Alcohol Board Maintains Ban on Automated Alcohol Dispensers, Orders Study to Expand Scope to Retail Outlets

On June 29, Health Minister Pattana Prom-Pattan spoke following the third meeting of the Alcohol Beverage Control Committee in 2025, confirming that the board continues to ban the sale of alcoholic beverages through automated vending machines. The committee discussed the appropriateness of current enforcement measures and ways to update secondary legislation to align with changing retail formats.

Pattana clarified that the ban on automated alcohol dispensers is not new—it has been in force since 2018 due to concerns about easy public access to alcohol, particularly near schools and communities. "This meeting is not about issuing new measures, but rather discussing how retail and sales methods have changed significantly from 2018 to 2025," Pattana explained. The committee has tasked its secretariat with studying how to refine the definition of store types and sales methods to better reflect current retail practices.

When asked whether this could expand controls beyond convenience stores, Pattana said the committee is still reviewing details including store classifications, size, proximity to educational institutions, and public accessibility to ensure laws address modern commerce while remaining within the retail and convenience store framework.

The committee emphasized that automated dispensers present different control challenges than bottle or can sales, since machines allow immediate consumption. Pattana stressed that the board remains committed to the ban and will continue these measures. "What we're considering is not deregulation, but rather expanding the details of the announcement to cover changing store and sales formats while keeping controls within retail stores and convenience shops," he said. Bars and other service establishments already operate under separate regulatory frameworks. The secretariat is expected to bring updated proposals back to the committee after completing its research.