Asiatique restaurant fined Bt460,000 for showing beer bottles in menus

[empireboy]

On the face of it this seems very unrealistic. In a restaurant and on a menu. I can understand public broadcasting of certain adverts but not this....

[X pat]

For a tourest depend country they are sure going about it the wrong way.

[sambum]

So you can't have logos in a menu, but it's ok to be seen from miles away?

Showing the brand is perfectly ok. It's showing what's termed a 'pack-shot' - product, glass with contents - that's illegal here.

But WHY?

[gyrosman]

But sell cigs and alcohol to children at corner stores and play talk shows all day showing boos and ass on TV and give them facebook, ok.

[steveyinasia]

I certainly have been to a few local restaurants around my area, Sukhumvit Soi 38, and there are plenty of cases where logo's are shown in the menu. Maybe the authorities tasked with menu picture enforcement have not made it this far yet.

[gchurch259]

You can not legislate self discipline. Looking at a Beer Girl, picture of a beer can/glass is not going to make someone drink too much, it is a lack of self discipline that does it.

Where do they get all these stupid rules from, ignorance ?

One of the big problems Thailand has is that too many of those in positions of responsibility have a very bad lack of "Circumspect", they have not opened their mind and do not want to respect opinions of non Thai's.

Enough, I do not need a knock on the door !! I have lived here as a guess for 11 years, I also respect many Thais I have met, but they have some very basic problems they need to deal with.

By the way, Dear General/PM keep flushing the devise, the water is not clear yet !!

[taff33]

I suppose the next stage would be to stop a shop or restaurant displaying the drinks in a glass fronted fridge.

The same as they do with cigarettes, where they are hidden in shuttered display cabinets.

I know Thais are weak but this is ridiculous.

Farangs are selective with what they drink. Unlike Thais they will not drink any crap that gets them drunk quickly and cheaply. Most have good taste ( with drinks anyway ) and like their own particular brands.

Thais call every spirit Whisky, They have no concept of the difference between Whisky / Rum / Brandy / Gin / Vodka / etc

Their height of sophistication is a bottle of Spy they call wine. So a choice is not important to them.

This maybe true of the Thais in your village in Nakon nowhere dear boy, but not all Thai's are rice picking peasants,

I have been to dinner with some of the boys who drink bottles of wine which are more than your pension or teachers salary so maybe less of the all encompassing generalisations about a population you obviously know very little off outside your little farang bwana bubble you live in

. Of or off make up your mind.I have made a lot of money in my working life,but I have NEVER belittled any one less well off than my self,I suppose that comes from being brought with respect for other people.

[dominique355]

It only shows how utterly clueless this government is when it comes to alcoholism.

It's called "actionism", being seen doing something although nobody believes it will reduce alcoholism to any extent.

[sambum]

This silliness is the extreme end result of a totalitarian government, now the question is , what else are the silliness administration going to ban or introduce next, that is the question. perhaps the banning of alcohol , now that would be interesting and quite on the cards.

Ah, yes, you haven't QUITE said it, but you have put it in their minds! Let's ban PLAYING CARDS, because they encourage gambling!

[DM07]

Hello, I am not one to complain, but you know - if you don't like the way the Thais run their own country, go home!

All this criticism of a country which is actually trying. Don't like their efforts? Volunteer to help. Yes - that means for no money. But no, you wouldn't do that - too much danger of not being able to complain.

Let's think: Aussies - 'king' punches, Yanks - shoot to kill policies, Brits - 'superior' attitude ...

Sod off home if you do not like the fact these people are trying to make a change.

Thank you.

There always has to be one!

[Docno]

This is a run-down of what is banned (from http://www.establishmentpost.com/junta-ordered-thailand-law-enforcement-signals-end-happy-hour/):

• Alcohol sales to anyone under the age of 20 is banned.
• Alcohol can not be sold to anyone who is visibly drunk.
• The promotion of wine or beer tastings is banned.
• Enticing or encouraging someone to drink alcohol is banned.
• Drinking after midnight in bars or restaurants, even though alcohol sales have stopped is banned.
• Photographs of glasses or bottles in the media must have any brands or logos blurred.
• Drinking while riding a bicycle, motorbike or in a car, whether driving or not, is banned.
• All alcohol products must carry a government health warning – a choice of five approved health warning messages are available to chose from – and list all of the ingredients.
• Promoting alcohol sales through methods such as happy hours, free ice and mixers, buy two get one free, and the use of ‘beer girls’ is banned.
• Glasses, ashtrays and other restaurant or bar paraphernalia cannot carry alcohol logos.
• The display of posters or bottles with alcohol company logos, even old posters or empty bottles, is banned.
• Bar and restaurant staff are forbidden from wearing clothing embossed or printed with alcohol logos while working.
• The use of images that are associated with alcohol products, such as red stars for Heineken or a black bat on a red circular background for Bacardi, in promotional literature is prohibited.
• Promoting alcohol by word of mouth is illegal (a waiter would be breaking the law if he/she suggested a particular brand of wine or beer).
• Drinking is banned in government buildings, including education centres, public parks, petrol or gas refueling stations and temples or religious venues.
• Alcohol cannot be sold by vending machines.
• Promoting alcohol by offering points, prizes, discounts, incentives or rewards is banned.
• Television advertising is only permitted between 10pm and 5am while the amount of space alcohol logos can occupy in printed or online advertising is limited. In addition audio health warning must be clear and legible down to each syllable, while printed health warnings must run the full width of the advertisement, whether electronic, printed, or online and occupy no less than one-quarter of the advertising space.

