Thailand Begins Trial Easing Afternoon Alcohol Sales Ban

Thailand has launched a six-month trial relaxing a decades-old ban on afternoon alcohol sales. The new rules, effective Wednesday, allow stores and bars to sell beer, wine, and spirits from 11 a.m. to midnight. Previously, sales were prohibited between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. The country maintains strict alcohol laws overall. These laws limit sales to specific hours and ban them entirely on certain Buddhist religious holidays. Officials will monitor the trial period. The government has not confirmed if the change will become permanent after six months.