No alcohol can be bought or sold online from next week

[webfact]

No alcohol can be bought or sold online from next week

By THE NATION

 

Dr Niphon Chinanonwet

 

The Royal Thai Police and Public Health Ministry held a press conference on Friday to announce the enforcement of a new law that prohibits the sale or advertisement of alcoholic beverages via digital channels.

 

“From Monday, December 7, the sale and advertisement of alcoholic beverages online will be prohibited,” deputy police spokesman Pol Colonel Siriwat Deephor said. “Direct selling, persuading consumers, introducing products or other related services via digital channels that enable sellers to complete a sale without meeting the buyer face to face will be banned.”

 

This prohibition, however, does not include paying for alcoholic beverages via electronic methods at stores, restaurants or establishments that serve alcohol.

 

“Violators face up to six months in prison and/or Bt10,000 in fines,” Siriwat added.

 

Dr Niphon Chinanonwet, director of the Department of Disease Control’s Alcohol Control Committee, said these controls are being introduced because it is difficult to check if the sale of alcohol online is in compliance with legal limits, such as age, in line with the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act.

 

“This prohibition applies to all retailers and wholesalers, regardless of the size of company,” he said. “This law is not a ploy to cut off sales channels for small businesses as some say.”

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30399106

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-12-04

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

[Justgrazing]

Can't imagine that will do much for getting foreigners to come back .. 

[TSF]

Keep this up and we may as well move to Muslim Malaysia and enjoy some freedoms.

[bangsaenguy]

Never could understand this new law. Educate me

[Wiggy]

15 minutes ago, webfact said:

“This law is not a ploy to cut off sales channels for small businesses as some say.”

Yes, it is. 

[onebir]

15 minutes ago, webfact said:

“This prohibition applies to all retailers and wholesalers, regardless of the size of company,” he said. “This law is not a ploy to cut off sales channels for small businesses as some say.”

Nonetheless it'll wipe out small online specialist retailers of imported wine etc & leaving the market to companies large enough to have physical stores...

[bluesofa]

14 minutes ago, webfact said:

Dr Niphon Chinanonwet, director of the Department of Disease Control’s Alcohol Control Committee, said these controls are being introduced because it is difficult to check if the sale of alcohol online is in compliance with legal limits, such as age, in line with the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act.

It's also difficult to check the age of kids buying alcohol in small shops out of town, when making money is involved.

I assume they will all be shut down nationwide next month then?

[rkidlad]

13 minutes ago, webfact said:

Dr Niphon Chinanonwet, director of the Department of Disease Control’s Alcohol Control Committee, said these controls are being introduced because it is difficult to check if the sale of alcohol online is in compliance with legal limits, such as age, in line with the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act.

It's really rather simple. Whoever is buying the alcohol has to show ID online and when receiving the drinks. What that person can to do with the alcohol would be no different to what a person instore could do with it after they buy theirs. 

 

You could even have people from the relevant agencies trying to purchase alcohol illegally online. If they succeed, you can hand down big fines and announce it to the public. 

 

I can't see any scenario where it would be easier for an underage drinker to buy it online than it would be to get it from a bricks-and-mortar Seven or Tesco, etc. In fact, I'd say it would be more difficult. Oh, well. Guess they'll just have to go to their local mom & pop shop and say it's for the old fella. 

[sammieuk1]

You should still be able to buy stone cartwheels in this new normal age though ????

[bluesofa]

2 minutes ago, rkidlad said:

It's really rather simple. Whoever is buying the alcohol has to show ID online and when receiving the drinks. What that person can to do with the alcohol would be no different to what a person instore could do with it after they buy theirs. 

 

You could even have people from the relevant agencies trying to purchase alcohol illegally online. If they succeed, you can hand down big fines and announce it to the public. 

 

I can't see any scenario where it would be easier for an underage drinker to buy it online than it would be to get it from a bricks-and-mortar Seven or Tesco, etc. In fact, I'd say it would be more difficult. Oh, well. Guess they'll just have to go to their local mom & pop shop and say it's for the old fella. 

I agree entirely, but there you go - bringing logic into it. As we know, this is not the place for logical thinking.

[ChaiyaTH]

Most annoying rule as I often would been tempted ordering a bottle of wine with the food. Specially since COVID. I do not understand what the problem is. In terms of alcohol abuse the chance is small he/she orders online in the first place.

 

I read that in Thailand you do not only need to have this alcohol selling license, but to move the alcohol from A to B, you need another license to transport the alcohol as well. 

[bluesofa]

5 minutes ago, sammieuk1 said:

You should still be able to buy stone cartwheels in this new normal age though ????

I'm not sure. I worry about Health & Safety in case a cartwheel rolled down an incline and injured a school kid, or worse, a dog.

 

<For the hard-of-learning: The text above may contain traces of sarcasm>

[onebir]

11 minutes ago, rkidlad said:

It's really rather simple. Whoever is buying the alcohol has to show ID online and when receiving the drinks. What that person can to do with the alcohol would be no different to what a person instore could do with it after they buy theirs. 

Simpler still: set a minimum price (perhaps per ml alcohol) for alcoholic drinks sold online that excludes the cheaper drinks younger drinkers are likely to want.

