Thailand Restaurants, Hotels Spared From Drinking Water Price Control

[webfact]

Restaurants, hotels spared from drinking water price control

By PETCHANET PRATRUANGKRAI

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- The Internal Trade Department announced yesterday that it would only control the price of drinking water at retail shops and food courts, leaving restaurants, fast-food outlets and hotels to set their own prices.

The move was in response to concerns expressed by restaurant and other operators to the Commerce Ministry that its price controls could affect business growth. The price is to be capped at Bt7 for a 500-600cc bottle of water.

Vatchari Vimooktayon, director-general of the Internal Trade Department, said the department would control the price of drinking water only at those places that impacted low-income people.

"The department will not control the price of drinking water at the places that are not necessary for low-income people to visit, such as fast-food shops, street kiosks, hotels, restaurants and entertainment complexes," Vatchari said.

The price controls will be enforced from September 1.

A ministry source said the department had to roll back its proposed price controls on chain restaurants as enterprises had filed a lot of complaints to the ministry over government intervention in private enterprises.

Therefore, the department announced that it would meet with restaurant enterprises to seek understanding over the price-control policy.

Pavornwan Koonmongkol, president of the Thai Restaurants Association, said many of its members had filed complaints over what they considered an unfair move by the government.

"Compared with retail shops, restaurants have high operation costs and service expenses. We employ waiters to serve our clients. The government should not control the retail price, as a restaurant offers additional service," she said, accepting that sales of drinking water had created profit for the business.

Pavornwan said the government should control retail prices at food courts only as they were a choice for low-income people.

-- The Nation 2010-08-17

[webfact]

Commerce Ministry announces official price lists for bottled water

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The Ministry of Commerce has announced the official price lists for bottled water sold nationwide, after receiving numerous complaints from consumers on overpriced bottled drinking-water.

The Department of Internal Trade (DIT) yesterday called a meeting with the association of drinking water companies to conduct a brainstorming session to find out appropriate prices for bottled water. The move came after the ministry had received a number of complaints about the problem of overpriced bottled water through the Ministry’s Hotline 1569.

Having considered the costs of the bottled water, the meeting finally came to a decision that the price of a 500-600cc bottle should not be higher than 7 THB each, while that of a 1,500cc bottle should not exceed 14 THB.

The ministry’s official price lists for bottled water will later be announced to the shopping malls, restaurants, and food shops requiring them to keep the water prices in line with the limit set. Meanwhile, the Consumer Goods and Service Prices Committee will enforce stringent measures to curb the overpricing problem.

After 16 August, any vendor caught selling bottled water over 7 THB each will be subject to a prison term of up to 7-year, or a fine of up to140,000 THB; or both.

-- NNT 2010-08-17

[TAWP]

So failure to abide to government oppression and regulation of the free market can give you longer prison-time than murdering a person in cold blood...seems fair.

[Thai at Heart]

Just shows it was a badly written law

[naiharn]

Commerce Ministry announces official price lists for bottled water

After 16 August, any vendor caught selling bottled water over 7 THB each will be subject to a prison term of up to 7-year, or a fine of up to140,000 THB; or both.

I can see what the Ministry is trying to do! It is trying to set a world record for the heaviest punishment compared with the cost of the item involved.

In monetary terms 140,000B fine for mispricing of a 7B item is a ratio of 20,000 times! Or one year's imprisonment per Baht!

It warms my heart to see our officials trying to promote our country on the World Stage.

Imagine the fines and punishments that might be necessary for more up-market offenders, e.g. politicians and businessmen involved in corruption involving tens of millions of Baht. There wouldn't be enough money in the Kingdom for them to pay their fines! Never mind, they could borrow it from the IMF.

[Piengrudee]

Commerce Ministry have nothing else to do.

[mccw]

Wish we had some price controls in the uk.

Allowing a bit of profit while protecting the consumer from the Greedy nature of capitalist society is one place I'd say Thailand is more civilised than falang land. Recognising ceertain things such as water, electric and transport as being services for the people deserving subsidy rather than purely businesses is another example.

[screamingeagle]

Wish we had some price controls in the uk.

Allowing a bit of profit while protecting the consumer from the Greedy nature of capitalist society is one place I'd say Thailand is more civilised than falang land. Recognising ceertain things such as water, electric and transport as being services for the people deserving subsidy rather than purely businesses is another example.

"Thailand is more civilised thanfarang land"????????????????????????/ Good grief. What planet do you come from?

