Thai Deputy Pushes for Alcohol Marketing Rules After Lisa Beer Row

Chanidin Rungthanakirtti, deputy secretary-general of the Pheu Thai Party, posted comments on his personal social media regarding the case of Lisa drinking Thai beer on a foreign talk show, which sparked online debate about whether it violated Thai law. He said the real issue is legal clarity, noting that while the previous Parliament had passed an amended Alcoholic Beverage Control Act that took effect on November 8 of last year, the secondary legislation required by that law has not yet been completed.

As vice chairman of the special legislative committee that reviewed this law, Chanidin noted that the Parliament amended Section 32/1 to state: "No person shall advertise alcoholic beverages, except to provide information, knowledge, or public relations in accordance with the principles and methods prescribed by the Minister, with advice from the committee." This means that communication and promotion of alcoholic beverages under this law can now be done more broadly, but must remain within the framework set by secondary legislation.

"The purpose of this amendment is that Parliament agrees that alcohol products are a commodity that can drive economic growth from tourism and agricultural product processing," Chanidin explained. "By allowing entrepreneurs to communicate about their own products more widely, Thai business operators of all brands, especially small and medium enterprises, can become drivers of the grassroots economy and grow in wider markets."

Chanidin noted that the law requires secondary legislation to be completed within one year—by November 8, 2026—but emphasized that faster completion would provide legal clarity sooner. He urged relevant agencies to accelerate the process to reduce public confusion and quickly open new business opportunities for Thai entrepreneurs.