Critics have complained for years that the Thai liquor market is monopolized by a handful of giant producers because Thai laws favor big investors. (Photo by YesMore Content on Unsplash)

 

Widely dubbed the “Progressive Liquor Bill”, a new draft law on excise tax is tipped to revolutionize Thailand’s alcohol industry if it sails through Parliament untouched.

 

Thailand’s booze market is now worth about Bt260 billion, but in normal times before the arrival of COVID-19 it weighed in at a whopping Bt370 billion in 2019.

 

Critics have complained for years that the market is monopolized by a handful of giant producers because Thai laws favor big investors. For instance, beer manufacturers are required to have at least Bt10 million in registered capital.

 

Meanwhile brewpubs – manufacturers that also sell their craft beer – must produce at least 100,000 liters a year. And under current rules, factories must produce a minimum of 10 million liters per year. Similar regulations apply to manufacturers of spirits.

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/will-new-bill-finally-pop-the-cap-on-thailands-booze-monopoly/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-02-14

 

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13 minutes ago, webfact said:

Widely dubbed the “Progressive Liquor Bill”, a new draft law on excise tax is tipped to revolutionize Thailand’s alcohol industry if it sails through Parliament untouched.

That's a mighty big ''if''

They need to do something, Thai beer is some of the worst I've tasted anywhere, and it seems to get worse every year. Even a locally brewed foreign beer, like SML, seems to lose much of its magic here compared with drinking it in the PI. Thank Buddha for Hoegaarden, brewed under licence in Vietnam and available at a reasonable price here nowadays.

Washington State opened up the market for micro breweries years ago and EVERYONE won. Great craft beers popped up all over and the big greedo's still made $$$$$$$$$.

Quote

They need to do something, Thai beer is some of the worst I've tasted anywhere, and it seems to get worse every year. Even a locally brewed foreign beer, like SML, seems to lose much of its magic here compared with drinking it in the PI. 

 

^^^ On top of that, one batch can differ from another, making the Thai brand even worse than it normally is. Some batches have been absolutely putrid. 

1 minute ago, Kaoboi Bebobp said:

^^^ On top of that, one batch can differ from another, making the Thai brand even worse than it normally is. 

I've noticed that. About one in 4 cans of Chang Cold Brew seems to taste like soap lately. The bottles don't seem to have the issue.

 

I've also started buying Hoegaarden. It's about twice the price of the Thai brands but worth it.

9 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

I've also started buying Hoegaarden. It's about twice the price of the Thai brands but worth it.

Yeah lovely beer. When my wife saw it poured in a glass the first time, she said that beer has gone off ???? She tasted it and she is now also "hooked" on it!!

10 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

I've noticed that. About one in 4 cans of Chang Cold Brew seems to taste like soap lately. The bottles don't seem to have the issue.

 

I've also started buying Hoegaarden. It's about twice the price of the Thai brands but worth it.

I do have a Leo8 before dinner in the evening and after a bike ride through the rice fields but I wouldn't drink it any other time.Beerlao I like and yet to try Hoegaarden.  It did appear many years ago in Devon on draught and I thought it was lush. Whether it is the same brew ...I must give it a go.  If I was as dry as a dead dingo's donger I would not drink Chang. 10.30am and enjoying a cuppa tea.

Boon Rawd and ThaiBev both hold Royal Warrants of Appointment.

 

'Nuff said.

 

 

 

1 hour ago, Kaoboi Bebobp said:

 

^^^ On top of that, one batch can differ from another, making the Thai brand even worse than it normally is. Some batches have been absolutely putrid. 

That might be what happened the first time we bought Leo.

Holy crab it tasted bad and we couldn't finish the beer and said we would never but that again.

So we stuck to Singha but changed to Chang a few years later.

 

Now when in Thailand we started to pick a lot of different ones in the counter just to see if there are other that we like.

We found a Vietnamese that tasted good but can't remember the name so have to try a hunt for Vietnamese beers again lol.

 

Here in Denmark we recently tried another Thai beer at a Thai restaurant. Archa and it was not that bad. Going to try that one once we're back in Thailand and see how it taste in that environment.

 

When in Thailand i prefer beers that are easy to drink and reminds me of Tuborg.

It's too hot to enjoy the stronger Danish and Belgium brews that i normally drink here in Denmark.

On my early trip years ago I drank a lot of Carlsberg. It was one of the more popular beers found in the bars back in the day but got muscled out by Thai beer companies. Certain payouts to govt officials can get rid of any foreign competition. 

2 hours ago, HappyExpat57 said:

Washington State opened up the market for micro breweries years ago and EVERYONE won. Great craft beers popped up all over and the big greedo's still made $$$$$$$$$.

Anything in the US labelled as "beer" should be taken with a pinch of salt

15 minutes ago, LiamB80 said:

On my early trip years ago I drank a lot of Carlsberg. It was one of the more popular beers found in the bars back in the day but got muscled out by Thai beer companies. Certain payouts to govt officials can get rid of any foreign competition. 