[mccw]

"Thailand is more civilised thanfarang land"????????????????????????/ Good grief. What planet do you come from?

allowing profit but supporting the people over private companies through price controls and subsidies for services Is far More civilised than allowing rampant free marketism in my opinion.

I'm only refering to this policy area in regards to more civilised, Not the over all picture; but I wouldn't put them that far behind; in a few decades eu and USA could well look like crumbling former glories compared to Asia

[TAWP]

allowing profit but supporting the people over private companies through price controls and subsidies for services Is far More civilised than allowing rampant free marketism in my opinion.

I'm only refering to this policy area in regards to more civilised, Not the over all picture; but I wouldn't put them that far behind; in a few decades eu and USA could well look like crumbling former glories compared to Asia

If you think that government intervention into the free market is a good idea, I have a list of some socialist countries you might enjoy...

But I am sure you would be kicking and screaming if they started to regulate how much *you* had to charge. I am here assuming you have or ever had a job that did something of value for others to pay for.

[webfact]

DIT extends by 2 weeks enforcement of new prices for bottled water

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The Department of Internal Trade has extended by two more weeks its mission to survey prices of bottled water and notify entrepreneurs of the newly enforced retail prices.

The DIT has officially declared that bottles containing 0.5-0.6 liter and 1.5 liters of water must be each sold at 7 THB and 14 THB respectively. DIT officials have been dispatched to survey the market and inform related entrepreneurs about the new price.

According to DIT Director-General Vatchari Vimooktayon, the two-week extension period from 16 August 2010 is aimed at assessing the situation and allowing entrepreneurs to adjust themselves to the new regulation. The DIT will start taking legal action against those violating the regulation from 1 September 2010 onwards.

Violators will be subject to a prison term of up to seven years and/or a fine of up to 140,000 THB. The regulation will cover convenient stores, supermarkets, food courts in department stores, shops in bus terminals, and hospitals.

Next week, entrepreneurs of fast food chains and Japanese restaurants will be invited to give facts and information to be compiled for assessment. The DIT will at the same time request cooperation from the entrepreneurs to sell bottled water at fair prices.

-- NNT 2010-08-17

[mccw]

If you think that government intervention into the free market is a good idea, I have a list of some socialist countries you might enjoy...

I'm not talking communist or anything; but regulated and controlled capitalism where small bussinesses entrepurship etc is encoraged free from excesive tax and red tape, while the huge corporations are prohibitated from excesive profitiring off the backs of the produces and consumers alike; the supermarkets being a prime example, whole sale prices are down yet prices keep going up, same with petrol. Government should protect it's citizens and economy alike from the dangers of inflation. It's the lack of regulation that's landed the west in such an economic pickle right now, blind faith in the free Market is what almost cAused the intire system to collapse, money becoming meaningless, break down of supply chains, end of society as we know it; could still happen; we the tax payer had yo bail out the broken system of the super rich getting richer at the expense and risk of the 99.999% rest of us. I'm not advocating comunism but some kind of middle ground where quality of life is the target over econmic growth; increased in a sustainable way; levels in society and wealth are natural and people should have education and oppertunity to better themselves through hard work; a level Wichita no one can fall below provided by the state, but not too comfy, tv, sterio etc are luxury not right, just basic food and shelter free all else should be earnt; gov should be to fasiciltate good quality of life for people, not to facillitate profit taking at the expence of the citizenry.

I'm a property developer as it happens but it doesn't blind me go the fact more affordable housing is needed in my country; what with all that has happened in the last couple years it should be blatantly obvious that thatcher to bush era thinking is no good thing just as overly powerfully unions are detrimental aswell, communism never works because of the nature of power, but what could be possable is a new kind of sustainable social capitalism, moving slower but free from these crashes and designed with the quality of life of the populas as a vhief concern

[moe666]

I am all for fair prices but price control from the government doesn't work.

[bartender100]

Are 7/11 included and all brands such as nestle?

[chantorn]

I went to the Pizza Com today. They used to serve Crystal drinking water. Today they change to Minere Mineral Water, because Mineral Water is not under price control (just incase I suppose). They however still charge way more than 7 baht. However, unlike others, ice remains free.

[mccw]

I am all for fair prices but price control from the government doesn't work.

y not? I'm sure an affordable fair price could relatively easily be worked out for essential goods, and profits made back through luxuries, in the case of the supermarkets.

I could understand the arguement for something like petrol where an oil company might say we need the most profit to continue exploration etc some we don't run out; but the same companies also say actual pump sales is only a tiny per engage of profits so a bit of control shouldn't damage them too much .

