Beer Boycott in Thailand

Patrician protests resulting in a beer boycott? Interesing squabble and I hope the "hillbillies" win the day. Although Singha isn't terrible, I joined the boycott years ago unknowingly.

 

that article was 1% about beer protest and 99% about the vagaries of Thai political turmoil

 

I read in the Bangkok Post (I was just there) that the current management immediately tried to distance itself from her comments. So it must be a real concern for them. I try to be nonpartisan in beer selections but just can't order a Chang if Singha available.

 

All politics aside Singha is way better than Chang. Anyway, I sincerely hope that Thailand can remain somewhat stable given the current stresses. Growth doesn't always include everyone.

 

If Thailand is anything like BA this boycott will be forgotten just in time for the release of their next BA-seasonal.

 

Eh, the "hilllbillies" are getting blasted on Sang Som, or worse the homemade stuff. When they're drinking beer, it's going to be Chang or Leo @ 0.50/can (probably cheaper for Thai's). I would think Singha's customer base is probably those who are doing the protesting.

 

I qouted the "hillbillie" terminology from the article. From what I read, it seems that the protest against Singha is more broad based and is very politically tangled. Thai rum, huh?

 

No worries, I thought it came from the article. I wouldn't call the boycott broad bases. It's strictly the pro-government supporters. I didn't realize Singha was also the same company as Leo. That probably explains why Singha is concerned, their entry in the Econo-Beer market is also being boycotted.

As for Thai rum, it usually labeled as Thai Whisky, even though it is rum. Have a small one, with a Coke, in a glass. Don't order a second.

 

There are alot of things to boycott,beer is not one of them!

 

Just went to Thailand a couple of months ago for my honeymoon. We got out just as the political situation started heating up, but we did manage to wander into the center of their "occupy" grounds. Lots of singing and speeches and families and peaceful protest; I wonder how much this has really changed and how much is media exaggeration/invention.

Strange to see beer pulled into the issue, considering how dire their beer situation is over there. Singha is, however, far superior to Chang (think Heineken to Natty Ice) and pretty refreshing; Leo is somewhere between the two. There was an "Old German Beerhouse" in Bangkok that had some German beer on tap, but it was pretty much pale lagers and (excellent) cocktails everywhere else.

Oh, and I can definitely attest to the nastiness of Sang Som/Mekhong. Damn did that stuff burn going down! Get it in a bucket if you want to be able to drink any more than a shot of it. It did, however, remind me of that Pogues song "Sayonara" so that's cool.