), 29–30 July (Asalha Bucha and Khao Phansa) and 26 October (Ok Phansa). Retail sale is banned for 24 hours on each. The full table with statuses is in the dates block. We update the dates when each official announcement is published.

When is the next dry day in Phuket?

Ok Phansa, Monday 26 October. The ban applies across Thailand, including Phuket. Order your drinks from ALCOSHOP by the evening of 25 October. After that date this answer is updated with the next day announced.

Can I buy alcohol at 7-Eleven on a dry day?

No. The ban covers shops, convenience stores and ordinary restaurants. Order from ALCOSHOP the day before, with a small reserve in case the group grows. Other options are compared in where to buy alcohol in Phuket.

Is alcohol served in hotels and restaurants on a dry day?

Hotels are among the exemptions, as are venues licensed under the entertainment places law and similar venues in tourist zones. Ordinary restaurants fall under the ban. Because it depends on the venue, it is safer to have your own drinks delivered the day before.

Can I buy alcohol at Phuket airport?

Alcohol may be sold in passenger terminal buildings at airports that handle international flights, which includes the international terminal of Phuket International Airport. We have not found official confirmation for the domestic terminal, so do not count on buying alcohol there on a dry day.

What is the fine for breaking the ban?

Up to 10,000 baht and/or up to 6 months in prison, according to the Thai press. This is general information, not legal advice. If you run a venue or face a specific situation, consult an official source or a Thai lawyer.

What are the normal alcohol sale hours in Thailand?

Under the current rules, shops in general may sell alcohol from 11:00 to 24:00. The daytime break of 14:00–17:00 has been cancelled. Hotels, licensed venues and international airport terminals are exceptions. Rules can change, and they do not apply on a dry day.

What is the legal age to buy alcohol in Thailand?

20 years old. The limit applies in shops and venues alike, so carry a passport or another ID if you look young.

When are next year’s dry days announced?

Next year’s dates have not been announced yet. The holidays follow the Buddhist lunar calendar, so they change every year. We update this page as soon as they are published.

Sources and how we checked

The information is based on:

• the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) guidance on alcohol sale hours;
• reports of leading English-language Thai news outlets on the dry-day announcements and the list of exemptions, including the coverage of the July 2026 ban;
• reports of Thai media on the new sale hours order of 29 May 2026, published in the Royal Gazette;
• the Announcement of the Office of the Prime Minister on the determination of days prohibiting the sale of alcoholic beverages, B.E. 2568 (Royal Gazette, vol. 142, part 189 Ng, 9 May 2025), as reported by Nation Thailand, including the list of exemptions for airport passenger terminals;
• coverage of the 29–30 July 2026 ban by Nation Thailand and The Star;
• holiday calendars for the date of Ok Phansa; verify it against the official announcement a day or two before the date.

This article is for information only and is not legal advice. Confirm the details with official announcements.

Information article. Not legal advice. 20+.