Thai MP-elect aims to break £11bn alcohol duopoly with progressive bill

[AustinRacing]

Sounds like a personal vendetta and a self interest. He’s following in the footsteps of other Thai businessmen turning politicians to enhance their own interest via political means. 
PS not a big beer drinker and I think Thai beers are fine. 

[spidermike007]

This guy is good for news for Thailand. Another young one, who is really trying to make a difference. 

 

Thaopipob Linjittkorn, or Thao as he is more popularly known, a lawyer and homebrewer, was very publicly arrested in 2017 for making beer. He used that publicity to win an election to Parliament in 2019, along with 80 other members of the Future Forward Party. This progressive, pro-democracy party included in its platform a detailed plan to deregulate the beer industry, as well as a proposal for the legalization of marijuana, citing both as ways of putting money into the pockets of small businesses and local farmers. 
 
The opposition that Future Forward was up against is a military-backed, hardline government that supports the duopoly with strict regulations that allow it to control over 99% of Thailand’s estimated 180 billion baht ($5.8 billion) beer industry. The duopoly was originally made untouchable with the first Thai Liquor Control Act in 1950, a law which has been amended several times since to push legality even further out of reach of any small brewer. Prayuth's administration has done much to reinforce the isolationist and nationalistic policies that Phibul established in the 1940s and ’50s, and has called again and again for citizens to display a certain level of “Thainess,” which the PM defines in part as unquestioning loyalty to the government. Do not be disobedient! 
 
For small breweries, it requires production of at least 100,000 liters (852 barrels) but no greater than 1,000,000 liters (8,520 BBLs), and stipulates that all beer must be sold on the premises. At the same time, the minimum amount for an industrial license was increased from one million liters to 10 million liters (85,200 BBLs) per year, as well as requiring that the brewer demonstrate available capital of at least 10 million baht ($320,000).

Just to make sure small brewers were thoroughly intimidated, the rewrite also increased inflated penalties. Fines were increased from their original, almost quaint 200 baht ($6) for possession of bootleg alcohol to 10,000 ($300). For actually brewing without a license, fines were increased from 5,000 baht ($150) to a range of 50,000–100,000 baht ($1,600–$3,200), plus jail time. Reporting in 2017,

 

It is estimated that in order to meet the new regulations, a brewer would need to have a billion baht—around $30 million—in start-up capital. 

For some, craft beer is associated with anti-establishment politics. “It’s very similar to the French Revolution, which started from a cafe in Paris, where people drank coffee,” says Taopiphop. “The fuel of the revolution is not coffee any more, it’s craft beer.” Taopiphop adds that, after the 2014 coup in Thailand, many pro-democracy activists chose to meet in Bangkok’s craft beer bars.

 

If only the younger Thais were allowed to express themselves, be inventive, be creative, be industrious, and use their smarts and ambition, Thailand could have a future. Craft beer is needed here, and so are the young entrepreneurs. But, that future appears to have been suppressed at every turn by dinosaurs, who only answer to money, money, and even more money. Money is the God of lesser men. The money first attitude is holding back Thailand on so many levels. 

 

Now, perhaps guys like this one, and heroes like Pita can begin to reverse the retrograde politics and corruption. Just maybe. 

[LatPhrao]

The article seems to be all about the elephants in the room, the beer monopolies.  As it's labelled a 'progressive alcohol bill' would hope that they'll address imported wines and the egregious duties and taxes added on to the cost of goods which makes, must make, wine in Thailand the most ridiculously expensive bottles in the world.

[wazzupnow]

7 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) 

all of them better than Heineken

[quake]

52 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

As for an above post talking about being a beer snob well I guess I'm one. I like good beer. I don't like cat's piss. There's no choice here without paying through the nose. Used to be able to get Coopers at Foodland but I haven't seen it for ages.

Only the fools think alcohol will be cheaper in Thailand.

Looks like we have a full house today.

Dream on boys. 

 

[wealthychef]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

abolish monopolies and promote fair competition in all industries, such as alcoholic beverages

Nice words.  Unfortunately, let's all remember these are politicians speaking, so 90% of this is lies.  Just keep that in mind. 

[quake]

30 minutes ago, wazzupnow said:

all of them better than Heineken

Who brews Heineken. 

[Bangkok Barry]

7 hours ago, bignok said:

Buy Beerlao

I buy their IPA. Costs 30 baht in Laos, 74 baht in Thailand. Even so, I buy it by the case from a place in Kalasin that an AN contributor directed me to.

