Thailand’s professional body for craft brewers has delivered a petition to the Prime Minister’s Office asking for three rapid reforms to unlock growth in the local brewing industry
Thailand’s growing craft beer community is pressing the Bhumjaithai Party, which currently leads the country’s ruling coalition, to introduce regulatory reforms that it claims will unlock significant economic potential across agriculture, tourism and supply chains, according to local media reports. On 9 October, the Craft Beer Business Association (CBBA) presented a formal petition to Siripong Angkasukulkiet, deputy party leader and spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office, outlining changes aimed at easing persistent barriers for small-scale brewers.
Nattachai Ungsriwong, president of the CBBA, and its secretary-general, Praphavee Hemathas, have proposed three principal reforms.
First, they seek amendments to licensing rules to allow small breweries to bottle and sell products off-site, bringing them into parity with other types of alcoholic beverages and reducing the regulatory burden they say unfairly penalises craft producers.
Second, they are calling for the removal of the nationwide ban on alcohol sales between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m., a restriction they argue deters tourism spending and complicates operations for small businesses in hospitality.
Third, they demand the reversal of the prohibition on online alcohol sales, believing that regulated e-commerce would provide vital distribution channels for microbrewers.
Siripong has acknowledged the association’s concerns, pledging to forward them to relevant ministries and agencies for review. He noted that the government has roughly four months to consider such changes and hinted that supportive measures for small enterprises and the broader economy would be prioritised.
The petition underscores ongoing friction between Thailand’s tightly controlled framework for alcoholic beverages and a growing craft sector seeking space to expand. Brewers argue that a freer regulatory environment could generate employment not just for brewers, but also across farming, logistics and tourism sectors, while also broadening consumer choice.
Recent developments suggest momentum for reform may already be building. In May this year, the government approved an amendment to the 2022 Liquor Production Ministerial Regulation that permits nationwide distribution of draft and craft beer in kegs, lifting restrictions that previously confined breweries to only local sales. Furthermore, the Community Liquor Act (Excise Act No. 2, B.E. 2568), passed earlier in 2025, grants small-scale producers legal rights to manufacture beer and spirits and simplifies licensing for community distillers and brewers.
Nevertheless, challenges persist. Thai craft brewers are subject to onerous requirements, including high capital thresholds, minimum production quotas, and environmental impact assessments that favour large incumbents. Some small breweries have even resorted to litigation to establish the right to can and bottle products after authorities refused licences due to strict environmental compliance rules.