Economy Thai craft beer boom: New regulations fuel brewery growth

[webfact]

Picture courtesy of Asia Times

 

In a monumental move, Thailand's Cabinet has given the thumbs up to a draft ministerial regulation that could reshape the future of alcohol production across the nation. Set forth by the Excise Department under the Ministry of Finance, this landmark regulation aims to ease barriers for burgeoning alcohol producers, especially small community distilleries.

 

The initiative aligns with the government's strategy to bolster local craftsmanship and uplift the nation's soft power through homegrown spirits.

 

The regulation is poised to empower smaller breweries and distilleries by allowing craft beer manufacturers and brew pubs to sell their draft beer beyond the confines of their production facilities.

 

This freedom is a golden ticket for small-scale producers to reach broader markets across the nation, driving growth and prosperity within the local alcohol industry. The regulatory changes will not only provide a boost for the beverage sector but also promote the use of local agricultural produce, ultimately enriching community economies.

 

Among the key improvements, community distilleries will now benefit from relaxed location policies. They can set up shop within 100 meters of public water sources, contingent on employing efficient wastewater treatments to curb pollution.

 

This significant shift abolishes previous limitations that put distilleries far from essential resources. Moreover, an exemption from the requirement to operate as a small business for a year means that qualified entrepreneurs can leap directly into establishing medium-sized distilleries, marking a substantial win for competitive growth.

 

Moreover, recent changes have further liberalized Thailand's stringent alcohol laws. The Prime Minister's Office has sanctioned alcohol sales at five types of venues during major Buddhist holidays, offering a pragmatic balance between respect for tradition and economic imperatives.

 

The move is anticipated to de-stigmatize holiday alcohol consumption, steering it away from illegal practices and into a regulated framework. Despite potential cultural sensitivities, Minister of Tourism and Sports Sorawong Tienthong supports the change, citing regulation as key to maintaining control over alcohol sales in tourist-heavy areas.

 

Overall, these regulatory shifts promise to invigorate Thailand's alcohol industry, drive local economic growth, and serve as a catalyst for cultural exchange, celebrating Thai heritage through craft spirits.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Khaosod 2025-05-14

 

 

 

 

[proton]

 

15 minutes ago, webfact said:

serve as a catalyst for cultural exchange, celebrating Thai heritage through craft spirits.

 

There I was thinking it was just about getting pissed 😁

[GanDoonToonPet]

1. Put in prison for vaping or have to start smoking again then get lung cancer

 

2. Only reasonably-priced alcohol is bog standard and not available half the time

 

3. Fill your boots with toxic levels of THC leading to drug-induced psychosis

 

4. Welcome to tourist paradise, Amazing Thailand 🤔

[JoePai]

Now (maybe) we will get good beer and not the usual swill 

[KannikaP]

5 minutes ago, JoePai said:

Now (maybe) we will get good beer and not the usual swill 

At a price mind you.

[KhunLA]

3 hours ago, GanDoonToonPet said:

1. Put in prison for vaping or have to start smoking again then get lung cancer

 

2. Only reasonably-priced alcohol is bog standard and not available half the time

 

3. Fill your boots with toxic levels of THC leading to drug-induced psychosis

 

4. Welcome to tourist paradise, Amazing Thailand 🤔

There's 200 other countries or territories one could visit.   It is Thailand for ... Thais.

 

Live with your choices 

 

On topic .... Damn, and I just about quit drinking alcohol, so now you think about making craft beers readily available and maybe reasonably priced 

 

Maybe they'll start producing Kopper Kraft again

[Briggsy]

This topic is dominated by a subject not mentioned in the article, namely the relationship between the legislative decision-makers and the oligopoly of 2, arguably 3, firms that have shut everybody else out of the brewing sector for decades.

 

If these 2, arguably 3, firms are ever close to being remotely threatened commercially, there will be a swift response from the law-makers to suppress any challenge.

[dinsdale]

The devil will be in the detail. This IMHO will be nowhere close to the total deregulation of the market and will ensure ongoing protectionist policies to protect the big brewer's profits.

[GanDoonToonPet]

1 hour ago, KhunLA said:

There's 200 other countries or territories one could visit.   It is Thailand for ... Thais.

