Historic bill to liberalise Thailand’s liquor industry passes its first reading

[webfact]

 

The opposition Move Forward party’s Progressive Liquor Bill, which seeks to break the oligopoly of corporate brewers and provide business opportunities for small-scale, community based entrepreneurs, sailed through its first reading in the Lower House last night (Wednesday), by 178 votes to 137, with 15 abstentions.

 

A 25-member committee was set up to scrutinise the bill over the next seven days, before it is resubmitted for its second and final readings in the House of Representatives.

 

The 178 MPs who voted for the bill included a number from the government camp, including 23 Democrat MPs, 9 from Bhumjaithai and two from the Palang Pracharath party.

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/historic-bill-to-liberalise-thailands-liquor-industry-passes-its-first-reading/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-06-09

 

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[NanLaew]

What's the mechanism for the next stage pf this legislation? If it passes the "second and final" readings in the lower house, does it get then passed to the Senate where the bought-and-paid-for squatters in the upper house will roundly reject it?

[connda]

Qui Bono - Who benefits?

[trainman34014]

Won't lead anywhere; as can't have the small Guys taking money from the Billionaire's can we !

[connda]

However, it would be wonderful if they allowed Micro-Brews to be manufactured and sold in Thailand.
However, I have my doubts as that would significantly impact the revenues of those companies with a monopoly on making and distributing tasteless lagers. 

For me, the day that I had my first Micro-Brew in the US was the day I stopped drinking the likes of Bud and other tasteless America lagers.  Well, unless I was at a kegger party where beggars couldn't be choosers.

Edited June 9, 2022 by connda

[KhunLA]

6 minutes ago, connda said:

Qui Bono - Who benefits?

The consumer always benefits from competition on an open & free market.

[khunjeff]

3 minutes ago, connda said:

However, I have my doubts as that would significantly impact the revenues of those companies with a monopoly on making and distributing tasteless lagers. 

Certainly the big brewers hate competition of any kind, but craft beers would probably have an insignificant effect on their sales - the vast majority of their output is bought by people who are just looking for the cheapest way to get drunk. 

[AnnaBanana]

26 minutes ago, connda said:

Qui Bono - Who benefits?

It's "cui bono", professor.

In Thailand, "Qui Bono" rings foul.

[mahtin]

10 minutes ago, AnnaBanana said:

It's "cui bono", professor.

In Thailand, "Qui Bono" rings foul.

Que?

 

(He's from Barcelona, said Basil.)

[KhunLA]

59 minutes ago, khunjeff said:

Certainly the big brewers hate competition of any kind, but craft beers would probably have an insignificant effect on their sales - the vast majority of their output is bought by people who are just looking for the cheapest way to get drunk. 

I haven't had a beer in months, as my brand (Kopper) apparently isn't being produced by Singha any more.  I'll abstain from drinking any beer, if only their name sake labels are the only ones available.  All versions of Singha, Chang, Leo, Heiny, Archa aren't fit for consumption IMHO.

 

Not paying 150-200 baht for small kraft beer, as I apparently don't enjoy it that much.  1 small beverage shouldn't cost more than my meal.  Water works just fine.

[NanLaew]

This is a change in liquor law and according to the unmentionable newspaper, this is about distilleries, not breweries. Until some Thai reporters can tell the difference, I'm not getting too excited.

[Tropicalevo]

15 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

This is a change in liquor law and according to the unmentionable newspaper, this is about distilleries, not breweries. Until some Thai reporters can tell the difference, I'm not getting too excited.

In that same article, the reason for the government not wanting to pass the bill was given as

"existing ministerial regulations could be changed to allow small distillers to operate, and the government could then continue to control the quality and quantity of liquor production."

 

That word control again!

 

[daveAustin]

Lol. Thighland will still have the same woeful choice—Chang, Sing, Leo—in 20 years! Garbage. Thais are creative and can do so much better but are routinely stifled at every turn. 

[NanLaew]

Never mind. Ho Chi Minh City is only about an hour away and they have more microbreweries and brew pubs than you can shake your đồng at.

[herfiehandbag]

Do you remember the microbrewery pub that was closed down in Bangkok, by the very senior policeman who was completely coincidentally paid a retainer to " advise" one of the big brewery concerns.

 

It was very popular, and he assessed, through the windows of his staff car as he was chauffeured past that their was obviously a structural risk, so he ordered it's closure forthwith.

 

How fortunate we are to have our wellbeing so assiduously monitored...

Edited June 10, 2022 by herfiehandbag

[mikebell]

Why not liberalise drinking times?  Get shut of no alcohol days?  Allow tourists to be treated differently from drunken Thais on voting days?

[sanuk711]

If they would open the brewing industry,

I bet you would start to get some nice boutique beers around.

 

For me I haven't tasted anything better than Lao Beer.

[VocalNeal]

16 hours ago, daveAustin said:

Lol. Thighland will still have the same woeful choice—Chang, Sing, Leo—in 20 years! Garbage. Thais are creative and can do so much better but are routinely stifled at every turn. 

Govt. is giving away cannabis plants . Probably the low THC variety?

[Artisi]

23 hours ago, KhunLA said:

I haven't had a beer in months, as my brand (Kopper) apparently isn't being produced by Singha any more.  I'll abstain from drinking any beer, if only their name sake labels are the only ones available.  All versions of Singha, Chang, Leo, Heiny, Archa aren't fit for consumption IMHO.

 

Not paying 150-200 baht for small kraft beer, as I apparently don't enjoy it that much.  1 small beverage shouldn't cost more than my meal.  Water works just fine.

Try Federbrau

[KhunLA]

9 minutes ago, Artisi said:

Try Federbrau

I broke down yesterday, damn peer pressure, and pick up some Snowy.  My preference before I found Kopper.

 

AND .... DAMN IT TASTED GOOD.   Fresh fill date: 22-5-2022

[Artisi]

1 hour ago, KhunLA said:

I broke down yesterday, damn peer pressure, and pick up some Snowy.  My preference before I found Kopper.

 

AND .... DAMN IT TASTED GOOD.   Fresh fill date: 22-5-2022

How about Lao beer, the dark Lao is my first choice before Federbrau - although more expensive, thank you Thai Govt. for the high import duty. 

[KhunLA]

34 minutes ago, Artisi said:

How about Lao beer, the dark Lao is my first choice before Federbrau - although more expensive, thank you Thai Govt. for the high import duty. 

Lao Dark was my go to for years.  Little heavy on the caramel though, and prices up & up.  When at Udon Thani, ฿25 ish via hopping over to Laos every 90 days.  Think ฿67 now for small bottle here.  Still very nice though.   Snowy & Kopper only ฿55 / 490ml and tasty.

[jacko45k]

On 6/10/2022 at 11:01 AM, KhunLA said:

I broke down yesterday, damn peer pressure, and pick up some Snowy.  My preference before I found Kopper.

 

AND .... DAMN IT TASTED GOOD.   Fresh fill date: 22-5-2022

I don't like the taste of that at all......

Used to try  Tapper now and again, but I too miss Kopper.

I buy cans of English cider for an occasional change. 

[Pouatchee]

I want to brew my home beer without it being illegal... and also I want home made wine. As it stands, making either is highly illegal.