Alcohol control act: Thai celebs broke law

[webfact]

ALCOHOL CONTROL ACT
Celebs broke law: panel
POUNGCHOMPOO PRASERT
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE ALCOHOLIC Drinks Control Subcom-mittee has said celebrities and an alcohol brand violated the 2008 Alcohol Control Act when they posted pictures of themselves posing with the brand on social media.

Eighteen other celebrities will be invited to testify from November 11-16.

The Act forbids the advertising of alcohol, even the display of brand logos and "enticing" others to drink, and those violating it are subject to a maximum jail term of one year and/or a fine up to Bt500,000.

The panel's office director, Dr Samarn Futrakul, said yesterday evidence relating to the 15 celebrities would be passed onto police and public prosecutors after November 3, once they have provided testimonies.

Lawsuits would be filed against the celebrities individually because each gave different degrees of cooperation to the subcommittee, Samarn said, adding that some of the celebs had also posted photos of them posing with different alcohol brands. The courts would decide their punishments, he said.

The 15 celebrities have been divided into two groups. One comprises the seven people who posed with the beer product and whose name was on a marketing activity list.

The second group comprises the eight people who posed with the product, but were not on the marketing activity list.

The first group includes Virithipa "VJ Woonsen" Yamnam, and Wichian "DJ Petjah" Kusolmanomai, while second includes Pakorn "Dome" Lam and Thanchanok "Bebe" Ritnaka.

"Celebrities who give good cooperation to the authorities, will be considered in a way that benefits the accused," Samarn said.

As Virithipa had last week confessed to doing it for business, her manager would be summoned for more information, Samarn said.

Other celebrities' managers would be asked who recommended the job when their clients testified, he added.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Celebs-broke-law-panel-30271671.html


-- The Nation 2015-10-27

[khwaibah]

At least they were not plugging Budweiser.

[smutcakes]

The celebrities knew what they were doing, the booze company knew what they were doing....everyone should know that they all knew what they were doing.

They did it becuase the publicity they have had, even negative is far greater for business than any punishment any of them are likely to ever recieve.

Not sure what to make of the enormous Singha logos/advertisement which in the past have adorned entire facades of buildings, they may still well do, i just have not noticed them recently.

[waldroj]

What we appear to have here is a temperance evangelist, hell-bent on a crusade to take Thailand back to the 19^th century!

There is no denying that Section 32 of the Alcohol Beverage Control Act 2008 prohibits the advertising of alcohol drinks, their brands and trademarks in a way that encourages consumption, directly or indirectly. So, while TV contributors may argue that this forum posting is simply a case of breaking Thai law, I suggest that it has far wider implications about the true intentions of Dr Samarn Futrakul!

After all, this is the very same guy that sought to ban all alcohol sales during the New Year holiday and Songkran festivals.

He is also the one that (back in 2009), banned the distribution of the Leo calendar that had been produced each year by Boon Rawd Brewery. You may also recall that Chitpas Bhirombhakdi, daughter of the owner of Singha Corporation, worked at Prime Minister Abhisit’s secretariat office at that time. It was reported that she resigned over her role in organising the distribution of the calendars, and that all copies were given away within moments. Apparently, Government House officials, reporters, security officers and even police lined up to get their copy of the calendar!

Anyhow, Samarn now reappears, taking a lead role in pursuing the celebrities (but is surprisingly quite this time about Thai Bev’s involvement).

It seems he is also trying to influence the outcome of any legal proceedings, suggesting that “Lawsuits would be filed against the celebrities individually because each gave different degrees of cooperation to the subcommittee”.

It also seems that some celebs are guilty of more serious offences because they posted photos of themselves posing with different alcohol brands!

Almost as if it were an afterthought, he also managed to remember that “the courts would decide their punishments”.

In a quote worthy of Charlton Heston in one of his classic biblical roles, Samarn says, “Celebrities who give good cooperation to the authorities, will be considered in a way that benefits the accused”.

It’s one thing to want his fellow countrymen to drink responsibility, but it is something quite different (obsessive) to want to make it a personal vendetta to crucify everyone associated with promoting the sale of alcohol!

