Report Thailand Eases Alcohol Laws Amid Concerns Over Safety Impact

[dinsdale]

20 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

However, the Alcohol Watch Network has raised alarms, warning that these relaxed laws could exacerbate alcohol-related deaths in the country.

False logic. Having a greater variety does not equate to more consumption. 

[connda]

20 hours ago, Geoffggi said:

Try reducing the high taxation on imported spirits & wine this would help considerably !!!

Try ditching that stupid ban on alcohol between 2PM to 5PM. 

[BeastOfBodmin]

20 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Alcohol Watch Network

I wonder who these guys work for?

[StevieAus]

1 hour ago, cedel said:

plus abolish the stupid ban related to the time of purchase (known as 2-5 PM ban).. but also 00-11 AM ban..! 

This is really, but really annoying when you lose 1 or 2 hours in the traffic to go shopping afternoon and you are prohibited to buy a bottle of wine... counter productive! Nobody will lose time and money to come back again after 5pm !! 

Buy your wine in advance I have always have a dozen at home for years could not be bothered driving out every time I want a drink.

[Davedub]

It's refreshing to see a pulling back from the 'solve alcohol related issues by using a broad stroke, heavy handed control' approach.

 

Issues like problem drinking are better dealt with by treating the underlying cause of alcohol abuse - treating mental health issues or eduction on more effective, healthy coping mechanisms for stress being good examples of this.

 

Issues like drink driving are best dealt with by targetting offenders (as opposed to implementing broad stroke reductions in alcohol availablity). Better enforcement of current drink driving laws is the obvious solution.

 

It's good to see progress in what I'd consider the right direction.

[sambum]

21 hours ago, Geoffggi said:

Try reducing the high taxation on imported spirits & wine this would help considerably !!!

 

That was supposed to be implemented  a couple of years ago , but never happened! 

[sambum]

1 hour ago, connda said:

Try ditching that stupid ban on alcohol between 2PM to 5PM. 

 

Agree 100% - especially when it only seems to apply to the larger Supermarkets (Tesco Lotus, Macro, and 711)

Well - 99% - they could also ditch the midnight to 11 am ban!

 

Archaic law that should have been dumped years ago.

[PingRoundTheWorld]

23 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Mr Chantaros attributed the nation's high alcohol-related death toll to the ethics and responsibility of alcohol distributors

Another day, another ****. Alcohol-induced traffic accidents have nothing to do with manufacturers or distributors. If someone wants to drink and drive they will no matter how few brewers there are. The real problem is that people aren't educated enough about the danger of drunk driving and the fact it is rarely enforced by police. Start enforcing it and taking licenses away and miraculously drunk driving incidents will shrink significantly. It's no coincidence that drunk driving is much more common in Thailand than other countries - lack of enforcement.

 

Anyway, welcome change. I don't drink beer so this won't affect me - but smaller brewers deserve a chance, though I'm sure they'll still face further headwings by the industry giants.

[PingRoundTheWorld]

22 hours ago, Geoffggi said:

Try reducing the high taxation on imported spirits & wine this would help considerably !!!

Very little chance of that happening, unfortunately. It's a cash cow AND seen as protecting local industry. There's simply no political incentive for them to do it. Tourists will pay the inflated prices anyway.

[Quentin Zen]

[sambum]

26 minutes ago, PingRoundTheWorld said:

Very little chance of that happening, unfortunately. It's a cash cow AND seen as protecting local industry. There's simply no political incentive for them to do it. Tourists will pay the inflated prices anyway.

 

See my post 3 above this one - it was supposed to happen but didn't!

[sandyf]

8 hours ago, Nickcage49 said:

This is the same stupid argument about why they tax wine so much.

Not really. The tax on wine was increased quite significantly not that long ago as protectionism.

If you saw the prices at Silverlake you could see why, Thai vineyards just can't compete.

They charge more for grape juice than we would pay for wine.

[ronnie50]

5 hours ago, Watawattana said:

Get over to Da Nang if you can.  I was there last week and there's a decent craft beer scene, including what you describe.  The picture is one of the places I did my "research" in.  For balance, I did end up at a Russian bar later in that evening, where they claimed that San Miguel was a craft beer.  I thought about telling them that this was a worse distortion of the facts that anything Putin has ever said, but thought better of it.

I noticed that San Miguel seems to be on draft in a lot of places there. Finding the regular draft beers from Hanoi and Saigon wasn't easy in Da Nang (unfortunately).

[eastlight]

8 hours ago, Ubonian Canadian said:

I'd love to get my hands on a nice brown ale. Something akin to a Sleemans Honey Brown.

Cold & crisp.......yummmm

I support craft beer and only hope they don't follow in the footsteps of Leo, Singha & Chang.

Bring back Kloster I say

[tukpong]

If the Police actually made some visible presence on the roads Somchai would think twice about drink driving. We had a guy Sat night slam into electric pole outside our house and snapped it off. Totally pissed. Relaxing alcohol laws is good for tourism locals can get any time of the day from mom and pop shop.

[cynic1]

On 5/21/2025 at 10:12 AM, ChrisY1 said:

"the Alcohol Watch Network has raised alarms"......well of course they have.....just a group of tea totteling wowsers.....

