Popular Post webfact Posted February 14, 2022 Popular Post Share Posted February 14, 2022 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 - Aetna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates 1 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Bluespunk Posted February 14, 2022 Popular Post Share Posted February 14, 2022 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'' 14 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Guderian Posted February 14, 2022 Popular Post Share Posted February 14, 2022 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. 27 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post HappyExpat57 Posted February 14, 2022 Popular Post Share Posted February 14, 2022 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 $$$$$$$$$. 14 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Kaoboi Bebobp Posted February 14, 2022 Popular Post Share Posted February 14, 2022 (edited) 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. Edited February 14, 2022 by Kaoboi Bebobp 16 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post JonnyF Posted February 14, 2022 Popular Post Share Posted February 14, 2022 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. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post MJCM Posted February 14, 2022 Popular Post Share Posted February 14, 2022 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!! 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post toofarnorth Posted February 14, 2022 Popular Post Share Posted February 14, 2022 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. 5 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post mtls2005 Posted February 14, 2022 Popular Post Share Posted February 14, 2022 Boon Rawd and ThaiBev both hold Royal Warrants of Appointment. 'Nuff said. 15 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Virt Posted February 14, 2022 Popular Post Share Posted February 14, 2022 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. 4 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post LiamB80 Posted February 14, 2022 Popular Post Share Posted February 14, 2022 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. 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Excel Posted February 14, 2022 Popular Post Share Posted February 14, 2022 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 2 1 1 1 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Virt Posted February 14, 2022 Popular Post Share Posted February 14, 2022 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/ 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kaoboi Bebobp Posted February 14, 2022 Share Posted February 14, 2022 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. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Jingthing Posted February 14, 2022 Popular Post Share Posted February 14, 2022 9 minutes ago, Excel said: Anything in the US labelled as "beer" should be taken with a pinch of salt I call B.S. 9 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Excel Posted February 14, 2022 Popular Post Share Posted February 14, 2022 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 5 2 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Golden Triangle Posted February 14, 2022 Share Posted February 14, 2022 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. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Jingthing Posted February 14, 2022 Popular Post Share Posted February 14, 2022 (edited) 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? Edited February 14, 2022 by Jingthing 10 2 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post keithkarmann Posted February 14, 2022 Popular Post Share Posted February 14, 2022 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. 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post heybruce Posted February 14, 2022 Popular Post Share Posted February 14, 2022 "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. 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Virt Posted February 14, 2022 Popular Post Share Posted February 14, 2022 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 % 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Misterwhisper Posted February 14, 2022 Popular Post Share Posted February 14, 2022 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! 2 13 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Golden Triangle Posted February 14, 2022 Share Posted February 14, 2022 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. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post maechanman Posted February 14, 2022 Popular Post Share Posted February 14, 2022 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, 8 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huangnon Posted February 14, 2022 Share Posted February 14, 2022 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. ???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post hotchilli Posted February 14, 2022 Popular Post Share Posted February 14, 2022 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. 11 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post kuzie57 Posted February 14, 2022 Popular Post Share Posted February 14, 2022 Beer Lao is the best beer in SE Asia in my opinion, just wish it was not taxed so heavily. 9 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post MJCM Posted February 14, 2022 Popular Post Share Posted February 14, 2022 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! 3 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post DualSportBiker Posted February 14, 2022 Popular Post Share Posted February 14, 2022 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... 4 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post DualSportBiker Posted February 14, 2022 Popular Post Share Posted February 14, 2022 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! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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