Bangkok: Police have issued a stern warning against the sale of alcoholic beverages on Makha Bucha Day, with violators facing immediate legal prosecution. The Royal Thai Police are set to enforce strict measures to ensure public safety, particularly around religious sites nationwide.
According to Thai News Agency, Pol. Col. Worasak Phisitbannakorn, Deputy Commander of Patrol and Special Operations Division and Acting Commander of the Information Division, emphasized the importance of Makha Bucha Day, which falls on Wednesday, February 12, 2025, as a significant Buddhist observance. A Royal Gazette announcement has detailed that the sale of alcohol is prohibited on five key Buddhist days, with the ban effective from December 26, 2024. Exceptions are made only for sales in passenger terminals at airports offering international flights.
The Royal Thai Police's Public Relations Division has issued a reminder to businesses and shop operators to comply with the ban on selling all types of alcoholic beverages throughout the Kingdom from midnight on February 11, 2025, to midnight on February 12, 2025. This directive excludes duty-free shops within international airport terminals. Violators will face penalties under Section 39 of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act B.E. 2551.
Pol. Col. Worasak also noted that a significant number of Buddhists are expected to engage in merit-making and religious ceremonies at temples and religious sites nationwide on Makha Bucha Day. The Royal Thai Police have expressed concern for public safety and property, prompting Pol. Gen. Prachuap Wongsuk, Deputy Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police, to instruct police forces across the country to enforce safety measures rigorously. The Metropolitan Police Bureau, Provincial Police Regions 1-9, and the Central Investigation Bureau have been tasked with deploying patrols to monitor various locations and ensure compliance with the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act of 2008. Commanders at all levels are responsible for supervising their teams to maintain order, and the public is encouraged to report any suspicious activities or seek assistance through hotlines 191 and 1599, available 24/7.