Posted 2009-12-03 06:46:14
Penalties for alcohol in gift baskets
By The Nation
Published on December 3, 2009
Penalties for alcohol in gift baskets
Managers of shops that sell New Year gift baskets with alcoholic drinks could face up to a year in jail and/or a fine of up to Bt500,000.
Director for the Thai Health Promotion's Centre for Alcohol Studies, Thaksaphon Thamarangsi, said yesterday the National Committee for Alcohol Consumption Control gave a warning on October 8 that alcohol was banned from New Year gift baskets.
People who broke the law face up to six months jail and/or a fine of up to Bt10,000 for violating Article 30 (50) of the Criminal Law, while those deemed to have violated Article 32 about alcohol ads faced up to a year in jail and/or a fine up to Bt500,000.
The shop could also be fined up to Bt50,000 a day for the period items were on sale.
As this is the first year the law is being implemented, the Disease Control Department's Alcohol and Tobacco Consumption Control Office chief Saman Futrakul said they had called related agencies and shops to explain the regulations and give advice on gift baskets.
-- The Nation 2009/12/3
Posted 2009-12-03 06:47:43
They're obviously taking advice from the UK government.
Posted 2009-12-03 06:59:44
People will never think of buying the alcohol from the next aisle over and giving it with the basket.
Posted 2009-12-03 08:23:10
 DP25, on 2009-12-03 06:59:44, said:
People will never think of buying the alcohol from the next aisle over and giving it with the basket.
Shhhhhhh, Not so loud  !
Posted 2009-12-03 08:30:21
What would be the reaction to asking for a bottle of booze being gift wrapped? Whats the difference in a New Years gift basket and a birthday gift basket? The potential penalty for committing these dastardly deeds seems to be going in the same direction as prices in a lower tourist market, up, up, up.
Posted 2009-12-03 08:38:47
They should ban the big jars of Nescafe too.
Not only is caffeine bad for you, Nescafe tastes like ...........
( Don't even think about getting me started on the Milo. )
Posted 2009-12-03 08:39:39
And what's with that Bird's Nest stuff?
Posted 2009-12-03 08:44:36
This topic came up last year when the ban was initially enacted, so actually this isn't current news. Do we have to rehash the same old replies?
Posted 2009-12-03 08:49:34
Clearly this is an important crackdown for the government to enforce. 
Posted 2009-12-03 09:32:43
<snip>
If you are financially well and don't mind 4 regular seasons, come to Korea where grown-ups are not yet treated like infants by their government, where beer is 60 Baht/half liter and the bars close for 60 minutes each day (not all at the same hour though).
Well, these gift baskets are stupid too, but the bottle of booze has always been the highlight and not subject to an expiry date.
Posted 2009-12-03 09:42:48
what next?
Posted 2009-12-03 10:02:58
I never bothered with these stupid gift baskets anyway, 95% crap and a bottle of whisky.
Anyway it's easy to see that this move is going to have a dramatic impact on Thailand's drink problem. All those village Lao Khaw drinkers will now just have to drink...........errrr..............ummmm................Lao Khaw.
Posted 2009-12-03 10:22:25
Why is it that I doubt that one baht from fines will find its way into the government coffers.
This is just another avenue to collect some tea money IMO
Posted 2009-12-03 10:25:15
Splatter, on 2009-12-03 08:39:39, said: And what's with that Bird's Nest stuff?
Bottle bird spit....Mmmmmm Yummm! That always goes over so much better than a horrible, evil bottle of Johnny Walker! 
Posted 2009-12-03 10:30:10
And here's me thinking the thai new year was in april ! talk about trying to spoil everything ! good job there not a super power !
Posted 2009-12-03 10:47:12
crazy.
Posted 2009-12-03 10:50:25
You know, that sounds pretty good... I even like kimchee.
orosee, on 2009-12-03 09:32:43, said: <snip>
If you are financially well and don't mind 4 regular seasons, come to Korea where grown-ups are not yet treated like infants by their government, where beer is 60 Baht/half liter and the bars close for 60 minutes each day (not all at the same hour though).
