Who Owns Red Bull?

[meadish_sweetball]

There are so many misinformed myths going around the farang community about various energy drinks, the most common one being they contain amphetamines, which they dont. I can't say I think M-150 is any different from the others.

By the way, if you buy a can of White Shark, you now get a free key ring with a shark on. You can't beat that for marketing.

[Darknight]

It's sold EVERYWHERE now, all over Europe and the US for sure.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Since when???

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hello where have you been, it's at least 10 years on the european market.

"Red bull gives you wings" as it's main slogan

[MP5]

Vending machines bar water are barred in Thailand.

I have a contact trying to find out what the legals are.

One suggestion was the cigarete vendors missing out on revenue.

Another huge busines between vending machines and proper laundromats.

Once I get legal clarification prospectuses will be available to accreditted investors

12,000,000 vending machines in Tokyo alone you can even buy a pair of Levi Jeans just think what you could do at the BTS or MRT

TIT

[DkinThailand]

Actually, there is a soda vending machine inside the entrance to Central Department Store (right where they sell watches and jewlery - it even takes 1 bahters!), so they can't be 100% illegal.

Perhaps just unpopular?

[The Gentleman Scamp]

Shark energy drink has now arrived in the U.K.

Another Thai invention I've been told.

[MP5]

Actually, there is a soda vending machine inside the entrance to Central Department Store (right where they sell watches and jewlery - it even takes 1 bahters!), so they can't be 100% illegal.

Perhaps just unpopular?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Note I said water

Try and find a coke machine,a cigarrette machine

a snack bar or chocolate bar machine

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has emphasized the need to amend the laws that deprive poor people of various opportunities. The Prime Minister touched on guidelines for helping the poor in the radio program, "Prime Minister Thaksin Talks to the People," broadcast on Radio Thailand on 5 July 2003.

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has emphasized the need to amend the laws that deprive poor people of various opportunities. The Prime Minister touched on guidelines for helping the poor in the radio program, "Prime Minister Thaksin Talks to the People," broadcast on Radio Thailand on 5 July 2003.

He told the audience that he was invited to attend a seminar and give a keynote address on the creation of equality and legal justice for the poor. The Prime Minister said that, under the democratic system, all people are considered equal, but in reality, inequality is found at the starting point of the people. In this regard, if people are told to compete on an equal basis, it is quite certain that the weaker will be left far behind by the stronger.

He said that there are a lot of poor and weak people in Thai society. So the matter of disparities must be taken into account when rules and laws are introduced in the society, or else people at lower status would face difficulties. The Prime Minister explained that that most crimes are apparently related to economic problems, and 90 percent of convicts in prisons are poor people. At the same time, most crime victims are the poor; in other words, poor people become victims of crimes committed by the less fortunate people as well. So this point must be considered in enforcing any law and restructuring the juridical system.

The Prime Minister stressed that laws should be written simply, so that the general public find it easy to understand them. If there are too many technical terms and vague language that are difficult to understand and make interpretation difficult, highly-skilled lawyers will be required in judicial proceedings. In this regard, he said, poor people would face hardship, because they do not have enough money to employ highly-skilled lawyers. To offer lawyers to fight for the poor is not sufficient; laws must be written in a simple style. For example, he said, when people read them, they should understand clearly which offences would put them into jail.

The Prime Minister said that the Thailand Research Fund has been entrusted to analyze existing laws; and the laws that make it difficult for the poor must be amended. He urged fortunate people not to be annoyed at his talks on poverty, saying that without poverty, Thai society would become much better. For instance, in the overall picture, the country’s production capability would improve, because instead of being a burden, the poor would become a production factor. As a result, the number of the poor who commit economic crime would decline significantly. The society as a whole will certainly improve, so the Prime Minister called for joint efforts to help tackle poverty in Thai society.

In a move to help the poor, Prime Minister Thaksin said that he had presided over a ceremony to handover a number of water-vending machines to various communities in Bangkok and its perimeter. In the first stage, 1,000 machines were ordered, but altogether about 5,000 machines would be placed nationwide. He said that these water-vending machines are produced by Global Water System, a company under the supervision of the Provincial Waterworks Authority. During his inspection of the Provincial Waterworks Authority, the Prime Minister found that the company could produce clean drinking water to the same standard as bottled water available in the market. He said that a liter of bottled water costs about 10 baht, while the same volume from this water-vending machine is only one baht. So the government scheme to distribute such water-vending machines nationwide will help people save their money.