In the case of milk, bread, meat, veg or instant noodles there is no such arguement.

Things like trains and buses are run as private monopolies so the idea that competition will bring better service or sensible prices is obviously rubbish; they should be run by the government as a service for the people and profits reinvested rather than lining a few mans pockets.

[TAWP]

One reason price-control doesn't work is because it often carries the inverted issue that minimum wage creates, where people are always paid minimum wage in some groups of work with no chance of ever being paid higher. If you set a maximum price on ice-cream (as an example) there is no incentive to increase the quality (and own costs) but instead to reduce the quality as low as one can (save money) to increase the profit over other brands.

[Thai at Heart]

I understand where some of our more sensitive members of Tv are coming from when they say, price controls for essentials might work.

The moment you say this, it is important to understand where you are and understand that under the false guise of the "free market" the middle men/processors are creaming it in on everything that a food producer does in this country. They have maybe 80% margin on what they do, and the currency can run off into the distance and they are still profitable. Perrier could probably pump it to Bangkok direct and be competitive if they didn't have to compete with the duties on imported everything.

The way to get past pricing bottled water is for the GOVERNMENT water people to upgrade and prove to the people that it is drinkable. I have seen my friends in London even come to a point where they will not drink a drop of domestic water in the UK.

In my residence up country, until a few months ago , (after the missus bought a filter which has produced absolutely no visible difference after 10 years of drinkng the water) I was drinking it straight from the tap. I have a little inside knowledge from my job and there is more than enough chlorine in it to kill anything.

If ever there was a government sponsored fraud on the Thai people it is that bottled water from Singha, Chang or any other is safer than the tap.

And this is the way this country works, pure and simple, as fresh as the day is long, pumped into every house, courtesy of your government. It wouldn't put it past them to suggest that a faucet for Thai beer into every house would be a good idea.

And if you ever mess with it, we will find us another government.

Edited August 17, 2010 by Thai at Heart

[chantorn]

"... bottled water from Singha, Chang or any other ...". I saw an ads on TV today. Guess what. Regency drinking water. We all knew immediately it is a Regency whiskey ads in disguise.

[Thai at Heart]

"... bottled water from Singha, Chang or any other ...". I saw an ads on TV today. Guess what. Regency drinking water. We all knew immediately it is a Regency whiskey ads in disguise.

You kidding. Regency water????????????? Pumped from the river in Namphong, Khon Kaen? Singha from a few miles down the road in Tha Prah, Khon Kaen?

Well do the maths......

They all have water supply, and one decent sized RO system, they pump it out at 10000% profit.

Cheaper and more efficient than distilling, fermenting, filtering, bottling and all that other mess.

I don't blame anyone for it, other than allowing these companies to hide behind the guise of protectionism, whilst pretending to have the "THAILAND" blasted front and centre as their motto.

This country gets the system it deserves. If I can understand it, everyone in the government does too.

Edited August 17, 2010 by Thai at Heart

[chantorn]

"... bottled water from Singha, Chang or any other ...". I saw an ads on TV today. Guess what. Regency drinking water. We all knew immediately it is a Regency whiskey ads in disguise.

You kidding. Regency water????????????? Pumped from the river in Namphong, Khon Kaen? Singha from a few miles down the road in Tha Prah, Khon Kaen?

Well do the maths......

They all have water supply, and one decent sized RO system, they pump it out at 10000% profit.

Cheaper and more efficient than distilling, fermenting, filtering, bottling and all that other mess.

I don't blame anyone for it, other than allowing these companies to hide behind the guise of protectionism, whilst pretending to have the "THAILAND" blasted front and centre as their motto.

This country gets the system it deserves. If I can understand it, everyone in the government does too.

Not joking. Here is the ads

[Thai at Heart]

"... bottled water from Singha, Chang or any other ...". I saw an ads on TV today. Guess what. Regency drinking water. We all knew immediately it is a Regency whiskey ads in disguise.

You kidding. Regency water????????????? Pumped from the river in Namphong, Khon Kaen? Singha from a few miles down the road in Tha Prah, Khon Kaen?

Well do the maths......

They all have water supply, and one decent sized RO system, they pump it out at 10000% profit.

Cheaper and more efficient than distilling, fermenting, filtering, bottling and all that other mess.

I don't blame anyone for it, other than allowing these companies to hide behind the guise of protectionism, whilst pretending to have the "THAILAND" blasted front and centre as their motto.