Thai drinkers drink any time....rice spirits at less than Thb50/bottle, distributed by Thai brewers,  should be far more worrying than tourists habits!

Only the duopoly companies complain with fake complaints so as to protect their massive profit industry and keep prices higher than what they should be. No ACCC (Australia) in Thailand!

[cynic1]

22 hours ago, PingRoundTheWorld said:

Very little chance of that happening, unfortunately. It's a cash cow AND seen as protecting local industry. There's simply no political incentive for them to do it. Tourists will pay the inflated prices anyway.

Does Thailand make wine? I googled this," Thailand produces wine, though it's a relatively young and small industry compared to established wine-producing regions. Often referred to as "New Latitude Wines," Thai wine production faces the challenge of its tropical climate." 

 

In short wine imports will only protect a SMALL industry thus my conclusion just an excuse to tax imports of wine, which I enjoy, and does not significantly affect the minute wine industry in Thailand. I do  not know one Thai who are friends or my wifes family that drinks wine. They generally drink Thai whisky.  Thus it's a tax on farang only.

[cdemundo]

On 5/21/2025 at 1:03 PM, BeastOfBodmin said:

I wonder who these guys work for?

I think they work for Buddha or  Jesus.

Or they think they do.

[OldmanJ]

Here's an idea,Thailand should have a department of people who are seen out on the roads enforcing the laws and fining or imprison no gooders.In many countries there are called police and are everywhere waiting to fine us all.

[Bruce Aussie]

On 5/21/2025 at 7:31 AM, JoePai said:

They need to stamp out the cheap, clear, Thai rotgut that is available everywhere foir a few Baht  - stick to beer**, you can't go far wrong 

 

**by that I mean real beer, not the rubbish served from the large breweries

Agree craft beer not going change road accidents much, maybe add a  few farangs to the Talley.

The cheap brewery slop and stuff sold in old paint thinner bottles will still be road killers.

Things looking up, maybe I get my wife to apply for license and IPA, quality Lagers and stouts will be flowing.

Pliney the Elder, nice.

[kiwikeith]

On 5/20/2025 at 9:34 PM, snoop1130 said:

File photo for reference only

 

In a significant policy shift, Thailand is set to relax its stringent alcohol laws, aiming to empower small- and medium-sized brewers and stimulate economic activity. The new regulations, effective from 13th May, simplify the licensing process for alcohol production and sales, providing microbrewers and craft beer producers with greater commercial opportunities. This adjustment is expected to aid small breweries in competing internationally and fostering economic growth, particularly in rural areas through community distilleries.

 

However, the Alcohol Watch Network has raised alarms, warning that these relaxed laws could exacerbate alcohol-related deaths in the country. Chuwit Chantaros, the network's secretary, cautioned that increased accessibility to alcohol might lead to higher consumption rates and, consequently, a surge in road accidents and other alcohol-related incidents. With Thailand already reporting a road traffic death rate of 25.4 per 100,000 in 2021, among the highest in Asia, any increase in alcohol consumption could amplify these figures.

 

Mr Chantaros attributed the nation's high alcohol-related death toll to the ethics and responsibility of alcohol distributors, indicating that policy decisions could further impact this sensitive area. He highlighted the significant economic losses, amounting to over 165 billion baht or 1% of Thailand's GDP, arising from traffic accidents linked to alcohol.

 

The government insists that the new laws will level the playing field for smaller producers, allowing them to distribute products more widely, including in kegs—a previously restricted option. This move is expected to encourage the rise of new independent alcohol brands, potentially boosting the local economy.

 

As Thailand navigates this policy change, the Alcohol Watch Network vows to continue advocating for victims of alcohol-related incidents. The critical challenge remains balancing economic progress with public safety, and the government faces pressure to monitor the effects of these relaxed laws closely. Policymakers are urged to consider potential consequences and remain vigilant to mitigate any adverse impacts on public health and safety.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2025-05-20

 

 

What is causing alcohol deaths is the Rocket fuel produced in local houses and sold ,plus the lacing of drinks at island venues. 

[Davedub]

On 5/21/2025 at 3:12 AM, Bert got kinky said:

 

However, the Alcohol Watch Network has raised alarms, warning that these relaxed laws could exacerbate alcohol-related deaths in the country.

At last a voice of reason.

This dangerous drug ruins lives and should be banned.

I'm sure that my comment will have the morons pushing the 'thumbs down' emoji, so press away.

 

 

 

Alcohol is indeed a dangerous drug. However:

 

Education and the provision of mental healthcare would absolutely reduce the harm caused by alcohol. A scaling up of the enforcement of existing laws for drink driving would also make a huge difference

 

Prohibiton always results in the creation of black markets. Prohibition thus funnels huge sums of money into the hands of criminal enterprises that often have little regard for quality control issues. This often leads to people getting poisoned by unregulated bootleg booze

 

Historically, banning drink (or drugs for that matter) has consistently failed whilst simultaneously leading to the formation of the largest criminal enterprises in human history (e.g. The Mafia, the South American drug cartels)

 

These are the realities of the prohibition theory, as borne out by the last 100 years of history

 

The reality is undeniable. It's time to look at alternative measures. In the words of Einstien: "Repeating the same action over and expecting different results is the definition of madness"