Thai Government Debates Alcohol Advertising, Sales Hours

[webfact]

On January 10th, 2024, Mr. Thaophiphob Limchitrakorn, Bangkok MP from the Move Forward Party, proposed reconsideration of a stricter Alcohol Control bill regarding advertising alcoholic products during a recent parliamentary meeting.

There were three drafts of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act being debated including two drafts from the public sector and the draft of Mr. Thaophiphob Limchitrakorn, Bangkok MP from Move Forward Party.

The first draft, titled article 32 on advertising and supported by various anti-alcohol groups, would strengthen current rules and amend the law to completely prohibit the use of logos resembling alcoholic beverage logos on soft drinks, water, and other beverages. This means that advertising for certain brands of non-alcoholic beverages, such as soda and water, with logos resembling alcoholic beverages, would be considered a violation, said Thaophiphob.

 

As an example, were this bill to pass, Chang or Singha, etc. couldn’t use the same logo used for alcohol products on non-alcohol products to advertise or sponsor at events.

 

Thaophiphob suggested an alternative in the second draft, allowing advertising but within reason, aiming to address the concerns of ordinary individuals who should be allowed to post or advertise beer without facing imprisonment or a fine of 50,000 baht, just for posting a beer picture on social media.

 

By Kittisak Phalaharn

 

Full story: THE PATTAYA NEWS 2024-01-12

 

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[TheAppletons]

"Thaophiphob also proposed in the second draft to lift the ban on selling alcohol during certain periods in Thailand. In some countries, limiting selling hours is not related to controlling alcoholic beverages; it results in increased consumption and drunkenness, said Thaophiphob. As an example, this would drop the highly unpopular 2PM to 5PM ban on selling alcohol."

[flyingtlger]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

proposed reconsideration of a stricter Alcohol Control bill

Key word, "proposed". Not going to happen...

[lordgrinz]

At the very least get rid of the ridiculous 2pm-5pm sales ban.

[herfiehandbag]

I am not sure that, certainly visual, advertising of alcohol is a problem any more.

 

If we are to believe what we often read, it is mostly obscured by a haze of pot smoke!

 

Seriously though, has anyone ever been persuaded to buy a particular brand of beer by the logo on a bottle of soda water?

[webfact]

Thai MP proposes revision of strict alcohol control bill
by Top Top

 

Move Forward Party (MFP) MP Thaophiphob Limchitrakorn proposed a revision of a stringent Alcohol Control bill concerning alcohol product advertising during a parliamentary meeting on Wednesday, January 10. Three versions of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act were under scrutiny, including two public sector drafts and Thaophiphob’s draft.

 

The first draft, supported by numerous anti-alcohol groups and labelled as Article 32 on advertising, aimed to intensify current regulations. It proposed an amendment to prohibit the use of logos similar to alcoholic beverage logos on non-alcoholic beverages like soft drinks and water.

 

Bangkok MFP MP Thaophiphob explained that this would mean that advertising for brands of non-alcoholic beverages with logos resembling alcoholic beverages would be considered a breach of the law. For example, brands like Chang or Singha could not use the same logo for alcohol products on non-alcoholic products to advertise or sponsor events if this bill were to be enacted.

 

Thaophiphob offered an alternative in his second draft that would permit advertising, albeit within reason. His goal was to address the worries of ordinary individuals, who should be able to post or advertise beer on social media without risking a fine of 50,000 baht or imprisonment. He commented that the current fine for ordinary individuals advertising alcoholic products is higher than the penalty for drink driving.

 

Full story: The Thaiger 2024-01-12

 

- Cigna 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.

 

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[mikebell]

Mere hypocrisy, like protectively blurring out cigarettes and guns on TV when they are on full view on every corner where there's a cop (not many admittedly!)

[ikke1959]

34 minutes ago, mikebell said:

Mere hypocrisy, like protectively blurring out cigarettes and guns on TV when they are on full view on every corner where there's a cop (not many admittedly!)

Indeed.. watching a foreign movie is undoable by all the blurring.. even a glass wine, beer, a cigarette a bikini everything seems to be  inappropriate in worlds most known sex country 

[dinsdale]

"the highly unpopular 2 PM to 5 PM ban on selling alcohol." and 12:00pm - 11:00 am. I notice that these hours never seem to be mentioned. The rediculous thing is it's not banned during these hours. It's only the big supermarkets, 711 etc that are not allowed to sell it otherwise alcohol is widely available for purchase at mom and pop shops everywhere. 10:59 in the morning I can not buy a beer at my closest 711. Directly behind the 711 (a 30 second walk) I can buy a beer. Pure insanity.

