Dr Samarn: Beer gardens are against the law

[SABloke]

What about the massive Singha billboard at the Cha-Am intetsection...oh right...that's for water

[kaorop]

While I am a beer lover - more precisely, a beer lover from Belgium, I do agree that the aggressive advertising for beer should stop.

And I do support anti alcohol campains.

But what this "official" is saying, is at best 19th century paternalism, if not 1930s fachism.

What aggressive marketing? Celebrities on Facebook?

Yes, for example, and in general ALL aggressive, marketing.

The marketing that equals alcohol with happiness, often disguised.

The "you never drink alone" type marketing, the "real men" type marketing, the "drink and be successful" type marketing. The "hidden persuaders" type marketing.

I love beer, but marketeers that force their ideas on us are just as disgusting as this Doctor No.

Beer is one of the pleasures of life, not less, not more, it does not need to be pushed onto us.

Some how your "indoctrination" was okay and you made a choice because you know better?

They advertise to keep the BRAND in sight, they know people will drink the stuff.

[waldroj]

They should probably tell King Power to stop advertising alcohol.

That could never happen!

Don't forget that this monopoly was allowed to sell alcohol during the recent Wan Awk Phansa mandatory ban!

[DrTuner]

But what this "official" is saying, is at best 19th century paternalism, if not 1930s fachism.

Not surprising, since Thainess is based on 1930's fascism. It was Phibun's who introduced the cultural mandates between 1939 and 1942 and even when they got rid of him, those stuck.

[maoro]

What about all the Chang t-shirts, isn't that advertising?

[overherebc]

Shouldn't this thread be against the law because it's discussing, therefore making people aware of, therefore advertising beer.?

Just askin.

[X pat]

​This guy is one sick puppy,I wonder if he ever considered being a Mormon ne sure thinks like they do. Get rid of the beer,and you get rid of the tourest.

[Stradavarius37]

That guy looks like he needs a beer...

[ChrisY1]

I've just informed the GF that dress of hers has to go.

Sad day indeed.

ImageUploadedByThaivisa Connect1446679293.384279.jpg

Agree....we'de all like to see that dress off her!

[Emster23]

I am soooo tired of the lame excuse offered by those in power "It's against the law"... seems like last refuge of a scoundrel, as can't appeal to logic, rationality, etc. Who makes the law? Egyptian Pres on BBC trotted out same BS excuse for total crackdown on freedom of press, expression, etc.

I don't care how "aggressive" the marketing may be. Unless one of the Chang girls drags me in (I should live so long), I still have a connected brain and ability to make my own damn decisions. Governments do all in their power to deny that sort of choice.

I don't drink BTW.

[bornredi]

there is very little reason to visit thailand anymore

[Ks45672]

The next advertising to be banned is the colourful labels on the bottles in the 7/11 fridge....

We will have to guess which beer is which and buy it "blind"

[waldroj]

What about all the Chang t-shirts, isn't that advertising?

Chang, Singha, and Leo t-shirts ARE advertising! But, as icons synonymous with Thailand. They probably do more to make foreigners aware of this country than any of TAT's promotional campaigns.

[yellowboat]

Close them all down, the law is the law.

Yeah, you should not even be allowed to say the word beer because somebody might actually hear you say it. Yesterday it was bike lanes and beach chairs. Today it is beer gardens. Moving at a rapid pace. This all could have never happened under an elected government.

[bander]

"Dr Samarn: Beer gardens are against the law"

So is prostitution, Thailand the hub of illegal beer gardens and prostitution

[anotheruser]

You know what with this story and the stuff last month about banning alcohol sales near schools, I wouldn't be surprised if some big changes are coming with regards to alcohol sales and consumption.

Well changing the alcohol laws might in some ways be more effective than the visa laws. Many foreigners would actually leave voluntarily.

[SOTIRIOS]

...but any other manner of crime and immorality...that's okay...

[anotheruser]

I guess all they really need to do is replace any umbrellas and signs with beer brands on them. Although until they do I think we as foreigners should set the example, respect the culture and raise the bar. Because that is where we will all be drinking if they shut the beer gardens down.

Good point. I really enjoyed my time in Kuwait (where all booze is banned), as me & every one of my buddies had a bar at our own houses.

We'd do the round robin, with one of the 8-12 of us hosting a party at least once a week.

Side Note...we all had either a Thai, Malaysian, Singaporean or Filipina wife as well, so the eye candy was always nice too!

But it is not exactly fun to have to limit one's drinking to houses. I don't know about you, but I usually give importance to the atmosphere (and the variety of it) that I drink at. For example, beer gardens in Thailand (especially the one in front of Central World in Bangkok) have been my favorite places to drink at. I really really really hope that they won't be banned.

