Critics have complained for years that the Thai liquor market is monopolized by a handful of giant producers because Thai laws favor big investors. (Photo by YesMore Content on Unsplash)
Widely dubbed the “Progressive Liquor Bill”, a new draft law on excise tax is tipped to revolutionize Thailand’s alcohol industry if it sails through Parliament untouched.
Thailand’s booze market is now worth about Bt260 billion, but in normal times before the arrival of COVID-19 it weighed in at a whopping Bt370 billion in 2019.
Critics have complained for years that the market is monopolized by a handful of giant producers because Thai laws favor big investors. For instance, beer manufacturers are required to have at least Bt10 million in registered capital.
Meanwhile brewpubs – manufacturers that also sell their craft beer – must produce at least 100,000 liters a…