[Pink Mist]

A post promoting an alcohol brand has been removed.  Remember this forum rule:

 

42. You will not advertise, display, promote, review or endorse, directly or indirectly, the name or trademark of any alcoholic beverage. Such actions are potentially in contravention of Section 32 of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act (2008).

[proton]

2 hours ago, realfunster said:

Don't know but I don't remember it being expensive when I see it in 7-11 or restaurants, pretty similar price to the Thai beers IIRC. 

Rare to see it in 7/11 68 baht a bottle for lao dark in Tops etc, tin 65 baht.

[proton]

52 minutes ago, quake said:

Only the fools think alcohol will be cheaper in Thailand.

Looks like we have a full house today.

Dream on boys. 

 

went to a new rural cafe in samut prakan a few weeks ago, they brew their own beer. Great IPA at 8% but 250 for about half a pint, cheaper in London!

[Elkski]

Not sure a good IPA can be made a competitive prices to the USA.  Labor should be lower but water quality sucks, where to import good hops from.  A good IPA needs close to a kg per barrel.  And where to get food barley?  And malted.  

Undrinkable beer in Thailand is a big problem with me.  Yes I found a place in Bangkok that sold some decent imports.  800 bath per bomber.  22 oz.    

[zzaa09]

8 hours ago, Geoffggi said:

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

Expect the new MF-led coalition to ruffle a few feathers regarding oligarchical traditions of underhanded bliss.....

Looking forward to the new era of a real working government that appeals and proceeds for the commons. 

 

Realizing that such a mindset is akin to dreamy ideals and imaginary visions of hope is almost moot.......but, what the hell. 

????????

[dinsdale]

1 hour ago, quake said:

Only the fools think alcohol will be cheaper in Thailand.

Looks like we have a full house today.

Dream on boys. 

 

I think it's more about selection. It would be great if the extortionate tax on imports is reduced but as it is I think a lot of us would like to see more micro breweries able to compete in a market without the nonsense needed now to do so. I think you may have missed the point somewhat.

[quake]

28 minutes ago, proton said:

went to a new rural cafe in samut prakan a few weeks ago, they brew their own beer. Great IPA at 8% but 250 for about half a pint, cheaper in London!

Yeap.

Sounds about right for Thailand.

 

 

[quake]

9 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

I think it's more about selection. It would be great if the extortionate tax on imports is reduced but as it is I think a lot of us would like to see more micro breweries able to compete in a market without the nonsense needed now to do so. I think you may have missed the point somewhat.

Thank you for the laugh.

I said in previous post, a Varity of beers would be good.

what do you think a pint of you favorite brew will  cost at your local micro brewery. ?

100 baht ?  

 

 

[candide]

Break monopolies? They really want to make sure they will be ousted and banned! ????

[daveAustin]

4 hours ago, quake said:

Chang is very different than it was back in the day, and it was stronger, in the brown bottles.

 

Nothing wrong with Varity in beer to chose from,  I'm all for it.

But Beer snobs,  No thank you. they are a terrible bore to be around.

 

Thai low quality beer is no different from the low quality beer sold all round the world.

 

Beer snobs go home. 

The difference is that the low quality beer here is THE benchmark and oftentimes is all one can get, lest you sup on an overpriced out-of-date something 'real'. Sugary, homogenised overpriced crap, all of it. It's not about being a beer snob (anything is better in the region), so much as not having to perpetually pay into the coffers of the corrupt few, along with being ripped on tax. A beer snob is the hey-ho-pip-n-dandy type suppin on nothing but the finest Belgian... compare that with lovers of the Thai BIG three wife-beater-wearing beauts. ????

 

When a country as relatively rich and creative as Thailand cannot produce ONE interesting beer to rival pauper Laos, you know something is horribly amiss. I mean, F-a-doodle-do, it's enough to make a mother eat her young! Sincerely wish him all the best and these guys rip into this across-the-board corruption, forcing all the rich dinosaurs onto the streets, starting with the brewers. Yes please!

[dinsdale]

15 minutes ago, quake said:

Thank you for the laugh.

I said in previous post, a Varity of beers would be good.

what do you think a pint of you favorite brew will  cost at your local micro brewery. ?

100 baht ?  

