Thai Law News
Thailand law news, court rulings, legal reforms, and criminal cases—stay updated on legislation changes, civil disputes, and key legal developments. Get the latest from The Thaiger, your trusted source for Thai law news.
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Bolt operating licence expires in May, amid DLT investigations
Thailand’s Department of Land Transport (DLT) announced yesterday, April 29, that it may refuse to renew Bolt’s licence after finding 2,193 legal cases linked to the ride-hailing platform since the start of the year. Department director-general Sorapong Paitoonpong issued the warning during a press conference on measures to regulate ride-hailing platforms. The move follows a case in Bangkok on April…
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Thai govt plans to collect 1,000 baht exit fee from Thai people travelling abroad
Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports plans to collect an exit fee of 1,000 baht for Thai citizens travelling abroad to fund domestic tourism. Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworrakun said he would consult the Ministry of Finance on reinstating the Departure Tax Act. The law was previously enforced with a 500 baht fee charged to outbound Thai travellers. Under…
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Government urges caution over online April Fool’s Day jokes
The government has urged the public to take extra care with posts shared on April Fool’s Day, warning that online jokes that cause harm or public panic may break the law and carry penalties including prison and fines. Deputy Government spokesperson Airin Phanrit said April 1 is observed each year as April Fool’s Day, when people often make up stories…
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Thailand introduces guidelines for intoxication checks before alcohol sales
Thailand’s Royal Gazette published guidelines on how alcohol vendors should assess whether customers are intoxicated before serving further drinks, following a new regulation that bans sales to already drunk people. The regulation was announced in December last year and is set out under Section 29 of the Alcohol Control Act. Under the rule, vendors are prohibited from selling alcohol to…
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Cabinet orders WFH for public sector amid energy pressures
Thailand’s Cabinet approved urgent measures yesterday, March 10, to cut energy use and manage the public-sector workforce, amid fighting in the Middle East and its impact on domestic energy pressures. The decisions were announced at Government House by Lalida Periswiwatthana, deputy spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office. She said the prime minister had instructed government agencies and state enterprises to…
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Thai man gets 30 years in jail for monarchy-related tweets
The Criminal Court today, February 10, delivered its verdict in a lèse-majesté case involving Pruttikorn “Jo” Sarakul, a former staff member of the Progressive Movement, who faced charges under Section 112 of the Criminal Code and the Computer Crime Act. The hearing took place after prosecutors from the Office of Criminal Litigation 4 filed charges against the defendant. The trial…
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Royal Thai Police roll out warning-first traffic rule for early 2026
The Royal Thai Police launched a new road safety policy yesterday, January 28, aimed at improving traffic discipline, with officers instructed to issue verbal warnings before handing out fines to most violators from January through March. Police Lieutenant General Somprasong Yenthum, assistant to the national police chief, ordered senior commanders across the country, including Metropolitan Police, Provincial Police Regions 1…
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New Thai court platform allows direct requests to delete explicit content
The Court of Justice of Thailand yesterday, January 26, launched a new online platform allowing the public to report explicit content and request its removal 24 hours a day, in response to recently revised sex crime laws. The Court of Justice spokesperson, Suriyan Hongwilai, announced that this marks the first time in Thailand that victims and people affected by cyber…
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Viral sign outlines ID policy for applicants with changed appearance
A sign spotted at a national ID card service point caught attention online after it advised that people whose appearance has changed due to surgery or gender transition need to bring a witness when applying. The notice, which began circulating on social media today, December 22, was posted at an ID card service point, though the exact location was not…
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Thai court rules banks must prove credit card fraud, not customers
Thailand’s Supreme Court has ruled that banks, not customers, must prove who authorised disputed credit card transactions, setting a legal precedent that strengthens consumer protection against cyber scams. The case, Supreme Court ruling No. 2624/2568, began when a bank sued a customer over charges made on their credit card without the cardholder’s knowledge or consent. The customer denied making the…
