Thai govt proposes fines of 500,000 baht for posting photos of alcoholic drinks online

[webfact]

Picture: The Standard

 

The Standard reported yesterday on Thailand's infamously strict laws on alcohol and its sale. 

 

They said that it could soon be possible to be fined 500,000 baht just for posting a picture of a glass of beer or wine. 

 

They posted a picture that said: "Alcohol is not a crime.

 

And 60-80% of that fine could go into the pocket of the police or authority that brought the prosecution.

 

For years - since 2008 mainly - there have been strict rules about alcohol especially its advertising that has affected the individual but especially the industry and mainly small operators and businesses. 

 

Up to now private individuals can be fined 50,000 baht for promoting or advertising alcohol. Now a draft amendment from the authorities is proposing this is increased to half a million baht.

 

People in the industry are presently fined up to 500,000 baht - the proposals would see this rise to a full one million baht. 

 

They could also face daily fines of 50,000 baht for ongoing violations and could be subject to seizures of assets without warrant.

 

New regulations could also be introduced without the need for public consultation allowing the authorities more powers. 

 

There is also a proposal to stop a kind of loophole that allows big firms to promote their products by referring to soda rather than beer.

 

ASEAN Now notes that this has particularly been done by firms like Bood Rawd (Singha) and Leo who advertise water and soda during football matches.

 

In future just using the soda logo or "naam" could be illegal and subject to fines by association. 

 

People can leave their comments and opinions at alcoholact.ddc.moph.go.th/act/

 

The Standard said that opinions from the public were being collected from now until July 9th. 

 

We tried this - you are asked for an ID number and your name and other details  to proceed. They promise your data will be kept private.

 

The Standard also said that a "people's section" is also seeking opinions on the issue of alcohol not being on sale in shops between 2pm and 5 pm, the subject of bans on religious holidays, online advertising and discounts and the issue of state employees taking cuts of fines. 

 

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[Thaiwrath]

1 minute ago, webfact said:

They said that it could soon be possible to be fined 500,000 baht just for posting a picture of a glass of beer or wine. 

Absolutely pathetic.

These clowns get worse each day !

[poohy]

Ye gods ! no wonder people drink in this country

And while im here Oi bozos what happening with the vaccine got any yet?

[Mac Mickmanus]

I am in favour of these restrictions .

For those of us trying to give up drinking  , it can be torturous tp keep seeing alcoholic drinks popping up on social media .

   It was terrible a few years back when Chang and Leo beer signs seemed to be outside every shop and on advertising boards .

  Your head is saying "Dont think about drinking" and your eyes are seeing "Drink, drink, drink" all day long

[tonray]

So you can be fined for promoting carbonated soda water if it bears the same name as your company's beer.....just wow...

 

Coming to a supermarket near you: "Not Singha Soda Water" or "The Soda Water Previously Known as Singha"

[mtls2005]

Just what Thailand needs, more laws which are selectively enforced.

 

 

[RotBenz8888]

32 minutes ago, webfact said:

seeking opinions on the issue of alcohol not being on sale in shops between 2pm and 5 pm, t

These hours doesn't make any sense to me at all, did they just make it up like randomly? 

[Mac Mickmanus]

1 minute ago, RotBenz8888 said:

These hours doesn't make any sense to me at all, dud they just make it up like randomly? 

 

  That's to stop people drinking all day long 

[tonray]

5 minutes ago, mtls2005 said:

Just what Thailand needs, more laws which are selectively enforced.

 

 

Let me guess...if you currently came in on an OA Visa you are required to purchase a $100K US alcohol insurance policy...ha ha ha ha ha

[tifino]

26 minutes ago, Thaiwrath said:

Absolutely pathetic.

These clowns get worse each day !

and soon become very lonely... 

[Freeduhdum]

How would we survive without government?

[smedly]

I challenge these fools now to totally ban the sale of alcohol in Thailand, see how your tourism goes then 

 

Honestly - the fools and their rules, reap the benefits through tax revenue and tourism and social structures but then demonise the whole thing - time to face reality, you either want to totally ban it or face reality and stop with this stupid nonsense. 

 

Either #### or get off the pot

[tonray]

I'm a bit worried. I always wear some T-shirts with LEO and Singha logos around the house. I'm hoping my Thai neighbors don't drop a dime on me for a reward.

[Mr Meeseeks]

38 minutes ago, webfact said:

People can leave their comments and opinions at alcoholact.ddc.moph.go.th/act/

 

The Standard said that opinions from the public were being collected from now until July 9th. 