 

 

Don't know. But if there's more competition and the micro breweries have less requirements placed upon them then maybe the cost of production will be reduced and prices prices might be reasonable. No need to be toxic. Have another Leo or Chang or Cheers and relax.

[dinsdale]

1 minute ago, daveAustin said:

When a country as relatively rich and creative as Thailand cannot produce ONE interesting beer to rival pauper Laos, you know something is horribly amiss.

Absolutely 100% correct. Beer Lao is pretty good. Not great but soooooo much better than the swill made here.

[keithkarmann]

MF should not have mentioned that until they officially formed the new accepted government coalition. 

[quake]

1 hour ago, dinsdale said:

Don't know. But if there's more competition and the micro breweries have less requirements placed upon them then maybe the cost of production will be reduced and prices prices might be reasonable. No need to be toxic. Have another Leo or Chang or Cheers and relax.

Mate,

Where do you think the raw ingredients come from

for your beer snob brews ? 

I'm not Toxic, I just know the truth.

 

No cheap beer for the beer snobs. 

 

Quote

Have another Leo or Chang or Cheers and relax.

I sure do,  large bottle number 4 Leo, coming to an end now.

Thank you Thailand for cheap 5% ok ish beer.

 

Good night to the pretentious beer snobs. from over the pond. 

or down under. 

 

[stoner]

1 minute ago, quake said:

Mate,

Where do you think the raw ingredients come from

for your beer snob brews ? 

I'm not Toxic, I just know the truth.

 

No cheap beer for the beer snobs. 

 

I sure do,  large bottle number 4 Leo, coming to an end now.

Thank you Thailand for cheap 5% ok ish beer.

 

Good night to the pretentious beer snobs. from over the pond. 

or down under. 

 

do you drive a lada as well ? 

[quake]

4 minutes ago, stoner said:

do you drive a lada as well ? 

No, a Honda city

Do you take drugs that make you soft in the head.

and impair your thinking. Duh  

 

 

 

 

[stoner]

8 minutes ago, quake said:

No, a Honda city

Do you take drugs that make you soft in the head.

and impair your thinking. Duh  

 

 

 

 

good one champ. 

[Lite Beer]

20 minutes ago, quake said:

Mate,

Where do you think the raw ingredients come from

for your beer snob brews ? 

I'm not Toxic, I just know the truth.

 

No cheap beer for the beer snobs. 

 

I sure do,  large bottle number 4 Leo, coming to an end now.

Thank you Thailand for cheap 5% ok ish beer.

 

 

 

I thought this topic was about beer. Where does Leo fit in? ????

[zzaa09]

4 hours ago, LatPhrao said:

The article seems to be all about the elephants in the room, the beer monopolies.  As it's labelled a 'progressive alcohol bill' would hope that they'll address imported wines and the egregious duties and taxes added on to the cost of goods which makes, must make, wine in Thailand the most ridiculously expensive bottles in the world.

Or....even more relevant and important - freeing up the ever expanding Thai micro/craft beer industry. 

That would be a boom. 

[dinsdale]

25 minutes ago, quake said:

Mate,

Where do you think the raw ingredients come from

for your beer snob brews ? 

I'm not Toxic, I just know the truth.

 

No cheap beer for the beer snobs. 

 

I sure do,  large bottle number 4 Leo, coming to an end now.

Thank you Thailand for cheap 5% ok ish beer.

 

Good night to the pretentious beer snobs. from over the pond. 

or down under. 

 

I'm guessing here in Thailand the rice they use comes from here. Hops I think is from Germany. The hops is probably quality. You can put a beautiful rose on a turd but it's still a turd.

[dinsdale]

4 minutes ago, zzaa09 said:

Or....even more relevant and important - freeing up the ever expanding Thai micro/craft beer industry. 

That would be a boom. 

Has been in Australia. Don't know now but there must be thousands of labels in a population of 26 million. Business is booming.

[sambum]

I wish someone (a new MP?) would also take up the case for reducing the tax and import duties on wine, which has been mentioned before, but nothing seems to go any further than the discussion stage! 

 

As it stands, the price on (imported) wine is absurdly high, basically because the "powers that be" (The Big 2 or 3)  would rather we drank their beer rather than somebody else's product, (obviously!) so presumably they are putting pressure on the Government by implying withdrawal of their support (i.e money/tea money - whatever you care to call it!) 

 

Let's hope that members of any future Government enjoy a glass or two of vino, rather than cheap lager/beer or Sang Som sets!