The Prime Minister said that low-income people would face hardship if they had to buy water for drinking at high prices. So he derived some money from the Government Lottery Office to be spent on the drinking water scheme. The Prime Minister said that he considered that the money came from the poor, because most lottery buyers were poor people. He pointed out that it is fair for the Government to bring the money back to help the poor, saying that he intends to reduce costs for low-income people and increase their earnings, as well as provide them with greater opportunities.

Here is Thailands vending machine not a huge range I'm sure you would agree as mentioned prior Tokyo 12,000,000 any European train,bus or airport has them every where.

T

he company has established since 2000.

A small company but have capability to produce as customer requirement even much or low volume.

The current products are drinking water vending machine, condom vending machine, washing vending machine, tissue and sanitary pa vending machine, coin counter. We are ready to export to worldwide.

Initial feed back is the Taxing problem for installation in Thailand

Amazing again. Investors welcome we can get around this no problem with the right partner.

[Nordlys]

12,000,000 vending machines in Tokyo alone you can even buy a pair of Levi Jeans just think what you could do at the BTS or MRT

TIT

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

12 million vending machines in Tokyo???

Are you saying there are more vending machines than people in that over-crowded city?

Can't be true.

[MP5]

12,000,000 vending machines in Tokyo alone you can even buy a pair of Levi Jeans just think what you could do at the BTS or MRT

TIT

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

12 million vending machines in Tokyo???

Are you saying there are more vending machines than people in that over-crowded city?

Can't be true.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

As of October 1, 2003 the population of Tokyo was estimated to be 12.369 million,

Japan is chock full of vending machines... with so many people on the run at all hours, it's the best way to be sure they can always find what they need. Most machines carry four specific items: soft drinks, coffee, tea, and vitamin drinks for executives on the go. But the convenience doesn't stop there! Here's a quick list of some of the more unusual vending machines I've seen; and, in the case of the really unusual ones, where I found them:

Batteries: D, C, and AA

1998: I've only seen this in one place... a side street in Tsuruoka, in the Yamagata prefecture of Japan. This is such a good idea, I'm not sure why I haven't seen more of them.

UPDATE - Jul 99: I've now seen two more of these, both near electronics goods stores. I suspect they've become far more common.

Beer & Sake

1998: Yes, that's right... you can buy alchoholic beverages from vending machines. The sizes range from a cup-sized container of sake (pre-heated and everything!) to half-gallon cans of Asahi beer, with all the familiar American beers in between. Apparently, teenagers are on the honor system to not abuse these... though some newer machines include a camera that photographs the purchaser. Kinda common.

Cigarettes

1998: No, these aren't usually near bowling allies (though Tokyo has several of those, too). Smoking is a common thing in Japan, and there is no such thing as a "no-smoking area". Many fast food restaurants will offer you an ashtray along with your order, in case you plan to light up. These machines are supposed to be on the same honor system with the teenagers as the alchohol machines are; but teenagers are teenagers, no matter where you are. Kinda common.

Compact Discs (Music)

1999: These have about fifteen compact discs to choose from, all fairly popular titles, and generally priced between 2000 yen and 3500 yen. I've seen two of these now, both inside JR train stations -- one in Tokyo Station, Tokyo, and the other in Ogaki Station, near Nagoya.

Cup Noodles

1999: Four different flavors. Choose your favorite; when you get the cup, pull the top back and put it back in the machine to add the hot water. Wait a few minutes and -- Voila! -- hot cup noodles! Uncommon. I've only seen these in hotels.

Disposable Cameras, Film, and AA Batteries

1999: Makes sense when you think about it. Common in big malls and near tourist attractions and amusement parks.

Fortunes

1998: I had to laugh when I saw this at a shinto shrine in Tsuruoka, in the Yamagata prefecture of Japan. Y'see, Most shrines and temples have a bucket of fortunes near the main building; you pay 100 yen and grab a random fortune. Of course, when the temple is closed, the fortunes are unavailable because the priests don't trust people to pay when no one is watching (they're probably also a little leary of leaving a pot of coins just sitting out). So this shrine in Tsuruoka has nicely bypassed the problems involved by putting the fortunes into a vending machine... it's the only one like it I've seen!

