What to Remember at a Glance

• Alcohol sales: the afternoon restriction has been lifted since December 3 (180-day test phase), while reinforcing the night-time closing hour.
• Air traffic: Airports of Thailand (AOT) has obtained an increase in the Passenger Service Charge (PSC) from 730 to 1,120 THB for international flights, effective at the beginning of 2026 (+53%).
• Air quality: Bangkok and a dozen provinces above the red PM2.5 threshold; anti-smog plans are activated, electric river taxis are becoming widespread.
• Northern border: two civilians injured on the Thai side by fragments from Myanmar; targeted evacuations and reinforcements at the border.
• Personal data: stop to iris scans and request to delete 1.2 million biometric fingerprints, for non-compliance with the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA).

Floods: A Very Heavy Human Toll and Specific Compensation

The country is painfully emerging from an episode of unprecedented flooding, described on JTPT as the most serious in several centuries. The latest count mentioned reports more than 176 victims in Thailand and more than 3.8 million people affected in several provinces, with a major impact reported in the South. In Southeast Asia, if we aggregate the period and the affected areas (Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia), the death toll would exceed one thousand, according to data relayed by the program.

On the social front, the government has announced compensation of 2 million baht (approximately €54,000) for the families of victims recognized as eligible. According to information communicated this week, the scheme extends beyond the single most affected province. One shadow remains: the number of files retained is, at this stage, far lower than the losses recorded. For families, it is aid that does not compensate for the irreparable, but that counts in the reconstruction.

This monitoring recalls an obvious fact: once the water is removed, the news flies, the needs remain. The most affected provinces will have to combine emergency repairs, social support and hydraulic works to reduce vulnerability to the rainy season.

Alcohol: Afternoon Sales Become Possible Again, Under Conditions

It's official since December 3: the lifting of the ban on alcohol sales in the middle of the afternoon (the most restrictive period, especially in convenience stores and supermarkets) has come into effect, with publication in the Royal Gazette. Concretely, the shutters on the shelves of 7-Elevens and supermarkets no longer come down at previously prohibited times.

However, be careful: this liberalization is carried out within the framework of a 180-day pilot. The State will re-evaluate its maintenance at the end of this period, taking into account feedback and observed effects (public order, road safety, economic impact). You can therefore buy safely in the afternoon until about June, subject to extension.

What Changes, What Doesn't Change

• Bars and clubs: reinforcement of the closing hour. The sale of alcohol must cease at 1 a.m.. The authorities warn: on the consumer side, lingering beyond this time exposes you to a fine of 10,000 THB (≈ €266).
• Exemptions: airports (open 24/7) and the hotel industry retain derogation regimes; they can serve and sell without the same time constraint.

For travelers, this adjustment clarifies a point that has caused misunderstanding for years. For businesses, the issue is as much economic as logistical: adapting the workforce, reconfiguring in-store displays and anticipating a possible revision in six months.

Air Traffic: Airport Tax Rises by 53% in 2026

Airports of Thailand (AOT) has obtained authorization to increase the Passenger Service Charge (PSC) on international flights departing from Thailand: from 730 THB to 1,120 THB, i.e. +53%. Effective date announced at the beginning of 2026. The additional cost of 390 THB per passenger could bring in nearly 10 billion THB per year to the operator.

Why Now?

The PSC finances airport operations: infrastructure, security, passenger services, maintenance. Thai hubs are playing a regional competitiveness card; the tariff adjustment aims to secure their room for maneuver after the Covid years and in a context of higher energy and labor costs.

Not to Be Confused

This is not the "tourist tax" mentioned many times and, at this stage, abandoned. The PSC is a classic airport fee, included in the ticket price.

Impact for Travelers

• International tickets: expect a slight mechanical increase from 2026.
• Domestic flights: some companies have recently posted lower average fares, according to the information relayed (Bangkok Airways, Thai AirAsia, Nok Air). This trend may vary depending on season and routes.
• Practical advice: for 2025, watch for promotions and book early in high season (December–March). For 2026, anticipate a slightly higher "taxes and fees" budget on international flights.

Smog in Bangkok: PM2.5 in the Red, Emergency Plans and Concrete Solutions

Return of the blue sky in many regions, but perverse effect in Bangkok: the air stagnates, emissions accumulate. This week, 12 provinces in the Center and East, including the capital, exceeded the red PM2.5 threshold, with levels recorded between 75 and 92 µg/m³ at 8 a.m., or more than double the government limit set at 37.5 µg/m³. The peak was reported in Samut Prakan (92.3 µg/m³). Also cited are: Rayong, Samut Sakhon, Chonburi, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani.

The contrast is clear with the South (including Krabi and Phuket), adorned with "good to very good" air quality. But the most difficult season generally begins in mid-January and runs until mid-April, a period of agricultural burning in Thailand and among neighbors, which exacerbates pollution in the North and Center.

What the Authorities Are Putting in Place

The anti-smog fight is played on several levers, do...