 

We tried this - you are asked for an ID number and your name and other details  to proceed. They promise your data will be kept private.

Not a hope.

[tonray]

2 minutes ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

They promise your data will be kept private.

Why can't I use the laughing hilariously Emoji anymore ?

[ezzra]

Absurdity and stupidity reign supreme, they lost the plot they have...

[toofarnorth]

Something more over here to drive me to drink.

[madmitch]

I wonder what the Government sponsors Boon Rawd and ThaiBev would think about this?

 

However, it appears to be an unsubstantiated report with no sources quoted so who knows how accurate this is?

[Nickelbeer]

What a strange way to attack a major business concern. Simply bizarre.

[DrJack54]

34 minutes ago, Mac Mickmanus said:

  Your head is saying "Dont think about drinking" and your eyes are seeing "Drink, drink, drink" all day long

Your kidding right.

If your success to get off the booze relies upon you not seeing a billboard with pic of alcohol beverage then you may as well go buy a case now and have a party.

[Dmaxdan]

56 minutes ago, webfact said:

And 60-80% of that fine could go into the pocket of the police or authority that brought the prosecution

I wonder what they will spend some of their potential windfall on.....

[ChipButty]

37 minutes ago, Mac Mickmanus said:

 

  That's to stop people drinking all day long 

It doesn't work

[ChipButty]

Best you lot go through your FB pages and remove any photo's you might have with a beer in your hand

[ChipButty]

38 minutes ago, smedly said:

I challenge these fools now to totally ban the sale of alcohol in Thailand, see how your tourism goes then 

 

Honestly - the fools and their rules, reap the benefits through tax revenue and tourism and social structures but then demonise the whole thing - time to face reality, you either want to totally ban it or face reality and stop with this stupid nonsense. 

 

Either #### or get off the pot

Dont be giving them any idea's 

[tifino]

35 minutes ago, tonray said:

Why can't I use the laughing hilariously Emoji anymore ?

 maybe BYO  

 

 

[NanLaew]

51 minutes ago, tonray said:

So you can be fined for promoting carbonated soda water if it bears the same name as your company's beer.....just wow...

 

Coming to a supermarket near you: "Not Singha Soda Water" or "The Soda Water Previously Known as Singha"

 

Last year, my mate's wife was told by the cops that her Singha Soda awnings on her restaurant were 'illegal'. This was in Udon Thani where fun has always had to run the gauntlet of arbitrary rules and laws from the administration and police. The place has always been tainted by an unstated promotion of abstention and temperance. It's almost like the Wee Free church in Scotland.

[Guderian]

Why on earth are we living in this Kafkaesque country? They've got the biggest public health crisis in living memory on their hands, they've completely screwed up their vaccination programme, and yet all they can find to act on is this sort of nonsense.

Message to self: go home, get vaccinated, wait for sanity to return, then find a less-inane country to move to.

[BritManToo]

15 hours ago, Mac Mickmanus said:

I am in favour of these restrictions .

For those of us trying to give up drinking  , it can be torturous tp keep seeing alcoholic drinks popping up on social media .

   It was terrible a few years back when Chang and Leo beer signs seemed to be outside every shop and on advertising boards .

  Your head is saying "Dont think about drinking" and your eyes are seeing "Drink, drink, drink" all day long

By similar reasoning I would like all women forced to wear Burka's

[NCC1701A]

so do i have to reedit my personal porn? 

[Walker88]

55 minutes ago, Mac Mickmanus said:

I am in favour of these restrictions .

For those of us trying to give up drinking  , it can be torturous tp keep seeing alcoholic drinks popping up on social media .

   It was terrible a few years back when Chang and Leo beer signs seemed to be outside every shop and on advertising boards .

  Your head is saying "Dont think about drinking" and your eyes are seeing "Drink, drink, drink" all day long

So society should be structured to appeal to the lowest common denominator?

 

Most people who drink do so responsibly. Companies that produce alcohol employ hundreds of thousands of people in production, distribution and final use. So all of them have to take a hit (maybe lower profits, maybe lower employment, etc.) because some people have an addiction beyond their control?

 

Okay, then let's project that sort of 'save the few' on to other things.....let's see....we install governors on all motor vehicles limiting their speed to 5km per hour, because some people speed and cause accidents. Think of all the lives that will save! And let's get rid of that electricity thing. Forget Maxwell and Faraday---no electricity means nobody gets electrocuted ever again.