Bangkok: The Royal Thai Police are preparing to ensure election security, announcing a ban on alcohol sales from 6:00 PM today and inviting the public to download the "Police Care" app for a simplified version of election laws. Pol. Lt. Gen. Chaitpoj Suwannarak, Commander of the Personnel Office and Deputy Spokesperson of the Royal Thai Police, disclosed these measures ahead of the general election and referendum on Sunday, February 8, 2026.
According to Thai News Agency, Pol. Gen. Kittirat Panpetch, the Commissioner General of the Royal Thai Police, has directed officers to maintain security and order during the election. The police will continue their duties until the tasks requested by the Election Commission (EC) are completed or until the vote counting concludes. Emphasizing the importance of this task under the democratic system, he instructed all police officers to maintain strict political neutrality and avoid any actions that could breach election laws.
On election day, the police will be responsible for securing polling stations, maintaining overall security, and facilitating traffic. The Commissioner General has instructed all units to prepare rapid response teams at both police station and provincial levels to support operations if incidents occur. Officers on duty are required to thoroughly understand election laws and adhere to the security and public order plan outlined in the Royal Thai Police's Election Protection Plan (Election Protection/66).
Pol. Lt. Gen. Chaitpoj informed the public about the prohibition of the sale, distribution, and serving of all types of liquor and alcoholic beverages from 6:00 PM today (February 7, 2026) until 6:00 PM tomorrow (February 8, 2026). Violators risk imprisonment of up to 6 months, a fine of up to 10,000 baht, or both.
Furthermore, the Deputy Spokesperson has invited the public to understand their voting rights and responsibilities, warning against actions that may violate election laws. Detailed information is available in the 'Police Care' application, under the 'News and Updates' feature, by selecting 'Election Law Knowledge.' This application provides comprehensive information in an accessible format and can be downloaded on Android systems via the Play Store and IOS systems via the App Store.