THAILAND has announced that alcohol sales via electronic channels will be prohibited.
In an announcement on the Thai government website, Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha said that due to the popularity of e-commerce, some entrepreneurs opted to sell alcoholic beverages via electronic channels.
According to The Nation, Prayut said this made it difficult to control the date, time, venue and target groups buying alcohol to be in compliance with the legal limits.
It said the prime minister, after getting advice from the National Alcoholic Beverage Policy Committee, decided that sales or "other actions" related to the selling of alcoholic beverages via electronic channels will be prohibited.
This includes direct selling, persuading, introducing the product or related services via electronic channels that enable sellers and consumers to complete a sale without physically meeting.
The prohibition does not include the selling and paying for alcoholic beverages via electronic methods at stores, restaurants or establishments that serve alcohol.
The ban will take effect within 90 days of being announced in the Royal Gazette.