Wine campaign gives Thai Post a headache

Thailand Post has dropped a promotional campaign to deliver locally made wine after being threatened with legal action by the Public Health Ministry.

Thailand Post had begun advertising wine deliveries with the cooperation of the Office of Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion which helps lesser businesses to develop and market their products.

With the office's help, Thailand Post produced catalogues of products for consumers to order wines from among a package of available products.

But the campaign was immediately attacked by the Office of Alcohol Control (OAC), which comes under the health ministry, for violating the alcohol beverage control law.

OAC director Samarn Futrakul said Thailand Post's promotional campaign to deliver wine products containing 5% alcohol and made by small and medium-sized companies violated the Alcohol Beverage Control Act of 2008.

The law prohibits the advertising of alcoholic drinks, their brands and trademarks in a way that encourages consumption either directly or indirectly.

"This case is an obvious violation. However, a warning will be issued to Thailand Post because it is their first mistake. It will have one month to correct the problem. If it does not comply, legal action will be taken," Dr Samarn said.

Violators are liable to one year in jail and a fine of up to 500,000 baht as well as a daily fine of 50,000 baht until they comply with legal requirements.

Wibul Serichaiporn, assistant manager for marketing and communication of Thailand Post, said the firm had agreed to stop the promotion of alcoholic drinks.

The company was unaware the advertisement was against the law, he said.