madmitch

44 minutes ago, Purdey said:

Local beer has been allowed for a long time but not at large scale. The only way the government can make this work is (1) to forbid large companies from buying small companies even if the small companies are going to go bankrupt (2) forbid small companies selling out to large companies just because they got an offer larger than their value. 

Won't happen. Small breweries will sell if the price is right. 

I like your thinking, for as soon as big breweries take over small ones, the product quality usually diminishes. It's happened so many times in the UK, especially with "real ale", but now it's happening with "craft beer" as well. 

But when you look at the figures involved, then it's no surprise independents sell out. Beavertown, Camden and Meantime have all been taken over by the big boys and now their products are found all over the country and the entrepreneurs have seven or eight figure bank balances. However, there are plenty of small brewers that are small enough not to attract the attention of the corporates and long may that continue.

I hope Thailand wakes up to this soon, though it'll probably be under the next Government.

But it is difficult to stop

This should have been sorted many months ago. If they do manage to raise the cash from the private sector, expect pop up ads every minute or so as they won't give money for nothing. And probably Thai only commentary from the comfort of a studio in Bangkok.

22 minutes ago, roger101 said:

555 You must be joking.

No joke. This happens. Not regularly, and it's at random. The officers even open bottles and sniff them to make sure you're selling the right stuff, though I'm not quite sure how they know! Of course word gets round when they're on the way so people are prepared! GF was once fined when they found a bottle of wine underneath our small guesthouse bar counter which belonged to a Swedish guest.

Prices everywhere will be significantly higher than they've been for the previous two years where prices were reduced just to get a few customers through the doors.

I have looked and I reckon most hotels are still below the 2019 price.

The competition starts in just over a week yet Thailand still hasn't worked out whether or not it'll be on TV! Then there's the task of getting advertisers and sponsors, not to forget the TV scheduling. Totally amateur.

Thailand desperately needs younger blood at the top. Hopefully these two fighting with each other might allow an outsider to slip in (not Anutin!). 

But if the US gets Trump v Biden again these guys are mere youngsters!

I take but what I said the other day that I'm happy to see some sort of compromise as the "small print" seems to have scuppered any chance for new entrepreneurs to set up.

As always, big business gets its way.

21 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The Bill to liberalise liquor production would help boost local economies and tourism, distribute income to rural areas, broaden the tax base and put an end to Thailand’s liquor business oligopoly.

Unfortunately it's those final eight words that Prayut and co are more concerned about. They've done nothing at all to help small businesses in the past eight years and the big guns have got bigger and stronger.

But where are the masks? How can tourists be protected without masks?

5 hours ago, webfact said:

The meeting also approved a road accident prevention and reduction plan for public holidays in 2023, particularly during the New Year and Songkran holidays

........which will involve setting up tents at the side of the road in the same spots they've been doing for years and with the same inept staff manning them!

The masks make the picture look even more ridiculous.

No doubt another three years of traffic chaos!

19 hours ago, DrDave said:

"...the project is expected to generate about 62 billion baht in annual revenue through medical tourism..."

 

That would be 170 million baht in revenue per day. Even after accounting for related medical tourism income such as lodging and food, I think their estimate might be off by an order of magnitude or so.

They borrowed the TAT calculator????

4 hours ago, JayClay said:

You don't think the two knifes had anything to do with the charges?

Of course not. They were only for carving the chicken.

Amazed how many people haven't heard of Conde Nast. Vogue, GQ and Tatler are among their publications. As stated above, Conde Nast Traveler is aimed at the luxury traveller, just the sort of tourist that Thailand wants, so they probably pride this ranking above many others (and there does seem to be a new one every week!).

Of course, this is published at a time when long haul travel is still slowly recovering so I'm not too sure where the results are compiled from.

Ladie's volleyball seems to be about the only sport which gets blanket TV coverage in Thailand and my GF and her friends are glued to it whenever it's on. I find it eminently watchable as well......not sure why?????

When she was in England I managed to get it on my TV via an Android box, which she was very please about. The problem was she discovered she could watch the Thai soaps every day as well!