Photo Courtesy of Facebook

 

by Mitch Connor

 

A member of parliament-elect with a passion for beer is seeking to challenge the 470-billion-baht alcohol duopoly held by two of Thailand’s wealthiest families, following the Move Forward Party’s recent election victory.

 

Taopiphop Limjittrakorn, a 34 year old brewer turned politician, has long fought against stringent regulations that benefit Boon Rawd Brewery and ThaiBev, the two companies dominating the country’s alcohol production.

 

This week, the Move Forward Party (MFP) reached an agreement with potential coalition partners that includes measures to “abolish monopolies and promote fair competition in all industries, such as alcoholic beverages.” Taopiphop, who was re-elected in Bangkok Constituency 22, said…

 

“The progressive alcohol bill is not only a bill, it is a political project.”

Boon Rawd, the maker of Singha and Leo beers, and ThaiBev, the brewer of Chang, did not immediately respond to questions from Reuters. Boon Rawd, founded in 1933, is owned and controlled by the Bhirombhakdi family, while ThaiBev was founded by Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi, who has a net worth of US$14 billion.

 

Full story: https://thethaiger.com/news/national/thai-mp-elect-aims-to-break-11bn-alcohol-duopoly-with-progressive-bill

 

-- © Copyright Thaiger 2023-05-24

 

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I'll drink to that.

Love the idea but corruption being what it is in this country he has a tough road ahead - Best of luck !!!

Bring it on - the quicker the better - let's brew some decent beer in Thailand for once and kick out the rubbish (Leo Chang Singha etc) 

Buy Beerlao

ThaiBev and Boon Rawd should support the craft brew industry.

 

Let the small companies build awareness, brands, markets and then buy them (if they choose to sell).

 

Note that this duopoly hold a Royal Warrant of Approval (and can display the Royal Garuda symbol), So any perceived minimizing of this status could be viewed in a negative light.

18 minutes ago, bignok said:

Buy Beerlao

How much tax do they slap on that?

Home brew to wash down the home grown.

 

How good is Thailand. Just gets better and better.

That would be great...not a fan of MF but that is something I can support

Just now, Goat said:

Home brew to wash down the home grown.

 

How good is Thailand. Just gets better and better.

now they allow beer but they'll ban weed...so zero sum

3 minutes ago, Goat said:

Home brew to wash down the home grown.

So you're a "weed-eater"?

 

 

The big problem for the big three (it's actually an oligopoly) is when half decent beers are widely available at a reasonable price people will stop drinking their cat's piss that passes for beer.

Buy that man a pint ????.

'For he's a jolly good fellow,

For he's a jolly good fellow.......'

 

Call me too bitter & twisted, but I've been here a long old time and always resented the beer monopoly thing.....until which point I could actually taste that resentment with each sip of the grudgingly-bought Sing. 

 

(Though the more sips I have, the quicker I seem to forget that resentment. Funny that....????)

How much better would Thai life be with a decent IPA on tap.  Lots of hope in Thailand at the moment, I'll raise a glass to the Future Forward!

8 minutes ago, whitfield said:

How much better would Thai life be with a decent IPA on tap.  Lots of hope in Thailand at the moment, I'll raise a glass to the Future Forward!

None

Let’s slow down a bit and actually get the full win 

2 hours ago, bamnutsak said:

ThaiBev and Boon Rawd should support the craft brew industry.

 

Let the small companies build awareness, brands, markets and then buy them (if they choose to sell).

 

Note that this duopoly hold a Royal Warrant of Approval (and can display the Royal Garuda symbol), So any perceived minimizing of this status could be viewed in a negative light.

ThaiBev had to break thru to become they are now. it is an interesting story about their fight to be able to brew and sale beer.

Hmmm ... I think I would keep any contentious political agenda like breaking the duopoly a little quiet until actually in power. There is no guarantee that Move Forward will secure leadership yet. Me thinks that the horse trading and double dealing has a long way to go and provocation is unlikely to help matters.

For real change to happen, going after Thailand's oligarchs and dismantling their empires would be pretty much a necessity.

3 hours ago, Will B Good said:

I'll drink to that.

You must be like me,, sick and tired of all these keyboard hero's posting stupid crap about anything

and put an end to the beer flavored water that passes here

Hopefully it will have some influence on taxation as well.

I remember a few years ago, I was in Vietnam, I bought a can of Chang at 7/11 for about 22 THB. Almost half the price it is in Thailand.

Whilst your at it son Guinness extra cold in a can at UK prices please ????

Which so much corruption in the two families that run the deal they know who to pay off so the problem odds of this happening I think I’m very unlikely TIT

3 hours ago, JoePai said:

Bring it on - the quicker the better - let's brew some decent beer in Thailand for once and kick out the rubbish (Leo Chang Singha etc) 

Nothing wrong with the local brews.

The problem is beer snobs. 

Break the political military monopoly first, maybe !!!

3 minutes ago, quake said:

Nothing wrong with the local brews.

The problem is beer snobs. 

You might have got used to it. Here on holiday and it really is poor compared to so many Australian beers.

1 minute ago, Fat is a type of crazy said:

You might have got used to it. Here on holiday and it really is poor compared to so many Australian beers.

What like VB 

4 hours ago, webfact said:

A member of parliament-elect with a passion for beer is seeking to challenge the 470-billion-baht alcohol duopoly held by two of Thailand’s wealthiest families, following the Move Forward Party’s recent election victory.

Not a moment too soon either.. beer in this country is appallingly low in quality.

Mediocre at best churned out in vast quantities instead of selection and quality.

Virtually no choice.