[sambum]

This is a run-down of what is banned (from http://www.establishmentpost.com/junta-ordered-thailand-law-enforcement-signals-end-happy-hour/):

• Alcohol sales to anyone under the age of 20 is banned.
• Alcohol can not be sold to anyone who is visibly drunk.
• The promotion of wine or beer tastings is banned.
• Enticing or encouraging someone to drink alcohol is banned.
• Drinking after midnight in bars or restaurants, even though alcohol sales have stopped is banned.
• Photographs of glasses or bottles in the media must have any brands or logos blurred.
• Drinking while riding a bicycle, motorbike or in a car, whether driving or not, is banned.
• All alcohol products must carry a government health warning – a choice of five approved health warning messages are available to chose from – and list all of the ingredients.
• Promoting alcohol sales through methods such as happy hours, free ice and mixers, buy two get one free, and the use of ‘beer girls’ is banned.
• Glasses, ashtrays and other restaurant or bar paraphernalia cannot carry alcohol logos.
• The display of posters or bottles with alcohol company logos, even old posters or empty bottles, is banned.
• Bar and restaurant staff are forbidden from wearing clothing embossed or printed with alcohol logos while working.
• The use of images that are associated with alcohol products, such as red stars for Heineken or a black bat on a red circular background for Bacardi, in promotional literature is prohibited.
• Promoting alcohol by word of mouth is illegal (a waiter would be breaking the law if he/she suggested a particular brand of wine or beer).
• Drinking is banned in government buildings, including education centres, public parks, petrol or gas refueling stations and temples or religious venues.
• Alcohol cannot be sold by vending machines.
• Promoting alcohol by offering points, prizes, discounts, incentives or rewards is banned.
• Television advertising is only permitted between 10pm and 5am while the amount of space alcohol logos can occupy in printed or online advertising is limited. In addition audio health warning must be clear and legible down to each syllable, while printed health warnings must run the full width of the advertisement, whether electronic, printed, or online and occupy no less than one-quarter of the advertising space.

Can I tell somebody I like it?

[Tanlic]

When a regulation doesn't suit of course you/we tend to say they are stupid.

But this one takes the top prize.

Many restaurants both Thai and Farang depend on drink sales to make a living.

Food and drink come hand in hand so why would you have a law that can lead to a business failing?

Can't these people see where it's heading?

The business fails the owner loses his/her investment and the staff lose their jobs/

They all get depressed go on drinking sprees become alcoholics and end up robbing 7/11 because they need a drink

[Equalizer]

What a shower of sh@t eh. Not to mention the X rated pictures of dead bodies, half eaten faces, and pussing abscesses spread eagled all over cigarette packets for all the kids to see. Then there is the strong argument that a murderer can pay less and walk free. Sh@t hole of a place at times. it really pi@@es me off this kind of racism.

[Guest]

I suppose the next stage would be to stop a shop or restaurant displaying the drinks in a glass fronted fridge.

The same as they do with cigarettes, where they are hidden in shuttered display cabinets.

I know Thais are weak but this is ridiculous.

Farangs are selective with what they drink. Unlike Thais they will not drink any crap that gets them drunk quickly and cheaply. Most have good taste ( with drinks anyway ) and like their own particular brands.

Thais call every spirit Whisky, They have no concept of the difference between Whisky / Rum / Brandy / Gin / Vodka / etc

Their height of sophistication is a bottle of Spy they call wine. So a choice is not important to them.

This maybe true of the Thais in your village in Nakon nowhere dear boy, but not all Thai's are rice picking peasants,

I have been to dinner with some of the boys who drink bottles of wine which are more than your pension or teachers salary so maybe less of the all encompassing generalisations about a population you obviously know very little off outside your little farang bwana bubble you live in

Hardly something to extoll, given crippling poverty in Thailand and elsewhere...

That's not the point, the poster was as making all encompassing derogatory comments about a whole nation of people so called his BS that's all

Where do people like JohnCat1 get this from?

All Thias eat crickets and wash them down with moonshine? Really?

JohnCat1 ... if you ever leave whatever rat hole you live in (or simply party in once a year ... thinking Pattaya) and come to Bangkok ...

Please try not to scratch the Lambo's and Bentley’s parked in front of Michelin rated restaurants while their Thai owners gobble down fresh Maine Lobster and New Zealand Lamb. God only knows what Grand Cru they wash it all down with ... followed by $75 USD per OUNCE Armagnac … Oh, and do try one of those $40 cigars they are happily puffing on.

You see, the reason people like me and others go off about this is .. People from all over the world … read Thai Visa … if they listen to uninformed, negative and really not “Thai friendly” folks like you .. they will think the whole place is a mirror of the backwater you describe.

