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

[wow64]

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.

I'm real disappointed, you forgot the germans and not to mention Costas at all.

Hello, I am not one to complain but I am going to complain... if you don't like it go home. Oh man I love that line.

[German Viking]

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.

Perhaps they will adopt the American idea where all bottles of alcohol appear to be sold and kept in plain brown paper bags

Have you ever been in a booze shop in Sweden?

Countries with high levels of alcohol abuse and drunks need to do something.

Do you mean you can control alcohol abuse with Systembolaget(Sweden) or

Vinmonopolet(Norway). I life actually in Norway in hillbilly mountains in old times almost each house produced moonshine, a neighbour sometimes still destill moonshine, but real good stuff, in an old small fine homemade destilling apperatur made of copper. Around 60% Alc. Water, speed yeast, sugar, after 24 hours in 20 degrees environment, ready for destilling. It's only for fun with some friends not more about twice a year. Note: today in europe the Alcohol consumption degreasing, but not cased of they idiot regulations. The ppl are afraid to loosing their driving licence. These regulations are only an excuse for the states to milking taxes like hell. For example in Norway "Vinmonopolet" State owned it's the only place, where it's allowed to selling alc over 4.7%. 1 bottle 0.5ltr. Weißbier (Paulaner, Erdinger, Weihenstephan) 5 - 6 Euro, the same in germany 0.75 - 0.80 Euro. This is insane and a crime. I'm almost try as the Sahara, anyway it's good for my health.

[German Viking]

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.

Then I will start to produce moonshine in Thailand like in good old prohibition times(John Dillinger, Al Capone etc.).

[German Viking]

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

To enforce these rules in top to the rubel crisis is just brainless, the result we having now for 2 high seasons, in top the stingy quality tourists from China failed also. Some problems are real homemade, som nam na.

[German Viking]

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

Recommandation just throw it in the Mekong, is the same effect, the only difference is that you can enjoy it, to do it yourself.

[German Viking]

Very interesting but I heard about a similar stunt that was pulled on the Costa del Sol many years ago. Allegedly a British man had bought a restaurant and the business was doing OK. Eventually one Sunday there was a visit from the police who wanted to see the restaurant's permit for trading on a Sunday. The man didn't have one so he was given an on-the-spot-fine and though the amount was not mentioned I'd guess that it would be at least 100 Euros.

On the Monday the restaurant owner visited the town-hall to see about obtaining the permit for trading on a Sunday but to his surprise there was no such thing hence the fine was a scam!

Double-standards are practiced worldwide but when there is no difference between the police and the mafia what can be done?

I like the good old times you was knowing the police are the good and mafia the bad, mostly, today same same, but different in clothes, not the mindset.

[German Viking]

I believe that Thailand has just copied Norway`s ridiculous alcohol laws.We have the same draconian laws against alcohol advertising........being in LOS now will soon be like coming home !!!

Just the prices are still different.

[lvr181]

TIT

[jacko45k]

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.

It is dumb.

I was buying from an onlne shopping site who do home delivery and they cannot have pictures of the alcohol products they sell.

It made me realise how much easier pictures make things. You can home in quickly to the right brand, container type and size.

They have found a way to screw more money.

Edited April 20, 2015 by jacko45k

[rametindallas]

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

Is that a current photo? Because I remember when they passed the law, the very large Johnny Walker logo, that had been up for years, came off the very tall Baiyoke 2 Tower within days.

I think it is excessive enforcement to prohibit a restaurant to advertise in their menu which brands they offer, otherwise we get to play 'twenty questions' with the wait-staff when we want a particular brand of beer, wine, or liquor.

[Beng]

This is as silly as asking fortune tellers for political advice.

[Linzz]

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.

Perhaps they will adopt the American idea where all bottles of alcohol appear to be sold and kept in plain brown paper bags

Maybe it wasn't Singha or Chang label being shown........