Trust me, I most assuredly do agree with you that it is a matter of freedom vs DAMNED STUPID, but nonetheless, in Kuwait, EVERY bar I entered was full of my best friends only. On rare occasion I'd meet some new guy (and his ultra hot Indonesian wife which was nice...guys enjoyed meeting my rather attractive Thai wife as well and I enjoyed showing her off), and invariably, he'd be a super nice guy.

It was quite unique, in that nobody was ever a stranger for very long, and had all been vetted by a member of our "Club". We were all farangs, black Americans were welcome (I'm a white Floridian but who cares), Beligians, Swedes, French, Canucks, Germans, Brits, Irish, Aussie's.

One guy's wife was Colombian......WOW! She was hot.

We all enjoyed the eye candy, but never touched.

Hmmmm a small group of ex pats sitting around leching at each others wives. Doesn't sound ideal to me.

[thailand49]

I'm not a socialist but what I see with Thailand and some of their own scholars have admitted as much is they have lots of laws but they are not enforce which is why they have so many problems. They want to be part of the International community COPY many of the laws from the west but their leaders have no idea why these laws exist and how to enforce them.

Here is just one example: They already have a law regarding drinking and buying alcohol. The leaders know there is a problem with underage drinking so they apply Art. 44, banning the sale of alcohol near schools. Then there is outrage from the community especially from the big hitters the makers of alcohol which to their credit in their argument/citicism. So the PM, backs down and makes a revision now like in Pattaya as reported recently in a ThaiVisa article, officials have no idea how or why to enforce the revision. So like everything, after a week all is quiet and everyone back to their office doing nothing.

Edited November 5, 2015 by thailand49

[futsukayoi]

Mr Piti Bhirompakdi, advertising manager of Boonrawd Brewery said in his Facebook page that he did not agree with Dr Samarn’s interpretation

And why would he $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$......

Surly having an advertising manager for a Brewery must be illegal. His job is to promote beer and that is against the law.

[recycler]

I regret to have to say this, but these kind of measures are nescessary for all of us to return to happines....

[mikemac]

You know what with this story and the stuff last month about banning alcohol sales near schools, I wouldn't be surprised if some big changes are coming with regards to alcohol sales and consumption.

Oh really ? I would have thought big changes have already arrived.

But then again if I thought like a Thai I would not fret about too much, they are that used to "crackdowns" it's not funny. The foreigners living in Thailand seem to stress out every time some numbskull like the one in the OP makes another stupid announcement.

I am building a resort style bar in our backyard, with bar-b-Que and gazebo nearby, will spend more time drinking at home and less time in town paying 85-90 baht for a bottle of San Miguel.

If you live in the Saraphee area outside of Chiang Mai let me know and I will invite you over for a beer.

[charmonman]

there is very little reason to visit thailand anymore

Agreed, and yet the rubes keep on coming.

[freebyrd]

Everything's against the law theses days.

It's starting to become like blighty.

And didn't we escape the old country to get aways from rules and regs for everybloodything?

[ratcatcher]

I am soooo tired of the lame excuse offered by those in power "It's against the law"... seems like last refuge of a scoundrel, as can't appeal to logic, rationality, etc. Who makes the law? Egyptian Pres on BBC trotted out same BS excuse for total crackdown on freedom of press, expression, etc.

I don't care how "aggressive" the marketing may be. Unless one of the Chang girls drags me in (I should live so long), I still have a connected brain and ability to make my own damn decisions. Governments do all in their power to deny that sort of choice.

I don't drink BTW.

"It's against the law"... "seems like............. last refuge of a scoundrel,...."

Dr. Samuel Johnson, over 250 years ago, made that statement (in blue) about patriotism, something which the leader of this country is trying to inculcate into all Thais, or at least his version of patriotism..

This Samarn character, is merely part of the same team that believes it knows best what Thais want and need, and thus must have.

One day, Thais will once again be able to decide for themselves what it is they want and need.

[charmonman]

Close them all down, the law is the law.

Yeah, you should not even be allowed to say the word beer because somebody might actually hear you say it. Yesterday it was bike lanes and beach chairs. Today it is beer gardens. Moving at a rapid pace. This all could have never happened under an elected government.

Actually, all this nonsense started under an elected government. Do a google search on Purachai, who was Thaksin's Interior Minister and who at one time said he wanted all bars to close at 10:30PM. At least some of the laws being used by the current crop were introduced by that elected government - not put to a vote mind you, simply "approved by cabinet". It really was not much different from the way they run things now.

[gandalf12]

Get rid of all advertising especially the crap that TAT puts out

[paddyjoe41]

Im sure also that in the uk,the beer garden has to have a special licence outside of his or hers public house licence,or perhaps permission to use the garden for a particular occasion to sell alcohal drink,within,extend the pub licence for that occasion.

[maoro]

Seems odd the excise department would have the power to do anything to a retail establishment. I take it excise is collected at the point of manufacture so provably the excise department is quite happy.

[epicstuff]

So they will also have to ban watching Everton football matches???? or will they have a team to pixelate all the players running around??