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New alcohol rule: vendors banned from serving intoxicated customers
Thailand introduced a new regulation under the Alcohol Control Act, banning alcohol vendors from selling alcoholic beverages to customers who are already intoxicated. Following several revisions to the Alcohol Control Act over the past few months, the Craft Beer Trade Association used its official Facebook page yesterday, December 18, to explain the updated rules in simple terms to help business…
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Thai activist sentenced to 46 years for Facebook posts
Thai activist, Mongkol Thirakhot, or Busbas, has been sentenced to 46 years in prison by the Supreme Court for his social media posts. The final ruling was delivered yesterday, December 11, at Chiang Rai Provincial Court. Mongkol is a 32 year old former clothing seller turned political activist who is convicted under Section 112 of the Criminal Code, known as…
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Thailand begins 180-day trial lifting afternoon alcohol sales ban
Thailand officially launched its trial to lift the long-standing afternoon alcohol sales ban today, December 3, allowing alcohol sales between 2pm and 5pm for the first time in decades. The trial will run for 180 days while officials assess the impact before making a permanent decision. Two weeks ago, Deputy Prime Minister Sophon Sarum revealed that the National Alcohol Policy…
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Thai Cabinet withdraws plan to add more public holidays in 2026
The Thai Cabinet has backtracked on a decision to add more public holidays in 2026, voicing concerns that extended breaks could negatively impact businesses and employment. Today, December 2, the Cabinet meeting reviewed a proposal from the Secretariat of the Cabinet suggesting the addition of two special public holidays in 2026. However, ministers raised concerns that more long weekends might…
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Thailand pushes anti-discrimination bill to promote equality
Thailand’s Justice Ministry is advancing its proposals for an anti-discrimination bill aimed at promoting equality nationwide. The ministry joined the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth) and the People’s Movement to Eliminate Discrimination (MovED) at a recent forum to discuss the draft law. Justice Minister Pol Lt Gen Rutthapon Naowarat said supports the country’s constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human…
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Addressing the change in the alcohol laws in Thailand
Thailand’s alcohol regulations have long been a source of confusion for both tourists and residents. But as of late 2025, the Thai government has officially made adjustments to two key aspects of its alcohol policy. These changes mark a shift toward a more flexible and tourism-friendly approach, while still retaining Thailand’s broader public health framework. Here’s what’s new under the…
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New rules, same fun? Everything travellers need to know about Thailand’s new drinking laws
Alcohol can now be served in restaurants between 2pm to 5pm, but fines up to 10,000 baht apply if drinking outside legal hours. Most establishments already follow rules so it will be hard to break this law. Minimum drinking age is 20, with restrictions at temples, schools, hospitals, and on election days. Travellers can still enjoy Thailand’s nightlife by respecting…
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Thailand introduces new tax for vintage cars to boost tourism
The Excise Department has introduced a new tax for vintage cars and plans to allow them to operate on weekends and public holidays. Kulaya Tantitemit, Director General of the Excise Department, said the department supports the use of electric vehicles, including cars and motorcycles, under the EV 3.0 and EV 3.5 initiatives. These measures aim to position Thailand as a…
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Thai temples ordered to limit cash holdings amid monk scandal
Following a romantic scandal involving monks, the Sangha Supreme Council issued a regulation requiring every temple across Thailand to hold no more than 100,000 baht in cash. The regulation is expected to come into effect on October 1. The scandal, which involves a Thai woman named Golf and several respected monks, captured widespread public attention. In addition to focusing on…
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Thailand sets out stance on cyberspace laws
Thailand has released its national position on the Application of International Law in Cyberspace, confirming that human rights laws are applicable in cyberspace under international norms, according to a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on its Facebook page. The document is a result of national consultations involving several key agencies such as the Office of the Attorney General,…