UPDATE - May 2001: Back in the July 1999 trip, I saw another of these at a very tourist oriented temple, Kiyomizu, in Kyoto... and as of my last two trips, it's official: the fortune vending machine is becoming standard equipment at all big temples and shrines.

Gum

1998: Your choice of a couple dozen different types, though each machine usually only has the products of one company. Uncommon.

Hot Meals

1999: I only saw one of these, near Matsunoodera's abandoned JR rail station. You get your choice of three different meals, all for 500 yen each: spaghetti with meat sauce, rice curry, or a sort of vegetable stew. You get the box and open it, mix the ingredients (all packed separately to keep them fresh), then re-close the box and pull the string. String? It activates a chemical pack on the bottom of the box that shoots a jet of hot steam through the box, instantly heating everything up (watch your fingers!). Comes with chopsticks. Rare.

UPDATE - May 2001: Now standard in most big hotels, and at a number of out-of-the-way train stations.

Ice Cream

1998: Your choice of pint or cone, with around eight different flavors available, including vanilla, chocolate, and green tea flavors guarenteed. Very common... and usually empty in the summer!

Milk

1999: Yep! Vends out a one liter plastic baggie of fresh milk, though I didn't get to see how much it cost. I spotted it from a bus while traveling through a small town in the Osaka area.

Newspapers

1990, 1998: This isn't one of those plunk-in-a-coin-and-grab-a-dozen-papers newspaper machines, like in the U.S.; this is the size of a standard soda vending machine, and gives you a choice of up to sixteen different newspapers (usually eight are today's, and eight are yesterday's). Drop in your money, choose your paper, and you get one copy of it... no cheating with these guys! Uncommon.

Pornographic Magazines, Comics, Videos, and Sex Toys

1998: Really! I've seen these in the red light district of Shinjuku and down a backstreet in Ikebukuro. They can be all in the same machine, or in separate machines for each type of item. oy.

UPDATE - July 99: I don't know how common these have become in Tokyo yet (I'll be there later this month), but Kyoto is chock full of these machines, and usually near major streets! There even appears to be a sort of franchise setup... several of the spots with these machines look exactly the same -- a separate alcove of machines -- as if one company is running them. Sorry, but... porn sells!

Rice

1999: Yes, rice! You select the type of rice and the amount you want, pay the fee, wait for the bag to fill, and then pull it from the bottom drawer of the machine. Very rare... the only one I've seen is in the shopping street in Ishiyama.

Tampons

1999: Very rare... the only one I've seen is in the Metro Center mall in Nishi-Kasai ward. Of course, I don't enter ladies' restrooms, so maybe they're more common than I know... in any case, this one is in a more public setting.

Toilet Paper

1990, 1998: As I've mentioned elsewhere, in many of the larger cities near train stations and large department stores it's not too unusual to run into people passing out small packets of tissue paper with store ads attached; if you see this, and you don't already have a packet of said tissue, GET ONE! As I discovered in 1998, one use for this tissue is as toilet paper -- a lot of the public bathrooms in Japan have no toilet paper in them!

Given this circumstance then, it shouldn't be too big a surprise that some train station bathrooms include toilet paper vending machines... a packet of tissue paper (minus the store advertisements) for fifty yen... about fifty cents. Fairly common.

UPDATE - July 2002: I DON'T KNOW WHO MANUFACTURES THESE MACHINES; SO STOP ASKING!!! Buy a ticket to Japan and find out for yourself!

Umbrellas

1990, 1998: Not really your standard big boxy vending machine... more like an umbrella stand that only lets you take one umbrella at a time, for a charge of between 300 yen and 500 yen. Umbrellas are extremely popular in Japan, in the summer as well as the winter; in the summer, they provide desperately needed shade from both sun and rain. I've only seen one of these machines, in the underground mall in Kyoto near Kyoto Station, but I'll bet they're more common than that... I like rain, so I only very rarely look for umbrellas, you see.

Though few outsiders know it, Tokyo suffers from an overabundance of vending machines (jidou hanbaiki) and strange statistics; combine the two and you have an interesting peek at a very thirsty society.

A stroll through the streets of Tokyo has you bumping into the city's 2.7 million beverage vending machines every few feet, and the mushrooming of these convenient caddies shows no signs of letting up. Your mind's not playing tricks on you if you thought new ones sprung up on your block overnight. From 1998 to 1999 there was a 101.7% increase in the number of beverage vending machines.