Let's give Carlsberg a clap on the shoulder for pure yeast.

Brewing wouldn't be the same without it.

 

https://www.growlermag.com/mill-carlsberg-father-of-quality-lager/

 

52 minutes ago, Virt said:

That might be what happened the first time we bought Leo.

Holy crab it tasted bad and we couldn't finish the beer and said we would never but that again.

So we stuck to Singha but changed to Chang a few years later.

 

Now when in Thailand we started to pick a lot of different ones in the counter just to see if there are other that we like.

We found a Vietnamese that tasted good but can't remember the name so have to try a hunt for Vietnamese beers again lol.

 

Here in Denmark we recently tried another Thai beer at a Thai restaurant. Archa and it was not that bad. Going to try that one once we're back in Thailand and see how it taste in that environment.

 

When in Thailand i prefer beers that are easy to drink and reminds me of Tuborg.

It's too hot to enjoy the stronger Danish and Belgium brews that i normally drink here in Denmark.

Hanoi beer from Vietnam was introduced 2-3 years ago in Thailand. Maybe that was it. I found it a bit too mild. Hanoi is the only Viet beer I've seen in Thailand.

9 minutes ago, Excel said:

Anything in the US labelled as "beer" should be taken with a pinch of salt

I call B.S.

1 minute ago, Jingthing said:

I call B.S.

I didn't like to call US beer that, but of course you are correct in your description of it of course

53 minutes ago, Virt said:

Here in Denmark we recently tried another Thai beer at a Thai restaurant. Archa and it was not that bad. Going to try that one once we're back in Thailand and see how it taste in that environment.

My beer of choice these days, always have a couple of cases in the house, the mrs tops the fridge up in the morning and by 5 PM it's good to go, I used to religiously drink Chang but when I first came here it was okay for a session, now it's too strong for me even though they've reduced the ABV.

5 minutes ago, Excel said:

I didn't like to call US beer that, but of course you are correct in your description of it of course

How ignorant. Like beer in the US is a monolith. 

Ever been to Portland Oregon?

 

 

2 hours ago, MJCM said:

Yeah lovely beer. When my wife saw it poured in a glass the first time, she said that beer has gone off ???? She tasted it and she is now also "hooked" on it!!

Try San Miguel wheat beer not unlike Hoegarden and cheaper.

"Taopiphop has expressed concern that the Cabinet may end up scrapping the bill, especially if the review period includes behind-the-scenes negotiations with big business."

 

Big business will get involved in the review and will ensure that the current oligopoly will continue to dominate the alcohol market by producing low-quality overpriced swill.

37 minutes ago, Golden Triangle said:

My beer of choice these days, always have a couple of cases in the house, the mrs tops the fridge up in the morning and by 5 PM it's good to go, I used to religiously drink Chang but when I first came here it was okay for a session, now it's too strong for me even though they've reduced the ABV.

I miss the old brown chang bottles with more alcohol.

 

Why did they change the alcohol %

A good trick to semi-appreciate Thai beer is to start off the boozing session with a shotglass of that paint thinner known as "lao khao", followed immediately afterwards by Leo, Chang, or Singha. Compared to the paint thinner they all will taste divine. It's not going to last for long, though. So do keep that "lao khao" bottle close-by!

7 minutes ago, Virt said:

I miss the old brown chang bottles with more alcohol.

 

Why did they change the alcohol %

Probably something to do with tax I expect.

I've travelled to most of Thailand's neighbouring countries and their beer is  far more superior and they have a lot more variety than here.

Thai beer in my opinion is overpriced and overrated,

17 minutes ago, tubber said:

That first article regarding Carlsberg and Singha was first published in 2013?

Oops. Sorry, I missed the date on that, was 1st up on a search. ????

4 hours ago, HappyExpat57 said:

Washington State opened up the market for micro breweries years ago and EVERYONE won. Great craft beers popped up all over and the big greedo's still made $$$$$$$$$.

Everyone won... that's great.

But it's not the way Thailand operates... only the few win.

Beer Lao is the best beer in SE Asia in my opinion, just wish it was not taxed so heavily.

3 minutes ago, kuzie57 said:

Beer Lao is the best beer in SE Asia in my opinion, just wish it was not taxed so heavily.

Beer Lao Dark that is ????

 

Have 3 cases on order from my "local" supplier since 2 months and haven't heard from them!

1 hour ago, Excel said:

Anything in the US labelled as "beer" should be taken with a pinch of salt

You are out of date. The US produces huge variety of craft beer that even makes its way to Thailand. It's not cheap here, but it's still tasty... 

1 hour ago, Jingthing said:

How ignorant. Like beer in the US is a monolith. 

Ever been to Portland Oregon?

 

 

I lived in Portland for a year - put of 10kg from beer and pizza! Outstanding beers at every street corner - loved it!