Tough new crackdown on alcohol promotions in Thailand

• No more "beer girls"
• Health warnings on all alcohol products
• No old bottles of wines or beer can be used to decorate a business
• No happy hours promotions
• Promoting alcohol through word of mouth is also illegal
• No alcohol logos are allowed on glasses, ashtrays and other paraphernalia
• Punishments of up to six months in jail for various offences
• All promotion of alcoholic consumption is illegal

CHIANG MAI: -- The Government has warned that it intends to enforce harsh measures regulating the advertising and promotion of alcohol, in a move that will affect thousands of businesses throughout the country.

An example of an acceptable alcohol advertisement, showing a health warning at the top and a picture of people engaging in a 'socially responsible' activity - in this case, meditation. The orange box in the bottom left corner is where the alcohol brand's logo would be displayed.

Details of the law, which is vague and open to interpretation, are provided below. The following guidelines were given to CityNews along with around 30 hoteliers and members of the media who were invited to a meeting at the Tarin Hotel yesterday [Monday August 25, 2014] by the Chiang Mai Provincial Public Health Office. The aim of the meeting was to clarify the nuances of the law and give warning as to their immediate enforcement.

"I am only here to help you, the media and relevant businesses to understand the law," said Second Lieutenant Taweesak Jintajiranan. "This law was put into effect due to the rapidly growing costs of alcohol to this nation. Alcohol-related accidents have increased significantly in recent years. While the government makes 70 billion baht income per year from alcohol tax, the cost to the government is upwards of 150 billion baht."

He went on to expand on the written law as follows:

Under the newly enforced rules all alcohol products must carry health warnings, sales are banned to anyone under the age of 20, and initiatives promoting alcohol – such as happy hours, free ice and mixers, and the use of ‘beer girls’ – are banned.

No drinking is allowed after midnight in bars or restaurants, even though sales have ended; no alcohol logos are allowed on glasses, ashtrays and other paraphernalia; and bars will not be allowed to display posters or bottles – even old ones – featuring such logos.

Bar staff cannot wear T-shirts with alcohol logos, and it is illegal to promote events such as wine and beer tastings. Alcohol logos - or even images accepted as representative of brands, such as a deer head for Benmore or red stars for Heineken - are not allowed to be displayed in sponsorship or any kind of advertising or promotion.

Promoting alcohol through word of mouth is also illegal, so if a waiter is asked to recommend a particular brand of beer he would be breaking the law if he responds. All printed photographs of glasses or bottles in the media must have visible brands and logos blurred.

Officials have also vowed to strictly enforce laws on alcohol advertising. This is expected to have a big effect on media businesses like Citylife, CityNow! and Spoon & Fork, which rely heavily on advertising by hotels and entertainment venues.

The authorities are using an existing law, the Alcohol Control Act of 2008, to crack down. It was introduced with the aim of reducing consumption, but while some aspects have been in effect for years there are many minor points which, until now, have been ignored by authorities.

A 70-page Thai-language handbook - a must-read for anyone working in the alcohol industry and related fields - was distributed at the meeting.

Essentially all promotion of alcohol is now illegal. Here is a breakdown of the laws, some of which were already being enforced but from now on will be universally enforced nationwide.

For producers and importers of alcohol:

- All alcoholic drinks packaging must carry a clear and government-approved health warning (see example above), and a list of ingredients. It must be stated clearly on the packaging that this is an alcoholic beverage.

- Consumers cannot drink in the following areas: temples or religious places (unless alcohol is used in religious ceremonies), public spaces belonging to the government (except for private residences within said area), government buildings (apart from club houses, special designated areas for commerce and private residences, or during special events), within education centres (apart from residences, parties or clubs, or if the education centre is teaching how to mix alcohol), petrol or gas stations, public parks, and anywhere else the government announces at any date.

- Alcohol cannot be sold on the Makhabucha, Visakabucha, Asarahabucha and Khao Pansa religious holidays, except from in hotels in order to promote tourism and stimulate the economy.

- No sales are allowed to anyone aged under 20 years, or anyone who is obviously drunk.

- No sales of alcoholic beverages are allowed by automated machines, non-location-specific sales are banned (ie. no mobile bars or wandering around selling), and no promotions, offering rights, points, lucky draws or awards and no freebies of any kind including swaps and exchanges are allowed.

Advertising

- No images of alcoholic drinks, including photography, and logos in any language which “invite” the public to drink alcohol are allowed. Continues here:

Source and full story: City News Chiang Mai

No more beer girls? What the hell?

If they don't crack down on Lao Khao, they're whistling in the wind.....

A good friend works for Diageo putting together launch events in bars, discos and hotels around and about. I guess she will be NOT be out of a job then.

Tax the stuff by alchohol content and this whole discussion becomes moot. Whisky would become too expensive and everyone would drink beer and wine. Problem solved.

and the use of ‘beer girls’ – are banned

use by who? sellers or drinkers?

