StopDrink Network says BIG NO to alcohol in the Thai-EU Free Trade Agreements

Reported by Thaksaphon Thamarangsi,
Center for Alcohol Studies

In June over 300 representatives of the Alliance for Alcohol Problem Prevention (AAPP) and its partners gathered in front of the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) to deliver to the Deputy Minister, Alongkorn Pholabutr, a statement protesting against the inclusion of alcohol in the negotiation for the Thai-EU Free trade Agreement.

Komron Choodecha, AAPP representative claimed that whilst the value and volume of alcohol imported from the EU would still be less than that produced by the domestic sector, the inclusion of alcohol in the Thai-EU FTA would significantly stimulate Thai alcohol consumption. However, with the decrease in duty from 60% to 0% a major leap in the alcohol beverage market is to be expected. AAPP considers that alcohol is no ordinary commodity, negatively affecting health, social well-being and the economy. It should not be regarded the same as other commercial products. Therefore

AAPP urges the Thai government to review and consider withdrawing alcohol from already agreed Free Trade Agreements including ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) and Thai-Australia FTA.

Liberalization of alcoholic beverages cannot be entirely based on economic competitiveness concepts but has to take into consideration sustainable social development and other concerns.

The inclusion of alcohol in free trade agreements benefits only a few people. The collective benefit is dwarfed by the negative impact. The inclusion of alcohol would also significantly limit Thai ability to control alcohol-related problems in the long run.

AAPP maintains that it is not opposed to Free Trade Agreements in general since Thailand has to be in line with the modern world. But during negotiations for such agreements a thorough consideration of a nation’s social well being and its sustainable development must be given as much regard as economic prosperity.

Mr Alongkorn, Deputy Commerce Minister, said “I see the necessity to exempt alcohol from the negotiation because alcohol is a dangerous product which could do harm to our youth and society as a whole. So we should not promote it. Additionally we should review the need to withdraw alcohol and tobacco for societal benefit”.

(from Daily news Newspaper 18/10: translated by Thaksaphon Thamarangsi)