The Cabinet has approved a draft ministerial regulation on liquor production to enhance the competitiveness of small and medium-sized entrepreneurs in the liquor industry, as well as promoting Thailand’s “soft power” through the use of local wisdom and community-produced liquors.

The decision was made on 13 May 2025, following a proposal by the Ministry of Finance, seeking to amend the 2022 ministerial regulation on liquor production in terms of criteria, methods, and conditions concerning the application for and issuance of liquor production licenses.

The amendments involve four key areas on (1) licensing criteria and conditions for medium-sized liquor factories, (2) criteria and conditions for medium-sized liquor factories, (3) conditions on the location of small and medium-sized liquor distilleries, and (4) definition for brewed beer establishments.

They are also in line with the policy of elevating public service delivery in response to the needs of the people, while reducing constraints enabling new liquor producers to enter this industry and providing greater opportunities for income generation and economic growth.

According to Deputy Government Spokesperson Sasikarn Wattanachan, the Cabinet approved the draft ministerial regulation, taking into consideration liquor production standards and support for cooperatives, farmer groups, community enterprises, agricultural organizations, and small entrepreneurs.

The Excise Department had listened to the opinions of stakeholders through the websites www.excise.go.th and www.law.go.th from 25 December 2024 to 9 January 2025. Most of them were in favor of the draft ministerial regulation and some suggestions were also offered to improve it.