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Thailand’s new liquor regulation: Small brewers’ delight or business as usual?

13 Sept 21:57 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's government enacted a new liquor regulation on November 2, easing restrictions on small breweries by increasing production capacity and employee limits, and allowing non-commercial home brewing for individuals.
Despite the changes, critics, including Move Forward MP Taopiphop Limjittrakorn, contend that the regulation offers little practical change for small brewers, who still face complex processes and struggle against market dominance by two major conglomerates.
The new rules introduce fresh obstacles, such as mandatory environmental impact assessments (EIA) for some community distilleries, which critics argue are impractical and hinder small-scale operations.
Opposition figures suggest the regulation is a political tactic by the government to appear progressive and favor large investors ahead of the 2023 general election, rather than genuinely liberalizing the market.

Yesterday 15:20 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul initiated a nationwide crackdown on illegal Thai nominee shareholders in foreign-run businesses and land holdings to safeguard national interests.
The government will integrate efforts across all relevant agencies to target illicit foreign operations, forced sales of illegally acquired property, and high-risk land ownership schemes.
Key strategies include auditing suspect land and building holdings, establishing a long-term monitoring system, and cross-referencing data from various authorities to trace ultimate beneficial owners.
Prime Minister Anutin emphasized that no influential figures or corrupt officials are above the law, promising straightforward prosecution, asset seizures, and protection for enforcing officers.
Beyond land ownership, the integrated crackdown will also extend to tackle transnational crimes, including drug and human trafficking.