Pattaya —
Pattaya Police discovered what they explained as bottles of homemade liquor at a warehouse that went up in flames early this morning.
Firefighters and police rushed to a warehouse in Soi Huai Yai Muk in the Pong sub-district of Banglamung district at 1 AM today, February 26th, following a report about a fire.
The warehouse is used to store agricultural products, the caretaker, Mr. Wichien Promkong, 50, told The Pattaya News. The place suddenly went into flames following an electrical snap that might have been caused by a plugged-in electric kettle, according to Wichien.
The firefighters took about one hour to extinguish the fire. Upon the search of the warehouse, many bottles of what the authorities said were homebrew liquor were found on the ground shattered. Nobody was hurt by the fire, said police.
The Pattaya News notes that it was previously against the law to brew alcohol at home in Thailand. However, a new regulation that came into effect on November 2nd, 2022, allows legal entities or individuals who are at least 20 years old to apply for a license to produce up to 200 liters of alcohol annually. This provision aims to simplify the process for individuals who want to make their own beer or spirits, but it only applies to non-commercial activities, and selling homemade booze is still considered illegal.
Another witness, Mr. Somsak Ketbutr, 70, reportedly admitted to police that he and his friends brew alcohol at the warehouse. However, he did not say if he had a license or sells the booze.
Police are looking into the witness’s claim as well as the exact cause of the fire.
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