Well, these gift baskets are stupid too, but the bottle of booze has always been the highlight and not subject to an expiry date.
Posted 2009-12-03 10:50:50
Typical insanity that most governments seems to think they can enact on the people.
Posted 2009-12-03 10:56:52
Wouldn't it make more sense to enforce this during Songkran? I grieve every year at the hundreds killed during that period on motorcycles mostly as a result of alcohol consumption.
Posted 2009-12-03 11:29:42
orosee, on 2009-12-03 09:32:43, said: <snip>
If you are financially well and don't mind 4 regular seasons, come to Korea where grown-ups are not yet treated like infants by their government, where beer is 60 Baht/half liter and the bars close for 60 minutes each day (not all at the same hour though).
Well, these gift baskets are stupid too, but the bottle of booze has always been the highlight and not subject to an expiry date.
Maybe you're right, but since most lo-so people aren't used to think for them selves or possible consequences of their actions (like children), it's the government that has to do that.
It's the same daft rule as the limited time frames in which you are allowed to buy spirits, or the ban on alcohol prior to elections.
Posted 2009-12-03 12:58:28
farangpattaya, on 2009-12-03 11:29:42, said: orosee, on 2009-12-03 09:32:43, said: <snip>
If you are financially well and don't mind 4 regular seasons, come to Korea where grown-ups are not yet treated like infants by their government, where beer is 60 Baht/half liter and the bars close for 60 minutes each day (not all at the same hour though).
Well, these gift baskets are stupid too, but the bottle of booze has always been the highlight and not subject to an expiry date.
Maybe you're right, but since most lo-so people aren't used to think for them selves or possible consequences of their actions (like children), it's the government that has to do that.
It's the same daft rule as the limited time frames in which you are allowed to buy spirits, or the ban on alcohol prior to elections.
You seem confused. The gift-baskets are not bought nor received by any 'low-so'. They mc-bike-driver on the corner will by Singha or Mekong and toss it back himself with his friends.
And no, I don't think it is the governments position to take care of anyone. It is YOUR responsibility to take care of yourself. The governments ONLY job is to guarantee that no-one else trample on your right to be free and able to make those decisions for yourself without threat of violence.
Posted 2009-12-03 13:16:40
This well planned , carefully thought out crackdown will save a lot of grief this xmas season. For songkran I suggest moving the squirt guns and buckets as far away from the beer as possible, could save lives.
Posted 2009-12-03 13:19:43
mai pen rai 
So we just "re-pack" our gift baskets, and put in the bottles ourselves. I assume the selling of alcohol is not banned at this stage?!
The only way to prevent giving alcohol is to ban all alcohol from Thailand!! BUT that is NEVER going to happen 
Posted 2009-12-03 13:31:18
Yet another law that is half thought through. Exactly how is this going to save lives or improve the health of Thais? The Thai government has a long history of preferring to keep its citizens ignorant and uneducated then tries to impose ridiculous laws to either control them or extort money from them (or the expat business men and tourists).
Most other countries will spend time and money educating their citizens about social issues either starting in school or by using public service messages on TV and Radio (which all stations should be required by law to do so many hours of per month).
Songkran is a perfect example, one week before Songkran they start to suggest that drinking and driving might not be such a good idea instead of instilling this mindset into the population day in and day out year to year.
You cannot change the culture of a people by simply imposing ridiculous laws seasonally !!!
Posted 2009-12-03 13:33:45
PhilHarries, on 2009-12-03 10:02:58, said: I never bothered with these stupid gift baskets anyway, 95% crap and a bottle of whisky.
Anyway it's easy to see that this move is going to have a dramatic impact on Thailand's drink problem. All those village Lao Khaw drinkers will now just have to drink...........errrr..............ummmm................Lao Khaw.
Indeed! Look at the savings you can make now........just need to buy the whisky and forget the crap. Well done Health Department!
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