Craft beer and Thai law

Abstract

Craft beer is an alcoholic beverage with variety of tastes, colors and degrees. It is a popular option for beer lovers and those who dream to create their own tastes of beer. This study aims at reviewing the role of law towards craft beer and examining illegal craft beer manufacturing in Thailand.

The samples in this study consist of craft beer manufacturers as well as both offline and online craft beer lovers, using Ethnographic method, observation and literature review by collecting secondary data during February and April 2017.

The result found that Most craft beers distributed in Thailand are legally imported from abroad, including those manufactured by Thai manufacturers who set up their own factory or hire local manufacturer to manufacture the product for them. The craft beer stalls with sitting area tend to highly increase with various promotional activities such as providing discounts, extra product, taster, point collection card, educational activity; setting up product display; and selling discount coupons. There is also an online promotion via social media. Some illegally produce their own craft beer and distribute locally. They sell craft beer both inside and outside legally grace period. The direction of craft beer in Thai society tends to increasingly expand. The group of manufacturers get together to exchange knowledge on manufacturing process and raw materials. They also attempt to call for the legal craft beer manufacturing in Thailand.

Despite the small market share of craft beer in Thailand, it is important that the government sector slows down or stops the expansion of craft beer by strictly enforcing the law. They should provide registration for manufacturers, distributors, importers of craft beer and raw materials in order to control and confine the expansion of craft beer business. On the other hands, the government sector should also arrange an open forum to learn their opinions and inform them about the regulations for production and distribution of craft beer in Thailand. There should also be an on-going study on craft beer situation for explicit information in various prospects.