Conflicting message: Chang in trouble for logos on VegFest flags

No place takes the Vegetarian Festival more seriously than Phuket, where many unusual and bloody rites are observed, along with an abstinence from alcohol. Therefore a popular brewer is in trouble this year for plastering its logo all over the distinctive yellow-and-red flags raised throughout Phuket Town.

THE PHUKET NEWS — The Provincial Health Department is to take legal action against ThaiBev, the brewer of Chang Beer, after its logo appeared on flags for the upcoming Vegetarian Festival all over Phuket Town. The Jui Tui shrine is also named in the department’s complaint.

Yesterday afternoon Krit Sakulpad of the department lodged a complaint with Phuket Town police that ThaiBev was using the Vegetarian Festival to promote its beer, which is against the law.

The yellow flags, carrying the company’s elephant logo with the word “Chang” on blue or green backgrounds, were found by health officials at the intersection at the SengHo book store, Phuket Post Office, Suriydet Circle, Bangkok Road in front of the Naga Market, Phuket Prison and at a shrine at Saphan Hin

Krit said this contravened the 2009 law controlling the consumption of alcohol and on most advertising of alcohol that might lure people to consume alcoholic beverages.

The authorities will push for the arrest of anyone breaking this law, which mandates penalties of up to a year in jail or fines of up to THB500,000.

“This festival is a great festival and one main focus should be to discourage people from consuming alcohol and to be free of sin,” Krit said.

“Promoting alcohol at this time is particularly inappropriate and goes against the cultural of Phuket,” He added.

He urged restaurants and shops not to sell alcohol during this period.

Photo: The Phuket News



Reader Interactions

Leave A Reply


BECOME A COCO+ MEMBER

Support local news and join a community of like-minded
“Coconauts” across Southeast Asia and Hong Kong.

Join Now
Coconuts TV
Our latest and greatest original videos
Subscribe on