[dinsdale]

59 minutes ago, mikebell said:

Mere hypocrisy, like protectively blurring out cigarettes and guns on TV when they are on full view on every corner where there's a cop (not many admittedly!)

I remember years ago an add for an ice cream. A woman was licking the ice cream. Her tongue was pixilated. Then you get the puerile tv shows which may be in a bar and basically the entire screen is censored. As for the guns being censored what's the point. Everyone knows it's a gun censored or not. So infantile IMHO.

[Andrew65]

In the UK they can show someone who appears to be under 25 in an advert for alcohol.

[Purdey]

Importantly, the government has not provided any statistical evidence that banning advertising and strange closing times have lowered alcohol consumption. In fact, they dream up and implement ideas without proving any factual information to the public that such measures actively control anything.

Edited January 12 by Purdey

[Lopburikid]

3 hours ago, lordgrinz said:

At the very least get rid of the ridiculous 2pm-5pm sales ban.

They have voted to send this bill back to the house to be voted on. They said that the 2pm to 5pm band cause more consumption of alcohol and increased drunkenness, most agree it does nothing.

[Hokeus]

Ban it all. Such horrible poison. 

[loong]

3 hours ago, herfiehandbag said:

Seriously though, has anyone ever been persuaded to buy a particular brand of beer by the logo on a bottle of soda water?

It is not the logo on a soda water. The adverts for soda/mineral water with the same name as the big beer brands, keep the brand name familiar. This means that the brewers sell more of their beers. Don't ask me why, because I don't know, but I do know that the advertisers know what works.

[ABCDBKK]

The Thai spirits ads from the nineties were so much fun:

 

 

 

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, lordgrinz said:

At the very least get rid of the ridiculous 2pm-5pm sales ban.

Agreed, a ridiculous ban.

 

If you return to work Pished you're out of a job.

[dinsdale]

1 hour ago, Purdey said:

Importantly, the government has not provided any statistical evidence that banning advertising and strange closing times have lowered alcohol consumption. In fact, they dream up and implement ideas without proving any factual information to the public that such measures actively control anything.

Just like the whole covid/lockdown thing but of course that was and is a global thing.

[IAMHERE]

If they were serious about alcohol consumption they'd go back to closing entertainment locals to midnight.

[bristolgeoff]

I was at 7 eleven last  night a few people waiting  for the time to unlock the fridge door for beer.A bit silly really as it was warm  and they wanted some beer.Those rules should be relaxed and have the age allowed with id to buy it.Then no rule  needed between certain times.

Edited January 12 by bristolgeoff

[daveAustin]

Why not just blur everything? Better still, make everyone wear blindfolds when in Thailand so they don’t see F all! Jeeezus!

Edited January 12 by daveAustin

[Moti24]

Wasn't there a ban on advertising alcohol a few years ago!  I seem to  remember people being jailed for such offence.

 

Have I missed another u-turn?

[madmitch]

2 hours ago, Andrew65 said:

In the UK they can show someone who appears to be under 25 in an advert for alcohol.

This should read "In the UK they cannot show someone who appears to be under 25......."

[Bday Prang]

Ah yes the wonderfully modern   Move Forward Party starting to show their true colours  with a truly liberal and progressive stance,   I remember well all the liberal minded members on here extolling their virtues. demanding that their wives vote for them,  and whining on about democracy and the will of the Thai people

I always said we would be better off with Prayut.  This,  the new tax rules and weed  reforms  are starting to prove me right

 

Not far right, but right so far. again I wish I was Wrong

Edited January 12 by Bday Prang

[redwood1]

What we need is

 

Smoke weed....Go to jail

Smoke Tobacco...Go to jail

Drink alcohol....Go to jail

Eat meat....Go to jail

Have sex....Go to jail  

[Joedoebarinio]

No sales from 2pm - 5pm is typical of the political sector. No real understanding of the situation. 

[PingRoundTheWorld]

Allow 24/7 sales, advertising, and posting on social media. There is zero reason to restrict any of these and it's completely ridiculous that they are restricted. People will always want what they can't have, so restricting it is achieving the opposite effect encouraging people to drink more.

 

Allow all of these, and ENFORCE drunk driving laws (it's not that hard!). But who am I kidding - it won't happen.

[Surasak]

5 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

Indeed.. watching a foreign movie is undoable by all the blurring.. even a glass wine, beer, a cigarette a bikini everything seems to be  inappropriate in worlds most known sex country 

I think the word you may be looking for is 'Hypocrisy'?

[Surasak]

3 hours ago, Hokeus said:

Ban it all. Such horrible poison. 

Not so sure about that, I have drunk a fair few pints in my time and I'm still here to tell the tail.

[dinsdale]

3 hours ago, Hokeus said:

Ban it all. Such horrible poison.