I have been all over this world, and let me tell you .. New York and Bangkok … if you can’t get it there .. it ain’t worth having.

Even New York cannot compare with the incredible detail and beauty of some of Bangkok’s venues. They are world class.

Now get back to the table and chase those flies off your fish and chips.

[bangon04]

So you can't have logos in a menu, but it's ok to be seen from miles away?

Showing the brand is perfectly ok. It's showing what's termed a 'pack-shot' - product, glass with contents - that's illegal here.

So it won't be too long before glass fronted refrigerators will have their doors painted in bars, restraunts, mom and pop corner stores etc. RIDICULOUS!!

What about the inflight duty free catalogue? .. and the air hostess pushing the trolley along the aisle in the aircraft will have to very sure to keep the beer bottles hidden from the passengers until they choose their drink....

could be no end to the nonsense....

[condobrit001]

Thai law resticts or bans many things - the problem is of course selective enforcement. You can walk down Sukhumvit Road any day and purchase pornography, prescription drugs (mostly fake), knives, tazers, and a plethora of counterfeit goods - all of wich are illegal, and all of which the police turn a blind eye to. Yet, dare to accidentaly drop a cigaret but on the already filthy sidewalk and you will immediately be fined 2,000 Baht on the spot!

Moral - those who can afford to be fined will be fined, other are time wasters and are no use to police coffers.

[sambum]

You can not legislate self discipline. Looking at a Beer Girl, picture of a beer can/glass is not going to make someone drink too much, it is a lack of self discipline that does it.

Where do they get all these stupid rules from, ignorance ?

One of the big problems Thailand has is that too many of those in positions of responsibility have a very bad lack of "Circumspect", they have not opened their mind and do not want to respect opinions of non Thai's.

Enough, I do not need a knock on the door !! I have lived here as a guess for 11 years, I also respect many Thais I have met, but they have some very basic problems they need to deal with.

By the way, Dear General/PM keep flushing the devise, the water is not clear yet !!

And girls are not to wear bikinis on the beach after dark!

[English 1]

i checked the date as I thought this nonsense must be an April Fool joke!

Hey Jonnie99 that was a very Negative comment.

But you got one thing right the English are Superior!

[kinmaew]

Sounds like a great place to do business. Investing my million quid now! My money in the hands of Thais, just love it.

[mikiea]

Id like to know the whole story

no.... you would not, it would just make your head hurt :-)

[CantSpell]

That law actually started around 5-6 years ago and was aimed mainly at the big advertising boards (probably mainly in Bangkok).

Idea was they could promote sub-products (water or soft drinks) with their names but not alcoholic drinks....

The key work here being "promoting"....

Became very convenient for the local BIB to make a few bucks around but also became a very good way to fight a competitor: make an anonymous call to the local office, 2 days later 10 of them were in the place inspecting everything from menus to signage outside, displays and so on...

Must have been the case in the OP IMO...

Had them paying me a visit a few years ago in Phuket Island in a very remote and low key resort: they just gave me recommendations and left after the visit, stating they'd come back 2 weeks after to recheck.

Conclusion was:

- Not allowed to mention happy hour of any kind.

- No empty bottles with colored water as display: only real bottles to serve during regular hours and must clear them before closing time.

- No name or even picture of a brand of any kind in menus

- No name and picture in outside signage.

- Even a picture of a glass with greenish liquid inside wasn't allowed in Cocktail section of the menu....

Then you go to Patong or any city in Phuket and signage of beers, happy hours, buckets 200 B everywhere....

The OP was most probably the target someone well connected....

[elgordo38]

How is it legal for farang expatriates to own restaurants and bars in Thailand? They are Annex 3 businesses under the Foreign Business Act and require majority Thai ownership, unless they have an alien business licence under the Thai-US Treaty of Amity or the Thai-Australia FBA or because they are large enough businesses to convince the Commerce Ministry to issue one.

Perhaps a more serious warning to farang expatriates who own restaurants and bars in Thailand will be forthcoming before this government has run its course. There seem to enough genuinely Thai owned businesses in this sector that the government might feel the foreign competition is not needed.

If your a foreigner your a sitting duck.

[bristolgeoff]

my friend has a bar in chiang mai,he was warned by the police or license section in a meeting.no advertising of any brand out side the bar.he is buying plain glasses towels etc.if people come into the bar they are their for a drink at lest,a bit crazy really a menu with a picture of a glass of wine or beer does not tell you the brand.this is Thailand and some crazy rules

[catweazle]

It's getting more and more ridiculous in this country. Most likely someone forgot or refused to "grease the gear"... I'm disgusted

[mike324]

The fine is more than if you kill someone in Thailand. Amazing Thailand.

[elgordo38]

Seems like a very hefty fine for this kind of offence.

[SuwadeeS]

Thailand is getting worse, day by day.

Still hope that this economy is getting hit as hard, as it deserves it.

[mikiea]

The beginning of the end???

good god man.......save the women & lil chillins first :-)

[mikiea]

Sounds like a great place to do business. Investing my million quid now! My money in the hands of Thais, just love it.

thainess, ya gotta love it :-)