Do you like drinking beer? If yes, you would probably want to have some bottles of booze during your stay in Thailand. However, many people tend to complain about how expensive beer is in Thailand. But is beer truly expensive in Thailand? How does the price of beer in Thailand compare to other countries? Let’s find answers to these questions that could be bothering you.
Without a doubt, beer is expensive in Thailand. As stated by Expensivity’s World Beer Index 2021, the average price of beer in Thailand is higher than lots of other countries. The statistics state that beer is more expensive in Bangkok (Thailand’s capital) than in other cities such as Berlin (Germany), Amsterdam (the Netherlands), Edinburgh (Scotland), and Brussels (Belgium).
In Thailand, a 330ml bottle of booze will cost around 149 (about $4.82). In Southeast Asia, it is only in Singapore that you are likely going to make more for the same quantity of beer. Since other countries around Thailand sell beers at a cheaper price, it can be concluded that beer is truly expensive in the country.
Why is beer expensive in Thailand?
Having noted that the price of beer is high in Thailand, you may be wondering about the possible causes. Beer is expensive in Thailand due to the following reasons:
- High taxes on the alcoholic beverages
To discourage their consumption, the government of Thailand has placed heavy taxes on sugary drinks, cigarettes, and alcohol. These high taxes are usually called “sin taxes”. In fact, the production of local alcohol in Thailand is heavily levied with expensive taxes. Hence, the prices of alcohol in the country are often higher than what is obtainable in several other similar nations.
- Restrictive licenses
Beer brewing is heavily regulated in Thailand. It involves a wide range of restrictive laws. As a result of this, it could require lots of money, time, and other resources before a company can obtain a license to start the business. Of course, such a company will need to make profits by increasing the price of its alcoholic beverages.
Even beers that are imported into Thailand are not so different. Numerous stringent laws often make it difficult for anyone to import beers into the country. The few people that manage to do usually spend lots of money. Besides, the levies on alcohol importations in Thailand are high. All these factors contribute to the high prices of alcohol in the nation.
- The difference in economic states of other nations in Southeast Asia
Another reason why the cost of beer in Thailand seems to be quite high is that other countries around Thailand sell beer at cheaper prices. As a result of this, Thailand seems to stand out as one of the few countries with the high cost of beer.
However, Thailand is economically better than other nations in Southeast Asia (apart from Singapore). Lots of the nations in the region have had to deal with wars, natural disasters, and several other issues. In Thailand, people tend to get higher wages than the other countries within the same region.
What are the factors affecting the cost of beer in Thailand?
Like in other countries, all beers are not sold for the same price in Thailand. Without mincing words, the same bottle of beer may be sold for different prices in various places. Therefore, you must consider some factors when talking about the prices of beer in Thailand.
- Where you are buying it
There are numerous places to purchase beers in Thailand, but these places don’t sell beers at the same price. If you want to buy alcoholic beverages at a cheaper rate, you should consider visiting local stores and shops around you. You can look for your favorite beers in Makro, Big-C, Tesco Lotus, and other retail stores. Many Thai bars and Thai restaurants also sell beers at affordable rates.
However, if you intend to beer in western bars and restaurants, you should be ready to spend lots of money. Based on experiences, you would likely have to pay more than three times the price of the same alcoholic beverage in local stores. Other places that sell beers at expensive prices include nightclubs and fancy bars.
In addition, if you would like to buy cold beer at the beach, you should note that the cost is usually higher than what you will get in local stores.
- Imported vs. local
The site of production of an alcoholic beverage can also affect its overall price. Generally, the majority of locally made beers are cheaper than imported ones. This is because of the excise tax and levies on the importation of beer into Thailand. So, anyone that wants to take imported beer in this Southeast Asian country should be ready to pay a premium price.
Fortunately, many Thai beers are of high quality. Therefore, you don’t need to spend exorbitant money on imported boozes. Some of the most famous alcohol brands in Thailand include Singha and Chang.
When can you buy beer in Thailand?
Although many sellers and buyers don’t observe the regulations, there are restrictions about when you can sell or buy alcohol in Thailand. Normally, you can only get beer in retail stores between 11 am and 2 pm as well as 5 pm to 12 am. In nightclubs, bars, pubs, and lots more, alcohol should only be bought or sold between 9 pm and 12 am.
Also, you should not sell or buy alcohol close to educational institutions. To be precise, there must be a distance of at least 300 meters between an educational center and a point of sale of alcohol.
Nevertheless, these rules are hardly observed by anyone. But if you are new to Thailand, you don’t want to put yourself in any trouble because of beer. So, make sure you follow these guidelines.
Conclusion
As explained above, beer is quite expensive in Thailand. The average price of an alcoholic beverage in Thailand is higher than numerous other countries around the world. The high cost is due to high taxes, restrictive regulations, and lots more.
