Thai junta targets alcohol in latest compliance crackdown

Thai junta targets alcohol in latest compliance crackdown
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Since mounting Thailand’s 12th successful coup military intervention since 1932 on May 22 the Thailand military, under the command of Thai army chief General Prayuth Chan-o-cha, has presided over a (long overdue) ramping up of enforcement of Thailand’s laws, while simultaneously touting its aim of returning happiness to the people.

Thai army chief General Prayuth Chan-o-cha (C), has presided over a (long overdue) ramping up of enforcement of Thailand’s laws since seizing power on
Thai army chief General Prayuth Chan-o-cha (C), has presided over a (long overdue) ramping up of enforcement of Thailand’s laws since seizing power on May 22. John Le Fevre

To date Royal Thai Police (RTP), military, and a range of government departments and agencies have wasted little time in attempting to ensure that the practical application of the country’s laws reflect what has been legislated.

To this end large groups of police and soldiers have swooped onto Phuket beaches, clearing them of encroachment by restaurants, food vendors, and sun chair rental businesses, in addition to rounding up the island’s established “taxi mafia” with its reputation for thuggery and price extortion.

In the beach resort town of Hua Hin on the northern part of the Malay Peninsula, the beaches have also been cleared.

Likewise, the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, has demolished resorts, homes and plantations built illegally inside national forests.

Night venue closing times, visas, strictly enforced

Street food vendors have been told to keep the sidewalk clear in the CBD
Street food vendors have been told to keep the sidewalk clear in the CBD John Le Fevre

Even the nations notorious night-time adult entertainment precincts have not escaped, with reports that the 2am closing time for establishments is being strictly enforced… pay-offs to local police no longer resulting in the famed “Thai blind eye” being turned to establishments staying open until dawn.

In the capital the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is also taking a hardline approach to Thailand law enforcement, ordering street vendors to clear the sidewalks for pedestrian traffic… at least during daylight hours.

For foreigners stricter compliance to the country’s visa laws, which began being tightened in January, has sent a wave of fear though the long-stay expatriate community, with many long-term overstayers rushing to clear their illegal status.

Soi Cowboy. The 2am closing time for establishments is reportedly being strictly enforced
Soi Cowboy. The 2am closing time for establishments is reportedly being strictly enforced John Le Fevre

Others are resigning themselves to the fact that the days of living and working (illegally) in Thailand using a combination of multiple visas and visa exempt entries appears to be over.

The previous ability to do an “out/in visa run” to get another period of stay on the last day of a current permission to stay is now banned, while new regulations mandating that those who overstay for more than 90 days will be subject to a minimum blackballing of one year are set to come into effect.

The days of people being able to rock up to the airport and clear a lengthy overstay with a Bt20,000 (about US$615) cash payment and return a week later appear to be over… and woe betide those with lengthier overstays, especially if they are caught before getting to the airport.

Thailand alcohol laws are (surprisingly) quite strict

And end to overstayers being able to pay Bt20,000 at the airport for lengthy overstays and return a week later
And end to overstayers being able to pay Bt20,000 at the airport for lengthy overstays and return a week later John Le Fevre

However, the latest crackdown on the loose enforcement of Thailand laws – targeting the nation’s alcohol sectors – is likely to garner less support than the military junta’s previous efforts.

The sale and service of alcohol in Thailand is covered by the Thailand Alcohol Control Act of 2008 and while residents of Thailand and visitors may be surprised to find out, the law lays down quite stringent rules.

Now, according to Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), alcoholic beverage consumers and establishments selling alcohol need to start following the law or face fines and closure.

The reason for the crackdown? According to the MoPH, alcohol related accidents are said to now cost the government more than Bt150 billion (about US$4.695 billion) a year, while revenue from taxes and excise generate less than half of that.

Alcohol compliance crackdown to commence immediately

According to the MoPH the public and employees must cooperate with inspectors performing their duty or face a fine of Bt2,500 ($78.25), while companies or premises which illegally promote or advertise alcohol products face fines of up to Bt500,000 ($15,650) and/ or jail sentences of six months for various breaches of the law.

A MoPH employee speaking on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media, said the MoPH had been instructed by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) to commence enforcing the law immediately.

With immediate effect:

  • 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.
    The days of branded beer towers promoted by “pretties” employed by breweries would appear to be over
    The days of branded beer towers promoted by “pretties” employed by breweries appears to be over John Le Fevre
  • Drinking after midnight in bars or restaurants, even though sales have stopped is banned.
  • Photographs of glasses or bottles in the media must have any brands or logos blurred.
  • Drinking while riding bicycles, motorbikes 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 choose 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 promotion 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 refuelling stations, and temples or religious venues.
  • Alcohol cannot be sold by vending machines.
    Alcohol promotions are banned and images in the media must have brand names obscured
    Alcohol promotions are banned and images in the media must have brand names obscured John Le Fevre
  • Promoting alcohol by offering points or prizes 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 warning must run the full width of the advertising, electronic, printed or online, and occupy no less than one-quarter of the advertising space.
  • In addition to all of the above, inspectors from the MoPH or the police have the power to enter, inspect, and search premises where alcohol is served and/ or being served and can confiscate any products found in breach of the Act.

To assist those who sell or promote alcohol products the MoPH has prepared a 70-page book (Thai language only) outlining what is permitted and what is not, with copies available free from provincial MoPH offices.

For a country where roadside whisky stalls cater to workers on their way home from their workplace and where beer towers promoted by pretty, young women (“pretties”) employed by breweries at outdoor beer gardens is de rigueur, the sudden strict enforcement of the Alcohol Control Act will come as just a bigger shock as the enforcement of forest and beach encroachment laws has been in other parts of the country in the wake of the May 22 “military intervention”.

 

 

An earlier version of this story was published in The Establishment Post, August 29, 2014 as Junta ordered Thailand Law Enforcement Signals The End of Happy Hour

 

 

Feature photo John Le Fevre

 

 

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John Le Fevre is an Australian national with more than 40 years experience as a journalist, photographer, videographer and editor.

He has spent extensive periods of time working in Africa and throughout Southeast Asia, with stints in the Middle East, the USA, and England.

He has covered major world events including Operation Desert Shield/ Storm, the 1991 pillage in Zaire, the 1994 Rwanda genocide, the 1999 East Timor independence unrest, the 2004 Asian tsunami, and the 2009, 2010, and 2014 Bangkok political protests.

In 1995 he was a Walkley Award finalist, the highest awards in Australian journalism, for his coverage of the 1995 Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo) Ebola outbreak.

Most recently he was the Thailand editor/ managing editor of AEC News Today . Prior to that he was the deputy editor and Thailand and Greater Mekong Sub-region editor for The Establishment Post, predecessor of Asean Today.

In the mid-80s and early 90s he owned JLF Promotions, the largest above and below the line marketing and PR firm servicing the high-technology industry in Australia. It was sold in 1995.

Opinions and views expressed on this site are those of the author’s only. Read more at About me

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