NEW LAW ALLOWS HOMEBREWING FOR THAIS – BUT WITH LIMITS Thailand news
Photo by: khaosodenglish
Is Thailand set to see a microbrewery renaissance? New regulations are cominginto effect today that open the door for small distilleries and breweries. The new regulations outline rules that loosen restrictions on smallbreweries and even allow home alcohol distilling for personal use. Theregulation was published in The Royal Gazette last night and is effectiveimmediately.The new measures aim to improve quality control to ensure that large and smallliquor producers follow acceptable standards. They also improve taxcollection for alcohol producers. The new decree was proposed by the Ministry ofFinance to amend the 2017 rules was approved by the Cabinet yesterdaymorning.Now, microbreweries and small liquor distillation operations will be allowed tocompete with the big guys, opening the door to independent brewers in an openthe market for beer and alcohol. Breweries that have between seven and 50 employeesand are producing output using machinery between five and 50 horsepower will beallowed to produce and sell beer and alcohol under the new regulations.Previously, small community liquor producers were only allowed to have seven workers and machinery that ran on a maximum of fivehorsepower. There are caveats, however, that the liquor manufacturers must haveheld a liquor license for at least a year and have no offenses recorded under theexcise law. Any violations must have been cleared for at least one year beforesmall community operations can expand to 50 employees and large machinery.Beer brewing will also see restrictions lifted, with the previous minimum of100,000 liters a year output being repealed. Microbreweries can produce up to onemillion liters per year, now with no minimum. According to Thai Newsroom, large breweries are required toproduce at least 10 million litres per year and have a minimum of 10 million baht minimum inregistered capital.This opens the opportunity for small producers and microbreweries to compete iftheir machinery and equipment follow public health laws and environmental andofficial standards.Finally, the new loosened restrictions will allow people to obtain a non-commercial liquor production license. That license permits them to produce up to200 litres of alcohol per year for home use. The license will be granted toqualifying people over the age of 20, if they have large enough facilities to safelyproduce alcohol. Using other licensed facilities to produce their liquor is strictlybanned, and environmental and alcohol consumption safety rules must befollowed. Thailand news
Foreign tourists swarm into Thailand
Immigration officials at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok are struggling to copewith the crescendo of foreign tourists flooding Thailand. Pictures of thejampacked airport taken on Sunday, October 20, reveal a promising outlook forThailand’s tourist High Season runs from November to April.Between 1 pm-5 pm on Sunday, 76 flights landed on the airport’s runway, anaverage of 20 flights per hour. An average of 3,000 – 4,000 foreign tourists perhour passed through immigration that day, according to the Spokesperson for theImmigration Bureau Mj Gen Choengron Rimphadee. It is by far the busiest theairport has been since before the pandemic.To ensure that arrivals did not have to wait longer than one hour at immigration, allimmigration booths were staffed, and officers spent no longer than 45 secondschecking the passport data, visa status, personal biometric data, and blacklist statusof each arrival.Commander of Immigration Division 2 Pol Maj Gen Montree Pancharoen said thatalthough immigration officers are quick, they still do a thorough job of ensuring thatforeign criminals posing as tourists do not slip through the net and into thekingdom ahead of the APEC summit in Bangkok later this month, which will beattended by several world leaders.In preparation for High Season, the airport increased the number of immigrationbooths from 92 to 112. During busy hours, every booth will be staffed, said theofficer.The Spokesperson said the airport is capable of checking in around 6,500passengers per hour without compromising security.Staff from Airports of Thailand (AOT) helps the immigration process run smoothlyby lining up passengers and helping them prepare their documents before goingthrough immigration checks.Currently, Suvarnabhumi Airport is welcoming an average of 45,000 to 50,000people every day, and the airport only expects figures to increase.
The mythological Naga serpent is now a Thai national emblem
Photo by Neil Howard via Flickr
The cabinet decided on Tuesday to designate the Naga, a mythological serpent inHindu and Buddhist folklore, as a national emblem in the category of mythologicalcreatures and part of Thailand’s “soft power” to promote the creative economy,according to Deputy Spokesperson Rachada Dhnadirek.She said that the cabinet hopes that this symbolic designation will encourage Thaipeople to study the history, cultures, and identities of Thailand and drive thecreative economy, which will add economic value and generate revenues for thecountry.She said that the Naga, a semi-divine race of half-human, half-serpent creatures,have been part of Thai culture and way of life for time immemorial, as manifestedby the presence of ubiquitous statues and decorations of the supernatural being inart, various religious rituals, temples, and traditional festivals.One event which assures the Naga remains popular is the Naga fireballphenomenon. Each year, at the end of the Buddhist Lent in October, huge crowdsgather along the Mekong River to witness fireballs shooting out ofthe river and into the sky. Many locals believe these fireballs are released by theNaga from the depths of the river.Rachada said that the National Culture Commission had assigned the Fine ArtsDepartment to draft the prototype image of the Naga, which, according to legend,has four families who have interactions with Buddhism, Hinduism and theMonarchy.According to the Ministry of Culture, she said that there are 157 countriesworldwide that have mythological creatures in their national iconography.China, for instance, has the Panda as its national creature, with the dragon as itsmythological creature. In contrast, Indonesia has the Komodo dragon as its nationalcreature and the Garuda as the mythological creature. Greece has the dolphin andthe Phoenix as its national and mythological creatures, respectively.
Stunning natural scenery on newly reopened Krabi islands Thailand news
Photo by Mu Koh Lanta National Park Facebook.
Nature looks stunning on several islands in Krabi that reopened on October 15after being closed for restoration for several months. The Mu Ko Lanta NationalPark comprises several islands which boast breathtaking beaches, waterfalls,and other natural wonders.Since the park reopened, staff have continued conservation efforts. A few daysafter the reopening, park officials held an event to release aquatic marine animalsback into nature.Earlier this month, nature lovers were treated to the rare sight of waterfallscascading down the mountains at Koh Rok, one of the island groups of the park.Waterfalls are pretty rare to the site and can be found during the rainy season ofThailand from May to the end of October.Moo Koh Lanta National Park is a must-visit as it features many white beaches,trails, islands, coral reefs, vistas, and magnificent caves. Last week, the park’s Facebook page posted photos of the park’s diverse, colorfulbird species. These include the park’s emerald doves, doves with green feathers.You can go kayaking and explore limestone karsts and sea-level caverns on Ko Talabeng.Snorkelers and scuba divers alike flock to the smaller islands for diving. The coralreefs around the islands are home to some of the Andaman Sea’s most spectaculartropical marine life. Thailand news
Naked Brit in Koh Samui wants everyone to “meet with God” Thailand news
Naked British tourist, photo by MGR Online.
A naked British tourist in Koh Samui reportedly has some strange goals for theworld. Koh Samui police found the man in the sea at Baan Mae Nam Beach overthe Halloween weekend.Boat operators struggled to help get the man out of the water, and the man evengrabbed one operator, shoved him under the water, and tried to drown him.The police then jumped into the water to force the man of the boat operator. Theyhad to use a rope to tie the man up.Captain Aroon Moosikim from the Surat Thani Immigration Office told ThePhuket Express that the man was 30 years old and in Thailand on a tourist visa. Hesaid the man was staying at a nearby resort. Captain Aroon said…“He said he joined a party but cannot remember anything else.He also said he wants to bring everyone to meet with god.”The tourist had reportedly bothered others staying at his hotel and had problemssleeping. He was found bipolar and addicted to marijuana, which was foundin his room, Thai media reported.Police plan to charge the man with public indecency. Thailand news
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