If you've ever wondered if a city - even a metropolis of 12 million - could possibly support so many soda machines at an average cost of JY100 a can, the proof is in the numbers. These quirky beverage machine facts and figures will make you wonder how Tokyo is not positively drowning in coffee, tea and soft drinks. Vanessa Asell

- Roughly JY3,086,073,600,000 was spent on beverages last year

- There are more than 2,651,800 beverage vending machines in Japan

This does not include every other tradeable commodity. you will note i japan vending machines are in banks/rows of twenty or more. I might have a slight exageration on 12 mill but I'm not to far off the mark. I know an associate who supplies machines this also includes gaming machines that offer cass or gift rewards/

- From 1998 to 1999, the amount of money spent on beverages doubled

We are talking money here, so let's have a look at quantity.

- More than 14,500,000,000 liters of soft drinks is consumed yearly

- Every year the last five years, consumption rose 500,000,000 liters

The good news is that recycling statistics are also on the rise. The below percentages are taken from a 1996 to 1998 study by the Japan Soft Drink Association. And those PET bottles sure need some working on.

-65% of bottles were recycled

-77.3% of steel cans were recycled

-70.2% of aluminum cans were recycled

-2.9% of PET bottles were recycled

You gotta see it to believe it.

MP5 Out

[meom]

I think if you put similar vending machines in Bangkok most of the "human vending machines" will be out of a job.

[Neeranam]

QUOTE(Eman @ 2005-06-13 13:23:45)

I know this is a bit off topic, but this picture of a vending machine reminded me...

I can't remember seeing any vending machines in Thailand.

Just curious as to why ?

Vandalism and tampering?

And maybe it's cheaper to hire a sales clerk than to buy a machine.

Thai people would easily figure out a way to cheat those machines.

I know a Thai guy who went to Holland and said that a 10 baht coin worked in the vending machines there. He went with heaps of them and got heaps of cheap stuff. I can't remember how much they were worth, maybe 1 euro??

[Mr Helper]

Red Bull has been in the UK for ages, since 1995, maybe even earlier I think. Remember one of the very first Playstation games called 'Wipeout'? well they were the main advertisers on that game

Edited June 15, 2005 by Mr Helper

[Heng]

Actually, there is a soda vending machine inside the entrance to Central Department Store (right where they sell watches and jewlery - it even takes 1 bahters!), so they can't be 100% illegal.

Perhaps just unpopular?

Note I said water

Try and find a coke machine,a cigarrette machine

a snack bar or chocolate bar machine

As in owned by Coca Cola / Thai Namthip? Haven't seen one. As in machines that sell Coca Cola, sure. There's one at Honda Bangchan, Benz Thonlor, and at a number of locations at Central Chidlom.

[sonnyJ]

QUOTE(Eman @ 2005-06-13 13:23:45)

I know this is a bit off topic, but this picture of a vending machine reminded me...

I can't remember seeing any vending machines in Thailand.

Just curious as to why ?

Vandalism and tampering?

And maybe it's cheaper to hire a sales clerk than to buy a machine.

Thai people would easily figure out a way to cheat those machines.

I know a Thai guy who went to Holland and said that a 10 baht coin worked in the vending machines there. He went with heaps of them and got heaps of cheap stuff. I can't remember how much they were worth, maybe 1 euro??

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I can recall two occasions of using vending machines in Bangkok. These were occupied with a wide variety of soft drinks. Once at the Ramathibodi Hospital at (Rama V ?, not sure), the other at an appartment building Peninsula, soi 15, Rama VI.

Yes. 10 baht coins are almost identical to 2 euro coins and can be used in many older not so high tech vending machines in Europe.

[MP5]

QUOTE(Eman @ 2005-06-13 13:23:45)

I know this is a bit off topic, but this picture of a vending machine reminded me...

I can't remember seeing any vending machines in Thailand.

Just curious as to why ?

Vandalism and tampering?

And maybe it's cheaper to hire a sales clerk than to buy a machine.

Thai people would easily figure out a way to cheat those machines.

I know a Thai guy who went to Holland and said that a 10 baht coin worked in the vending machines there. He went with heaps of them and got heaps of cheap stuff. I can't remember how much they were worth, maybe 1 euro??