Maybe, TAT needs to have a quite word in his ear about the damage he could cause to the tourist industry?

[LannaGuy]

send them to the 'temperance adjustment camp'! how dare they pose with an alcoholic drink and via a selfie!!!

spreading happiness is:

The Junta knows what's good for YOU dear citizen

Edited October 27, 2015 by LannaGuy

[bangon04]

What I want to see is the hosts of Thai Channel 3 and Channel 5 morning news with bottles of Chang on the desk while they are reading the news. It will make a change from the ubiquitous Nescafe mugs.

[FloridaExport]

The celebrities knew what they were doing, the booze company knew what they were doing....everyone should know that they all knew what they were doing.

They did it becuase the publicity they have had, even negative is far greater for business than any punishment any of them are likely to ever recieve.

Not sure what to make of the enormous Singha logos/advertisement which in the past have adorned entire facades of buildings, they may still well do, i just have not noticed them recently.

They still exist. I saw a green Chang billboard the size of a soccer pitch yesterday. I see dozens of Leo advertisements hanging from roadside signs. They get away with it by not actually having a picture of the beer. Since all these companies sell other items, it is just an advertisement for their company. They just happen to use the same colors specifically found on their beer packaging because they are pretty... No other reason

[luk AJ]

What did these celebs actually did wrong? Am I violating any law when I post a selfie with a beer bottle?

[FangFerang]

I have to laugh at this. The complaint was filed by the Singha heir, who said "I am not complaining because I dislike them."

Oh, hell no, he just dislikes the competition.

[bangon04]

Anyway, no need to worry. There will always be plenty more Thai celebs to go around.

[bangon04]

What did these celebs actually did wrong? Am I violating any law when I post a selfie with a beer bottle?

I depends entirely on how many morons actually follow your posts and copy your every action because you are a Thai "superstar"

Try posting a selfie of you picking your nose with a chopstick, and see if it goes viral... the post, not the chopstick...

[luk AJ]

What did these celebs actually did wrong? Am I violating any law when I post a selfie with a beer bottle?

I depends entirely on how many morons actually follow your posts and copy your every action because you are a Thai "superstar"

Try posting a selfie of you picking your nose with a chopstick, and see if it goes viral... the post, not the chopstick...

Bad day? I am probably also a moron because I have no clue how your reply answers my question.. I envie your intelligence..

[bangon04]

What did these celebs actually did wrong? Am I violating any law when I post a selfie with a beer bottle?

I depends entirely on how many morons actually follow your posts and copy your every action because you are a Thai "superstar"

Try posting a selfie of you picking your nose with a chopstick, and see if it goes viral... the post, not the chopstick...

Bad day? I am probably also a moron because I have no clue how your reply answers my question.. I envie your intelligence..

I am sorry I will rephrase my answer to keep it simple for you.

1) Presuming you are not a celebrity, then nobody gives a s**t what you post.

2) You could post any banal photo you choose, and nobody will give a s**t.

3) If you are a Thai celebrity, then your thousands of followers will be impressed by everything you post, regardless of how banal and moronic it is.

4) If you are not a Thai celebrity, then Thai law enforcers will not give a s**t about your posts.

[Chao Lao Beach]

What did these celebs actually did wrong? Am I violating any law when I post a selfie with a beer bottle?

Yes you are breaking the law having an image of with with an alcholic drink, and anyone who press like is also breaking the law.

[luk AJ]

What did these celebs actually did wrong? Am I violating any law when I post a selfie with a beer bottle?

Yes you are breaking the law having an image of with with an alcholic drink, and anyone who press like is also breaking the law.

Are you sure? Because this cannot be considered publicity..If you are right, in principal I would be breaking the law when drinking a beer out of a beer bottle on a terras. Taking a selfie or not should not change the legality since I would be in a public area anyway.

[ldiablo]

Yawn, zzzzzz, snore, zzzzzz.

[luk AJ]

Yawn, zzzzzz, snore, zzzzzz.

Nomination best contribution 2015 award!

[catinthehat]

"Celebrities who give good cooperation to the authorities, will be considered in a way that benefits the accused," Samarn said.

And we will all be left wondering what cooperation consists of once this excercise in futility is completed.