Well it's not easy being drunk all the time, if it were everyone would do it. This just makes it that bit harder. I wonder if the crackdown will extend to clueless 'assistants' in places like tesco and tops etc? Why do people need help to buy beer and wine? - see it's not easy! Last time I asked what the difference is between blended and single malt the answer was well malt more expensive. Getting rid of beer girls is really going tooo far. There should be a policy to set up more ya dong shops, we need more alcohol promotion not less, it's the only thing that makes living here bearable. This place is getting like Saudi Arabia

No drinking after midnight ? It's like living back at home with your parents. This can't be good for the Tourist industry or for those of us that live here and enjoy a beer or 2 at the weekend.

To all those who claim Thailand is not a "nanny state," how do ya like them apples?

Does this mean i can just pour the beer in my own glas when i feel like it ,,, yes finally

"Promoting alcohol through word of mouth is also illegal, so if a waiter is asked to recommend a particular brand of beer he would be breaking the law if he responds"

I have never been to a French restaurant or in fact any reputable fine dining establishment in Bangkok without relying on the knowledge of wines drawn from a Sommelier when I am at a loss for an eloquent marriage of food and wine. Their ability to match fine wine with a superb meal is ‘strategically on a par with that of the chef de cuisine's ability to bring a certain magic to the table through the food itself.

​For one NOT to have a sommelier at a fine dining establishment should be illegal!

Lets hope the Junta rethink this specific ban.

Is this a joke?

"Promoting alcohol through word of mouth is also illegal, so if a waiter is asked to recommend a particular brand of beer he would be breaking the law if he responds"

I have never been to a French restaurant or in fact any reputable fine dining establishment in Bangkok without relying on the knowledge of wines drawn from a Sommelier when I am at a loss for an eloquent marriage of food and wine. Their ability to match fine wine with a superb meal is ‘strategically on a par with that of the chef de cuisine's ability to bring a certain magic to the table through the food itself.

​For one NOT to have a sommelier at a fine dining establishment should be illegal!

Lets hope the Junta rethink this specific ban.

Well this sounds like a conciderable exeption , i mean whats there to promote you want wine allready .

Is this a joke?

No it's Thailand where they pix out the boobs on a Rubens painting in a film, but where kiddie porn is available on the streets and we all know what else!

About time, alcohol causes more deaths than illegal drugs and legal drugs like cigarettes which have warnings already.

It states in the fine print that will not be allowed to use and emoticons on their forum pages.

About time, alcohol causes more deaths than illegal drugs and legal drugs like cigarettes which have warnings already.

Praise the lord speaking of him, was not his first miracle turning water into wine, now there was a man you could have followed!

Does it also apply to social media , do i have to go through several hundreds of pictures looking for that beerbottle and delete or morph it out

About time, alcohol causes more deaths than illegal drugs and legal drugs like cigarettes which have warnings already.

Praise the lord speaking of him, was not his first miracle turning water into wine, now there was a man you could have followed!

So the bible has to be edited for use in thailand

what about Thai beer sponsoring UK football, Chang is Everton anywhere else?

And rubbing alcohol ?

So does that mean Singha is not allowed to sponsor the 100+ JUNIOR golfers by putting their logo on their shirts?

No more Chang wife beater shirts?

what about Thai beer sponsoring UK football, Chang is Everton anywhere else?

They just morph it out

Bye bye live soccer

Does anyone have a score card with the number of crack downs currently running?

Do they really think that the things outlined here are actually going to have much effect on the hard core drinkers here in Thailand, that's going to be a long up hill battle.

well they should stop Tesco selling old plonk off cheap that should be tipped down the drain, anyone else noticed this. They are selling off bottles years out of date for 199, Chianti 5 years old and Shiraz/CS Australian 6 years old. Had a bottle of Wolf Blass this week, tasted like vinegar.

No happy hours?

Sort of contradicts the return to happiness.

No more Happy Hours?

I thought Happiness was one of their key objectives?

^ Great minds think alike.

WHAT THE HELL JUST HAPPENED??!!!

If this is a foretaste of things to come - this country is going to face far more problems than it has in the past.

I mean - did YOU see that coming? I didn't!!

Have they any idea how much this is going to cripple live events and sponsorship and all manner of other things that the large drinks companies like Singha, Thai Bev and Diageo sponsor?

I can't see any sense in any of this at all.

Ok - - they've started with alcohol - you BETTER BELIEVE that the next big thing is going to be a MAJOR crackdown on prostitution.

Think I'm mad ? Don't say I didn't warn you. Nana plaza will be shut down and many other establishments will follow suit.

You watch - things are about to get VERY colourful.

I cant beleive this, are they joking?No drinking is allowed after midnight in bars or restaurants??????????<deleted> is going on.