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THAI CABINET SCRUTINISING BILL TO ALLOW SMALL PRODUCERS TO MAKE ALCOHOLIC DRINKS

By Siulan Law Mathews DipWSET

10-3-2022



Credit: Bence Boros/Unsplash

Thailand’s government is scrutinising a bill to overhaul the current excise policy which favours big producers while making Thailand’s alcoholic drinks market inaccessible to small producers.

Proposed by MP Taopiphop Limjittrakorn of the opposition Move Forward Party, the Excise Tax Act amendment bill has won preliminary support from the parliament last month to let the Thai cabinet scrutinise it before returning it to the parliament for deliberation.

The cabinet has 60 days to decide whether to return the bill to the parliament for first reading.

Thailand’s Excise Tax Act restrict brewing licences to producers that have capital of at least Baht10 million (USD302,000), while brewpubs must produce at least 100,000 litres a year and are only allowed to serve their beer on their premises.

The laws effectively blocks small breweries from operating, and resulted in a monopoly of Thailand’s alcoholic drinks market being dominated by two big companies – Thai Beverage, which produces Chang beer, and Boon Rawd Brewery, which produces Singha and Leo.

MP Taopiphop was himself arrested for brewing craft beer at home in 2017 before he entered politics. He was fined Baht5,000 for brewing illegally without a permit, and a further Baht500 for owning brewing yeast.

He said if the bill can eventually be passed into law, small-scale liquor producers will have a chance to develop their products commercially. They will also be able to come up with their own recipes, harnessing locally produced ingredients.

He also said the bill will improve local liquor-making standards and generate income for locals. He called on the government to listen to the public and allow the parliament to deliberate the bill.

(the writer can be contacted at: info@thewinechronicle.com)

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