Thailand Backs Bill to Empower Small Liquor Producers

[webfact]

File photo for reference only.

 

In a groundbreaking move, Thailand's House of Representatives passed a pivotal bill on Wednesday aimed at transforming the nation's liquor industry by empowering small-scale and community-based producers. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra lauded the decision, emphasising that this could break the long-standing dominance of a few major corporations, while boosting the rural economy.

 

The newly-approved Community Liquor Bill is designed to provide a fair playing field for individual entrepreneurs, cooperatives, and farmers' associations, allowing them to obtain licences to produce and sell various types of alcohol. An overwhelming majority of 415 out of 420 lawmakers supported the bill, which now advances to the Senate for further debate.

 

This legislative shift opens doors for microbreweries and small distilleries, potentially challenging the decades-long stranglehold of industry giants like Thai Beverage and Boon Rawd Brewery. The revised regulations are also expected to benefit restaurants and pubs, enabling them to create unique drinks, catering especially to international tourists' tastes.

Prior reform attempts include the 2022 initiative, which did away with stringent requirements on capital and production capacity for small producers. This was yet another step towards democratising Thailand's alcohol production landscape.

 

As it stands, Thailand's domestic alcoholic drink sales amounted to 2.97 billion litres, worth approximately 584 billion Thai Baht (equivalent to $16.3 billion) in 2023, reported Krungsri Research. Beer and spirits dominate the market, comprising 55.8% and 36.1% of the total value, respectively.

 

With parliamentary approval pending, detailed ministerial regulations need development before licences are issued, explained Chanin Rungtanakiat of the Pheu Thai Party. If related agencies act promptly, the bill might be implemented by October.

 

Taopiphop Limjittrakorn, an advocate for dismantling the liquor monopoly, expressed optimism. His relentless campaign helped shape aspects of this bill, though he's committed to pushing for his own Progressive Liquor Bill too. In a heartfelt post on X, he recalled his journey from being arrested for homebrewing almost eight years ago to today, lauding the collaborative efforts across party lines.

 

Founded in 1933, Boon Rawd remains a major player under the Bhirombhakdi family, noted as Thailand’s 19th wealthiest by Forbes. Meanwhile, ThaiBev, created by Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi, who ranks as the nation's third-richest individual, controls a significant share of both the beer and spirits markets.

 

This new legislation symbolises a notable shift towards smaller producers, envisaging a more diverse and dynamic alcohol industry in Thailand. If enacted, it holds the promise of economic revitalisation and increased choice for consumers, marking a significant moment in the country's economic narrative, reported Bangkok Post.

 

-- 2025-01-16

 

 

[flyingtlger]

9 minutes ago, webfact said:

Thailand's House of Representatives passed a pivotal bill on Wednesday aimed at transforming the nation's liquor industry by empowering small-scale and community-based producers.

 

I'll drink to that!

[Artisi]

The big players won't be happy, looks like it could be bonus payment time for the senators to turn this nonsense off. 

[JoePai]

At last, now we might get decent beer to drink   👍

[WHansen]

3 hours ago, flyingtlger said:

 

I'll drink to that!

Until the Senate get offers they can not/dare not refuse to block the proposal.

[Bday Prang]

1 hour ago, JoePai said:

At last, now we might get decent beer to drink   👍

Nah it will soon be shelved once the usual members of the monopoly increase their annual premiums

[spidermike007]

This would be a very welcome and very positive change. 

Thai beer is only rivaled by Serbian beer, and the mass produced American beers, in terms of the very low quality. Poor grade of hops, barely, and the production process seems to be entirely lacking in pride. Typical of the big monopolies. Even a large production beer, like Beer Laos blows away any Thai beer, hands down. Thailand desperately needs a vital craft beer movement, and the youth are ready to mount it. If only the dinosaurs would stop protecting their "bankers" and move out of the way. In other words, allow some progress, you mindless simpletons! 

 

Boon Rawd Brewery, which makes Singha, and ThaiBev, which brews Chang, the country’s best-selling beer, are owned and run by two of the wealthiest families in Thailand. Through longevity and political influence, these two breweries have dominated Thai beer for nearly a century, forcing out or crushing any competition, foreign or domestic. And we all know how they easily accomplish this. 

 

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 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 be 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.

[Dionigi]

Now legalise home brewing