[Docno]

One thing to note... While the OP says "In a case that could serve as a warning to farang expatriates who own restaurants and bars in Thailand...", Kacha Kacha is apparently run by a young Japanese guy. [After all, the menu pic shows Japanese writing and the food is Japanese - wouldn't be easy for a farang guy to go for a 'traditional Japanese vibe' and few, if any, would be motivated to do so in Asia].

So for those of you who have suggested that this is yet another instance of persecution of the endangered farang, you may need to think again.

p.s. here's a quote from one site: "The [Asiatique sales] team said the owner/manager [of Kacha Kacha] was this young, avant garde Japanese chef..."

[Micbozy]

How about the beer promoting girls?

Shall they be fined?

[Micbozy]

Asiatique fined THB460,000 for beer images

By Coconuts Bangkok

BANGKOK: -- A new sudsy salvo in the war on booze opened with a Japanese restaurant at a popular riverside mall in hot water over some seductive images of foamy head printed in its menu.

Kacha Kacha Japanese restaurant at Asiatique was ordered to pay a THB460,000 fine for printing images of the beer it sells there after authorities deemed it a violation of the Alcohol Control Act.

A restaurant executive who goes by “Ozawa Curry” on Facebook, shared the court ruling against his restaurant on Wednesday as a warning to other business owners.

Full story: http://bangkok.coconuts.co/2015/04/20/asiatique-fined-thb460000-beer-images

-- Coconuts Bangkok 2015-04-20

So the restaurant should have covered up the top half of the glass which shows the foam, which is the same idea of showing boobs without revealing nipples.

Edited April 21, 2015 by Micbozy

[DLang]

So the restaurant should have covered up the top half of the glass which shows the foam, which is the same idea of showing boobs without revealing nipples.

Underboobs,

Announced as illegal last week.

People need to remember that Thailand is a modest, polite and Buddhist country. Showing beer in menus and women posting photos of the bottom half of their boobs are rightly illegal and punishable by 1/2 million baht fines.

Utterly ridiculous.

Utterly Thailand.

[slipperylobster]

you cannot watch a tv program without a big beer sponsor in the back

strange ruling

or do they use CHANG water or whatever to get around that law ?

or do that use that influential stuff that goes.....Ca..... ching

[yooyoo]

Ridiculous !!!

[yooyoo]

I will support support Kacha Kacha if they sell Japanese beer and hope that my patronage will help to make up the fine ... I say down with General Napoleon and his bunch of cronies!

[DLang]

^ Careful lad.

Free speech and criticism are not allowed. It is for the betterment of the people and the country.

[bruceybonus]

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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.

Perhaps they will adopt the American idea where all bottles of alcohol appear to be sold and kept in plain brown paper bags

I once shared some vintage 125 year single malt scotch with some very good and close Thai friends.

To my astonishment and dismay..and then not really surprised at tall...they mix soda water and Ice cubes...

I suggested that they try sipping it straight as then they could appreciate what they had in front of them...

Oh well.....

I don't think so!!

[Thunderbirds20]

So pathetic it is almost funny! What a backward country, ...to deal out such a hefty fine for such a stupid thing, ...a restaurant owner, making it easy for patrons of all nationalities to recognize their favorite beer. A friend of mine, (farang) was attacked by three Thai men half his age. They beat him with large pieces of hardwood and were intent on killing him if other had not stopped them, ...... after numerous trips to court the three thugs were each fined 2,000 baht

Welcome to Thailand! Bring your money

[yooyoo]

It is all part of Thainess....

[sambum]

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.

Question - Did you EVER see a Thai fined for "littering" of any kind, cigarette butts or any other kind of rubbish - anywhere, not just Bangkok?

No, because they pay the usually tea money to the nice officers who come by every few weeks. Mister Ozawa Curry probably refused the bribery.....

Ah, now I understand - silly me! The Thais have effectively already paid their fines for dropping rubbish/littering, or whatever you care to call it, so they can dump their smelly garbage wherever they like without fear of repercussions from the BIB?