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I can recall two occasions of using vending machines in Bangkok. These were occupied with a wide variety of soft drinks. Once at the Ramathibodi Hospital at (Rama V ?, not sure), the other at an appartment building Peninsula, soi 15, Rama VI.

Yes. 10 baht coins are almost identical to 2 euro coins and can be used in many older not so high tech vending machines in Europe.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Read the Pattaya forum and get some more up to date facts.

[Donnyboy]

It's sold EVERYWHERE now, all over Europe and the US for sure.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Since when???

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Im from NZ, and they sell it there as well. Its very popular among the clubbers and rave party people. Red Bull and Vodka.....ooohhh nice.

BTW Red Bull bought out the F1 Jaguar team? last year and renamed it Red Bull racing. Its F1 cars are painted up in the red bull colours except in Monaco this year when they were kitted up in Star Wars logos, the pit crew also looked like Stormtroopers!!

I must hand it to the marketing team, they really go for extreme sport marketing and it has definately paid off for them.

[roscoe]

Kidney problems according to many.  Unfortunately... nothing scientific has been proven yet.  Could make for a good masters thesis.    Then sell the results to Dietrich for a nice sum.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It wouldn't have anything to do with the alchohol that's mixed with it at home and in bars I don't suppose?

[Heng]

Kidney problems according to many.   Unfortunately... nothing scientific has been proven yet.   Could make for a good masters thesis.    Then sell the results to Dietrich for a nice sum.

It wouldn't have anything to do with the alchohol that's mixed with it at home and in bars I don't suppose?

That could explain it for those who drink alcohol, yes.

I'm not at all against the Krating Daeng/Red Bull product or family. I'd be the FIRST in line to make a fortune at the expense of consumer health given the opportunity.

Anyway, in a generally non-litigious society such as the LOS... I'd say claims/theories that these energy beverages are indeed harmful does deserve a look from a scientific point of view.

[PeaceBlondie]

The article on Red Bull from Snopes.com (which appears to generally be a trustworthy source) seems to conclude that the major health hazard is excessive caffeine.

I've noticed that you can't buy tablets of straight caffeine in Thailand. In the USA, Vivarin sells the popular 100-mg yellow tablets, and No-Doz sells white 50-mg tablets. If there were a serious health hazard, it's doubtful the American FDA would permit their continued sale.

The article in Snopes says you have to ingest 10 GRAMS of caffeine to cause damage - equal to 125 cans of a drink with 80 mg of the stuff. I used to take massive doses of Vivarin when I had to drive a long distance without legally presecribed Ritalin or amphetamines. It took 400 mg. to equal one 10 mg Ritalin. At 1,000 mg., my ears started ringing.

Caffeine (a common substance throughout the world in coffee, tea, cola drinks, even chocolate) is a very mild stimulant that raises blood pressure. Think about all the people you know who drink ten cups of coffee per day (I drink 10 cans of diet cola per day). It may be other ingredients in those beverages that cause the serious problems - excessive sugar in most colas, a fairly strong acid in coffee, a very mild acid in colas that will remove your teeth porcelain.

In other words, what's the real danger to drinking no more than 1000 mg of caffeine during a waking day?

[Heng]

Well... I find it strange that they put "recommend that you do NOT drink more than 2 bottles of this a day" but don't put any such warning on cans of Folgers or Maxwell House.

If there was indeed no danger, and if it were my energy drink company... I'd put "drink as much as you want.... pregnant women included!"

[PeaceBlondie]

Well... I find it strange that they put "recommend that you do NOT drink more than 2 bottles of this a day"  but don't put any such warning on cans of Folgers or Maxwell House.   

If there was indeed no danger, and if it were my energy drink company... I'd put "drink as much as you want.... pregnant women included!"

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

But remember, Heng, this is a marketing genius. By putting on the label, "Don't drink more than two of these per day" he's making you think it's more powerful than it is. So the kids drink 4 or 5.

Did the article quote US currency at $2 per can with 8.3 ounces? You can get 12 ounce cans of cola drinks at 7-11 stores for 60 cents now in the US. In Thailand, how much Red Bull do you get for how many baht?

I'm too lazy to read back through the thread, but how many mg. of caffeine in the Thai drink of Red Bull?

Heng, we're up very early, unless you're sitting at the internet cafe at Westheimer and Loop 610.