This country gets the system it deserves. If I can understand it, everyone in the government does too.

Not joking. Here is the ads

I'd like to see her swim in the irrigation canal through NamPhong.

[mccw]

One reason price-control doesn't work is because it often carries the inverted issue that minimum wage creates, where people are always paid minimum wage in some groups of work with no chance of ever being paid higher. If you set a maximum price on ice-cream (as an example) there is no incentive to increase the quality (and own costs) but instead to reduce the quality as low as one can (save money) to increase the profit over other brands

I see what your saying but given that there is still competion then companies whch did this would suffer loss of sales and so b conterproductive. Ice cream I wouldn't count a staple, but for things like bread or milk then regulations would be such that standards and saftey must be acceptable.

I don't see what you mean about minim wage though. The lack of oppertunity for progression would be endemic to the type of job and a differrent issue to minimum wage, without which those employees would just be paid as little as could be gotten away with. Still in alot of these jobs it is possable to move up if they not late etc model worker over many years; but most people in such jobs are not like that which is indeed why they find themselves there in the first place.

[smedly]

must admit it was always an issue for me when staying in a hotel or guest house around pattaya to find that a bottle of water from the room fridge was almost the same price as a bottle of beer and the beer wasn't cheap, I always simply stocked up with my own water..............but this still pissed me off, then to the bar, 65baht for a beer and 50baht for a bottle of water, now there's over pricing and there's just plain robbery

[whatsupdoc]

If any upmarket restaurant, hotel etcetera has to sell a bottle of water for 7 baht they would have three choices; change to a low quality one that is cheaper, stop selling or switch to mineral water to evade the price cap.

There is not enough margin on a bottle of say Nestle or Namthip (if you sell for 7 baht) to pay for staff, electricity and other costs. Nobody would want to sell water at a loss.

[SamritT]

must admit it was always an issue for me when staying in a hotel or guest house around pattaya to find that a bottle of water from the room fridge was almost the same price as a bottle of beer and the beer wasn't cheap, I always simply stocked up with my own water..............but this still pissed me off, then to the bar, 65baht for a beer and 50baht for a bottle of water, now there's over pricing and there's just plain robbery

I heard that in many western countries, Beer & Wine are cheaper than Water in the supermarket. Is this true?

[Buchholz]

Not joking. Here is the ads

I'd like to see her swim in the irrigation canal through NamPhong.

I'd rather see her swim in a pond of my own bodily fluids.

[TAWP]

I'd rather see her swim in a pond of my own bodily fluids.

You are German or got the flue?

[remy1960]

Commerce Ministry announces official price lists for bottled water

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The Ministry of Commerce has announced the official price lists for bottled water sold nationwide, after receiving numerous complaints from consumers on overpriced bottled drinking-water.

The Department of Internal Trade (DIT) yesterday called a meeting with the association of drinking water companies to conduct a brainstorming session to find out appropriate prices for bottled water. The move came after the ministry had received a number of complaints about the problem of overpriced bottled water through the Ministry's Hotline 1569.

Having considered the costs of the bottled water, the meeting finally came to a decision that the price of a 500-600cc bottle should not be higher than 7 THB each, while that of a 1,500cc bottle should not exceed 14 THB.

The ministry's official price lists for bottled water will later be announced to the shopping malls, restaurants, and food shops requiring them to keep the water prices in line with the limit set. Meanwhile, the Consumer Goods and Service Prices Committee will enforce stringent measures to curb the overpricing problem.

After 16 August, any vendor caught selling bottled water over 7 THB each will be subject to a prison term of up to 7-year, or a fine of up to140,000 THB; or both.

-- NNT 2010-08-17

"chain stores" in Koh Samui have raised the price of 1.5 lt bottled water to 22 baht, not the big stores, the ones on every street. Jail sentence coming up???

[BKKdreaming]

must admit it was always an issue for me when staying in a hotel or guest house around pattaya to find that a bottle of water from the room fridge was almost the same price as a bottle of beer and the beer wasn't cheap, I always simply stocked up with my own water..............but this still pissed me off, then to the bar, 65baht for a beer and 50baht for a bottle of water, now there's over pricing and there's just plain robbery

I heard that in many western countries, Beer & Wine are cheaper than Water in the supermarket. Is this true?

Not true in California if you are talking about local bottled water,

if its water from France like Perrier then maybe is as much as cheap wine or cheap beer,

But cheap wine can be 60 baht a liter as there is a surplus.

BK