So how do the BIB differentiate those who have paid from those who have not, or your average Thai who is not a business owner but merely a city worker on his way home? If, for instance a Thai shop worker lights up as soon as he is outside, and drops the butt a hundred yards/mertres down the street, does he/she get jumped on by the "litter police"? I think not, but that is probably because his/her employer has already paid the "tea money" right?

Edited April 21, 2015 by sambum

[falangjim]

I will be sure to point this out at EVERY THAI BAR AND RESTAURANT. Of course nothing would come of it because Thai authorities are so full of crap, it comes out their ears. 'Screw the foreigner at every turn'; that is this country's motto. I can name five Thai owned bars off the top of my head which advertise their beers in menus using images of the beers. Disgraceful Thailand.

[richard_smith237]

This stinks... its a perfect example of why after living here and scratching the surface so many foreigners begin to lose respect for those Thai's in any position of power, particularly law enforcement.

From the disproportionately small fines and sentences for crimes many consider serious to disproportionately significant fines for crimes many consider minor.

In this case its obvious that many other restaurants and bars which are also breaking this ridiculous and minor regulation have a connection to someone in a position who can lend a hand or more accurately a voice of persuasion to avoid charges. I know many Thai friends running restaurants and bars who have such contacts - business is nearly impossible for them without these contacts.

I know friends (BiB) who've tried to arrest the owners of Business and factories operating illegally, without licences or using hundreds of illegal immigrants etc only to be told by their boss that some general or other has called him to tell his junior to let it go...

In this case I'm guessing that the owner of this restaurant didn't have a someone he could rely upon to avoid such ridiculous charges... Without someone of influence to support him the officers in this case were free to continue their charge to the full extent, which it appears they have...

Not everyone plays by the same rules...

[German Viking]

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.

I'm real disappointed, you forgot the germans and not to mention Costas at all.

Hello, I am not one to complain but I am going to complain... if you don't like it go home. Oh man I love that line.

Looks like, you lacking any sence of humour.

[German Viking]

I will support support Kacha Kacha if they sell Japanese beer and hope that my patronage will help to make up the fine ... I say down with General Napoleon and his bunch of cronies!

Don't blame Napoleon, he had more important things to do, no time for such a nonsence.

[German Viking]

So pathetic it is almost funny! What a backward country, ...to deal out such a hefty fine for such a stupid thing, ...a restaurant owner, making it easy for patrons of all nationalities to recognize their favorite beer. A friend of mine, (farang) was attacked by three Thai men half his age. They beat him with large pieces of hardwood and were intent on killing him if other had not stopped them, ...... after numerous trips to court the three thugs were each fined 2,000 baht

Welcome to Thailand! Bring your money

If they did this with me and I survived, they could not long enjoy their freedom. I don't talking explicit Thai.

[German Viking]

This stinks... its a perfect example of why after living here and scratching the surface so many foreigners begin to lose respect for those Thai's in any position of power, particularly law enforcement.

From the disproportionately small fines and sentences for crimes many consider serious to disproportionately significant fines for crimes many consider minor.

In this case its obvious that many other restaurants and bars which are also breaking this ridiculous and minor regulation have a connection to someone in a position who can lend a hand or more accurately a voice of persuasion to avoid charges. I know many Thai friends running restaurants and bars who have such contacts - business is nearly impossible for them without these contacts.

I know friends (BiB) who've tried to arrest the owners of Business and factories operating illegally, without licences or using hundreds of illegal immigrants etc only to be told by their boss that some general or other has called him to tell his junior to let it go...

In this case I'm guessing that the owner of this restaurant didn't have a someone he could rely upon to avoid such ridiculous charges... Without someone of influence to support him the officers in this case were free to continue their charge to the full extent, which it appears they have...

Not everyone plays by the same rules...

Last year after the coup I gave PM a lot of credit, caused I hoped, that he will try out this dirty swamp.

But over the month this credit is almost eaten up. 1 ridiculous, insane, rassism action more, then there is for me nothing more left, as to say, I hope LOS goes to hell, unfortunately. Som nam na.