 

Ah...an original thought...as refreshing as a bog standard beer on a hot day

[proton]

4 hours ago, JoePai said:

Now (maybe) we will get good beer and not the usual swill 

 

From what I have seen at eye watering prices

[spidermike007]

This would be great news. 

Thai beer is only rivaled by Italian 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! 

 

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.

 

[hotchilli]

9 hours ago, webfact said:

In a monumental move, Thailand's Cabinet has given the thumbs up to a draft ministerial regulation that could reshape the future of alcohol production across the nation. Set forth by the Excise Department under the Ministry of Finance, this landmark regulation aims to ease barriers for burgeoning alcohol producers, especially small community distilleries.

Bring it on... quickly

[kiwikeith]

4 hours ago, Briggsy said:

This topic is dominated by a subject not mentioned in the article, namely the relationship between the legislative decision-makers and the oligopoly of 2, arguably 3, firms that have shut everybody else out of the brewing sector for decades.

 

If these 2, arguably 3, firms are ever close to being remotely threatened commercially, there will be a swift response from the law-makers to suppress any challenge.

 

4 hours ago, Briggsy said:

This topic is dominated by a subject not mentioned in the article, namely the relationship between the legislative decision-makers and the oligopoly of 2, arguably 3, firms that have shut everybody else out of the brewing sector for decades.

 

If these 2, arguably 3, firms are ever close to being remotely threatened commercially, there will be a swift response from the law-makers to suppress any challenge.

They will make the beers under licence to overseas brands and distribute them as happens In NZ Australia ect ect

[madmitch]

At the moment it's a draft regulation (no pun intended). Who knows what it will look like when it finally gets through parliament.

 

Good news but not a done deal yet,

[kevden]

The musician Carabao has a drinks 'factory' producing energy drinks, soft drinks and drinks labeled as 'Carabao...' I think the 'Dunkel' is very good and he also produces an IPA (as well as others) under the brand 'Tawandaeng'. Local prices (slightly more than the big producers) and well worth trying if you like that kind of drink. Bring on the home brewing for personal consumption. 

[hanbla]

Will the 2-3 dragons let this proposal pass through the parliament all the way.. ? We can only hope they will. 

And most of the thais unfortunately don't care, they just want to drink cheap beer with ice 😒 

[Guderian]

A shame that most of the Thai craft beer caters to the locals' preference for excessively fruity beers. One I bought even admitted that they added lychee juice to give it that special tropical flavour. And then the few good ones that suit farang tastes for bitterness and malt rather than sweetness, like the Full Moon Andaman Dark Lager, cost an arm and a leg. A 330 ml bottle of this excellent beer typically sells for 119 Baht, which makes it considerably more expensive than the best imported German dark lagers and dunkelweissbiers, like Erdinger and Weihenstephaner. Even the mediocre stuff like the Thai Myth beers cost far more than they're worth. I see no point in drinking way overpriced locally brewed fizz when you can get better beer cheaper from breweries in Germany and Belgium with a brewing tradition going back centuries, not months.

[Grumpy one]

Why can't you get Myanmar beer in Thailand

Is it because it is way better than the local swill

[Expat68]

They have a long way to go to catch up with Vietnam (also the price)

[sandyf]

6 hours ago, KannikaP said:

At a price mind you.

Quite.

I live out in the sticks and last night we went out to eat. The place we had intended was closed so thought we would try a relatively new one nearby.

The menu was 2 pages and the book they had on craft beer about a dozen pages, the majority at 250 baht/can with some at 180 and a few around 100.

I stuck to the Chang, 3 large bottles for 189, drunk 2 and took the third home.

[Cabradelmar]

unregulated alcohol production, what could go wrong... do you really trust Thais not to add methanol, Isopropanol or antifreeze... anything to increase potency or stretch product. I don't.

[sandyf]

49 minutes ago, kevden said:

The musician Carabao has a drinks 'factory' producing energy drinks, soft drinks and drinks labeled as 'Carabao...' I think the 'Dunkel' is very good and he also produces an IPA (as well as others) under the brand 'Tawandaeng'. Local prices (slightly more than the big producers) and well worth trying if you like that kind of drink. Bring on the home brewing for personal consumption. 