[clarky cat]

22 minutes ago, bangsaenguy said:

Never could understand this new law. Educate me

helps poor people start illegal businesses for more of a profit margin

[bluesofa]

3 minutes ago, ChaiyaTH said:

{snipped}

I read that in Thailand you do not only need to have this alcohol selling license, but to move the alcohol from A to B, you need another license to transport the alcohol as well. 

I thought that was only to transport it between provinces, but I could be wrong.

[ThailandRyan]

The new way to order beer, wine and spirits

 

[JonnyF]

A silly law that inconveniences the general public and restricts choice while simultaneously driving small businesses out of the market to the benefit of the massive players.

 

Entirely consistent with the M.O. of this government, sucking the joy out of the country. Death by a thousand cuts. 

[bluesofa]

15 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

The new way to order beer, wine and spirits

 

I take it they'll email it to you, in order to avoid getting caught.

[Mr Meeseeks]

54 minutes ago, onebir said:

Nonetheless it'll wipe out small online specialist retailers of imported wine etc & leaving the market to companies large enough to have physical stores...

Wine in Thailand.

 

I love a good wine myself, and I can afford it, but I will not pay the extortionate luxury taxes.

 

Tell everyone you know about the extortionate price of wine here, be very, very vocal and upfront about it. Tell your local Thai friends too, mention that a two buck chuck is 1000+ Baht here. Tell them it is very poor quality and you will not drink it.

 

There is not the expertise on wines here either. No sommaliers, no experts... it is a barren country for wines.

 

Discourage those that drink wine from taking holidays here as they will invariably be disappointed.

 

They tax us we fight back.

[WineOh]

The war on booze continues.

 

May as well just ban it outright then we can all start making our own wine and beer at home..

 

save a bleedin fortune i bet!

[johng]

5 minutes ago, Liverpoolfan said:

we can all start making our own wine and beer at home.

Homebrew is already banned ! ????????

[Tyler Visan]

54 minutes ago, bluesofa said:

I thought that was only to transport it between provinces, but I could be wrong.

That would bollo...x me as my house is in one province and my front garden is in another. !

[Tyler Visan]

21 minutes ago, Liverpoolfan said:

The war on booze continues.

 

May as well just ban it outright then we can all start making our own wine and beer at home..

 

save a bleedin fortune i bet!

START?

[bluesofa]

5 minutes ago, Tyler Visan said:

That would bollo...x me as my house is in one province and my front garden is in another. !

The hub of illegal beer distribution: Carry it  under cover of darkness from the front garden to the house.

[kingofthemountain]

I wonder if this law could be a way to stop the girlies bar actualy triying to survive

selling lady drinks online ?

 

The conservative elite runing the country has always wanted to get rid of the seedy reputation

of the country and the bargirls scene, at least the most in sight and farang oriented

 

Covid was the perfect oportunity to close all of this, but maybe the process 

isn't fast enough and some of the gogo's and beer bars trying to make money

online and surviving this way is irritating for some of these people?

 

Just asking, i could be wrong

but if i am not mistaken for the exact same reason

Thailand has recently prohibed new Paypal accounts ?

[Dmaxdan]

35 minutes ago, Liverpoolfan said:

The war on booze continues.

 

May as well just ban it outright then we can all start making our own wine and beer at home..

 

save a bleedin fortune i bet!

I think you are underestimating the skill involved making quality wines such as Mont Clair...

[bluesofa]

9 minutes ago, kingofthemountain said:

I wonder if this law could be a way to stop the girlies bar actualy triying to survive

selling lady drinks online ?

 

The conservative elite runing the country has always wanted to get rid of the seedy reputation

of the country and the bargirls scene, at least the most in sight and farang oriented

 

Covid was the perfect oportunity to close all of this, but maybe the process 

isn't fast enough and some of the gogo's and beer bars trying to make money

online and surviving this way is irritating for some of these people?

 

Just asking, i could be wrong

but if i am not mistaken for the exact same reason

Thailand has recently prohibed new Paypal accounts ?

I wasn't aware about the banning of new Payapl accounts? What's the twisted thinking behind that one?

[kingofthemountain]

18 minutes ago, bluesofa said:

I wasn't aware about the banning of new Payapl accounts? What's the twisted thinking behind that one?

i don't know the details, i just have read something in the news few weeks ago

but Paypal is hoping coming back in Thailand next year

https://www.paypal.com/th/webapps/mpp/home?locale.x=en_TH

[bluesofa]

1 minute ago, kingofthemountain said:

i don't know the details, i just have read something in the news few weeks ago

but Paypal is hoping coming back in Thailand next year

https://www.paypal.com/th/webapps/mpp/home?locale.x=en_TH

I saw that too, but didn't read it as I thought it was just marketing blurb. I've had a Paypal account for thirteen years.

I've never noticed any restrictions or changes having appeared on the account?

 

[kingofthemountain]

4 minutes ago, bluesofa said:

I saw that too, but didn't read it as I thought it was just marketing blurb. I've had a Paypal account for thirteen years.

I've never noticed any restrictions or changes having appeared on the account?

 

From what i remember from my reading it was only

for the new accounts, and it was just after all the girls and bars

moving on internet to beg for money using paypal accounts

maybe just a pure coincidence