Tough new crackdown on alcohol promotions in Thailand No more "beer girls"
Health warnings on all alcohol products
No old bottles of wines or beer can be used to decorate a business
No happy hours promotions
Promoting alcohol through word of mouth is also illegal
No alcohol logos are allowed on glasses, ashtrays and other paraphernalia
Punishments of up to six months in jail for various offences
All promotion of
consumption is illegal
CHIANG MAI: -- The Government has warned that it intends to enforce harsh measures regulating the advertising and promotion of alcohol, in a move that will affect thousands of businesses throughout the country.
An example of an acceptable alcohol advertisement, showing a health warning at the top and a picture of people engaging in a 'socially responsible' activity - in this case, meditation. The orange box in the bottom left corner is where the alcohol brand's logo would be displayed.
Details of the law, which is vague and open to interpretation, are provided below. The following guidelines were given to CityNews along with around 30 hoteliers and members of the media who were invited to a meeting at the Tarin Hotel yesterday [Monday August 25, 2014] by the Chiang Mai Provincial Public Health Office. The aim of the meeting was to clarify the nuances of the law and give warning as to their immediate enforcement.
"I am only here to help you, the media and relevant businesses to understand the law," said Second Lieutenant Taweesak Jintajiranan. "This law was put into effect due to the rapidly growing costs of alcohol to this nation. Alcohol-related accidents have increased significantly in recent years. While the government makes 70 billion baht income per year from alcohol tax, the cost to the government is upwards of 150 billion baht."
He went on to expand on the written law as follows:
Under the newly enforced rules all alcohol products must carry health warnings, sales are banned to anyone under the age of 20, and initiatives promoting alcohol – such as happy hours, free ice and mixers, and the use of ‘beer girls’ – are banned.
No drinking is allowed after midnight in bars or restaurants, even though sales have ended; no alcohol logos are allowed on glasses, ashtrays and other paraphernalia; and bars will not be allowed to display posters or bottles – even old ones – featuring such logos.
Bar staff cannot wear T-shirts with alcohol logos, and it is illegal to promote events such as wine and beer tastings. Alcohol logos - or even images accepted as representative of brands, such as a deer head for Benmore or red stars for Heineken - are not allowed to be displayed in sponsorship or any kind of advertising or promotion.
Promoting alcohol through word of mouth is also illegal, so if a waiter is asked to recommend a particular brand of beer he would be breaking the law if he responds. All printed photographs of glasses or bottles in the media must have visible brands and logos blurred.
Officials have also vowed to strictly enforce laws on alcohol advertising. This is expected to have a big effect on media businesses like Citylife, CityNow! and Spoon & Fork, which rely heavily on advertising by hotels and entertainment venues.
The authorities are using an existing law, the Alcohol Control Act of 2008, to crack down. It was introduced with the aim of reducing consumption, but while some aspects have been in effect for years there are many minor points which, until now, have been ignored by authorities.
A 70-page Thai-language handbook - a must-read for anyone working in the alcohol industry and related fields - was distributed at the meeting.
Essentially all promotion of alcohol is now illegal. Here is a breakdown of the laws, some of which were already being enforced but from now on will be universally enforced nationwide.
For producers and importers of alcohol:
- All
drinks packaging must carry a clear and government-approved health warning (see example above), and a list of ingredients. It must be stated clearly on the packaging that this is an
beverage.
- Consumers cannot drink in the following areas: temples or religious places (unless alcohol is used in religious ceremonies), public spaces belonging to the government (except for private residences within said area), government buildings (apart from club houses, special designated areas for commerce and private residences, or during special events), within education centres (apart from residences, parties or clubs, or if the education centre is teaching how to mix alcohol), petrol or gas stations, public parks, and anywhere else the government announces at any date.
- Alcohol cannot be sold on the Makhabucha, Visakabucha, Asarahabucha and Khao Pansa religious holidays, except from in hotels in order to promote tourism and stimulate the economy.
- No sales are allowed to anyone aged under 20 years, or anyone who is obviously drunk.
- No sales of
beverages are allowed by automated machines, non-location-specific sales are banned (ie. no mobile bars or wandering around selling), and no promotions, offering rights, points, lucky draws or awards and no freebies of any kind including swaps and exchanges are allowed.
Advertising
- No images of
drinks, including photography, and logos in any language which “invite” the public to drink alcohol are allowed.
I think I've got a hangover coming on.
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