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Alcohol act revamp: Thailand raises the bar on booze ads
The Thai Cabinet agreed to revise the Alcohol Beverage Control Act, allowing businesses to advertise their alcohol products and enabling the public to share pictures and videos of alcoholic beverages without legal punishment. The draft of the revised Alcohol Beverage Control Act was discussed during the Cabinet meeting yesterday, March 19. At the end of the meeting, 365 Parliament members…
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Thailand imposes stricter penalties for unpaid tolls
The Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT) is set to enforce stricter penalties for unpaid tolls starting January 1, 2025. Drivers who fail to pay tolls will face fines up to ten times the toll fee, with a maximum of 2,000 baht per incident. This new regulation is part of the enforcement of Section 63 of the EXAT Act of 2007,…
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Bangkok lowers speed limit to 60 km/h in bid to reduce road accidents
The Royal Gazette published an announcement today, December 24, regarding a new regulation on speed limits within Bangkok, which reduces the speed of vehicles on all roads in the city to 60 kilometres per hour (kp/h), except on 13 specific roads. The Royal Gazette released details on its official website today regarding the new speed limit and noise prohibitions in…
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Marriage equality approved, LGBTQA+ couples to wed in 120 days
King Rama X yesterday approved the Marriage Equality Bill allowing LGBTQA+ couples in Thailand to officially marry in 120 days after the approval. The movement to allow LGBTQA+ couples to legally register their marriages in Thailand began 23 years ago, in 2001, when former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was in office. However, Thai society had not yet widely recognised the…
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Governor Chadchart issues the 5 strict orders: Schools under the BMA must be free of e-cigarettes
Chadchart Sittipunt, Governor of Bangkok, revealed that BMA attaches huge importance to the campaign to rid schools of smoking. Especially children and youth they are focusing on the prevention related to cigarettes and e-cigarettes. There is a continuous effort with this campaign every year. The 5 strict orders in the campaign to combat smoking at schools are: Let schools under…
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Spirited debate: Health ministry’s alcohol curfew talks hit a hiccup
The Ministry of Public Health held a meeting today, February 15, to deliberate on the potential abolition of the time restriction for alcohol sales, currently set between 11am and 2pm. However, the meeting failed to reach a clear conclusion. The Public Health Minister, Chonlnan Srikaew, reported that the proposal to cancel the time limit for alcohol sales was submitted to…
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Bangkok airport protest leaders face bankruptcy over 522 million baht compensation order
The Central Bankruptcy Court has dealt a decisive blow to 11 pivotal figures of the dissolved People Alliance for Democracy (PAD) by issuing an absolute receivership order against them. This verdict relates to their involvement in protests that resulted in the closure of Bangkok’s two primary airports. The court order, made public via the Royal Gazette, gives an assigned receiver…
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Thailand to adopt stricter firearm controls amid rise in gun-related crimes
Thailand is adopting stricter firearm controls amid a rise in gun-related crimes. The Cabinet is set to draft a firearms act which deems all privately owned firearms and ammunition must be registered with a government agency. According to The Star, the draft act was approved on Tuesday. Government spokesperson Rachada Dhnadirek confirmed the news adding that the current measures in…
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Thailand’s Digital Economy and Society Minister says e-cigarettes should be legalised
Thailand’s Digital Economy and Society Minister says it’s about time that e-cigarettes be legalised. The Minister, Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn, thinks Thailand should amend the law to reflect the lives of many people in developed countries. According to Thai PBS World, Chaiwut added that Thailand’s neighbouring countries of Singapore and Malaysia have already legalised electronic smoking devices. “The key issue is to…
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Thailand’s Tourism Authority reminds visitors of current anti-smoking laws
Thailand’s government is reminding tourists of the nation’s current anti-smoking laws. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) says travellers should be aware that electronic cigarettes, shishas, and electronic shishas are currently illegal. Furthermore, the TAT says there is no smoking in public areas as part of the broader Tobacco Control Law which aims to promote a clean, safe and smoke-free…
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