Thailand shuts down bar for all you-can-drink promotion

Thailand’s Alcohol Control Board shut down a bar after it promoted all-you-can-drink happy hour specials on social media before Christmas, reflecting the country’s tough stance on alcohol consumption.

Police shut down a bar in northern Thailand for advertising all-you-can-drink happy hour special (Photo credit: Khaosod English)

The bar, located in Chiang Rai city in northern Thailand, was accused of violating section 32 of the country’s Alcohol Control Act. If convicted, its owners could face a year in prison and a 500,000 Baht (about £11,300) fine, reported Khaosod English.

Section 32 bans the display of names or trademarks of alcohol to, “induce people to drink such alcoholic beverages either directly or indirectly”, the report said.

“Just by showing names and brands, whether directly or indirectly, people who post those photos are at risk of violating the same provision,” Samarn Futrakul , director of the Alcohol Control Board, told the newspaper over the telephone.

The anti-alcohol crusader said he wanted to use the case as an example to deter people on the Internet who publicly share photos of alcohol and promote alcohol consumption.

Postings on social media containing brands or labels of alcoholic beverages in Thailand must be set to private, otherwise it’s considered a criminal offence, according to Samarn.

The director also made headlines last year after his attempt to prosecute 30 celebrities for advertising Chang Beer on their Instagram accounts, a violation of Section 32. The case was eventually dropped due to lack of evidence.

Alcohol consumption in Thailand is discouraged and often stigmatised. The country has punitive taxes on imported wines that can go up to almost 400% and bans the sale of alcohol within 300 metres of schools.

Alcohol can only be bought from convenience stories or wine shops between 11am – 2pm and 5pm – midnight.