The Carabao beer is produced at the Tawandang brewery, bottles are embossed with the name.

I like the Dunkel, makes a pleasant change from the run of the mill. At Bang Saen Chatachuk food court sold at 65/bottle. 

[Briggsy]

1 hour ago, kiwikeith said:

 

They will make the beers under licence to overseas brands and distribute them as happens In NZ Australia ect ect

Overseas brands have been brewed under licence for decades in Thailand already.

 

Overseas brands are taxed much more heavily than local brands. This is again a feature of protecting the oligopoly. The goal is to ensure any real competition is suppressed.

[Will B Good]

These craft brewers will be gobbled up by the big boys.......but maybe a good way to make money quickly if you were to start one? 

[dinsdale]

Don't get your hopes up. I saw elsewhere that it's limited to selling kegs only.

[mania]

When you look at Thailand's coffee scene & see how far they came & how quickly. They are now as good as or better than many spots in the world once known as coffee cafe/culture.

 

I imagine if given free reign with craft beer they would do the same.

 

I am not often a drinker but when in the US I will enjoy a Russian Imperial Stout from time to time. If they had them here I would also be tempted 😉 

[mania]

53 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

Don't get your hopes up. I saw elsewhere that it's limited to selling kegs only.

 

There is big money in the status quo that keeps their turf protected 😉 

[Reddavy]

12 hours ago, webfact said:

Picture courtesy of Asia Times

 

In a monumental move, Thailand's Cabinet has given the thumbs up to a draft ministerial regulation that could reshape the future of alcohol production across the nation. Set forth by the Excise Department under the Ministry of Finance, this landmark regulation aims to ease barriers for burgeoning alcohol producers, especially small community distilleries.

 

The initiative aligns with the government's strategy to bolster local craftsmanship and uplift the nation's soft power through homegrown spirits.

 

The regulation is poised to empower smaller breweries and distilleries by allowing craft beer manufacturers and brew pubs to sell their draft beer beyond the confines of their production facilities.

 

This freedom is a golden ticket for small-scale producers to reach broader markets across the nation, driving growth and prosperity within the local alcohol industry. The regulatory changes will not only provide a boost for the beverage sector but also promote the use of local agricultural produce, ultimately enriching community economies.

 

Among the key improvements, community distilleries will now benefit from relaxed location policies. They can set up shop within 100 meters of public water sources, contingent on employing efficient wastewater treatments to curb pollution.

 

This significant shift abolishes previous limitations that put distilleries far from essential resources. Moreover, an exemption from the requirement to operate as a small business for a year means that qualified entrepreneurs can leap directly into establishing medium-sized distilleries, marking a substantial win for competitive growth.

 

Moreover, recent changes have further liberalized Thailand's stringent alcohol laws. The Prime Minister's Office has sanctioned alcohol sales at five types of venues during major Buddhist holidays, offering a pragmatic balance between respect for tradition and economic imperatives.

 

The move is anticipated to de-stigmatize holiday alcohol consumption, steering it away from illegal practices and into a regulated framework. Despite potential cultural sensitivities, Minister of Tourism and Sports Sorawong Tienthong supports the change, citing regulation as key to maintaining control over alcohol sales in tourist-heavy areas.

 

Overall, these regulatory shifts promise to invigorate Thailand's alcohol industry, drive local economic growth, and serve as a catalyst for cultural exchange, celebrating Thai heritage through craft spirits.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Khaosod 2025-05-14

 

 

 

 

If it tastes anything like Chang or Singha forget it 🤮

[jiggi]

4 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

This would be great news. 

Thai beer is only rivaled by Italian 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! 

 

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.

 

I dislike you the more I read your posts, but you not that snooty nor half wrong on this one so I’ll play: do you know the laws about breweries here? 
do you know about how in the last six years there has been an influx of “Thai”

microbrews [that are all Mae in Laos?] 

 

[Medicine Man]

I've just returned from Vietnam. Amazing craft beer and not expensive. Another nail in Thailand's coffin if they don't get with the tourism program.