Bangkok: The Minister of Public Health has addressed the recent controversy involving Lisa Manoban, a Thai artist, who was seen drinking Thai beer on a foreign television program. The Minister clarified that the act was not illegal, as Thai law prohibits advertising alcoholic beverages but not their consumption. He stressed that the issue should not have been contentious and reminded that any shared content must omit the brand name.

According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Pattana Phromphat, the Minister of Public Health, chaired the 4th meeting of the Alcohol Control Committee in 2026. After the meeting, he commented on the situation, explaining that since the incident took place abroad and was not aired in Thailand, the legal interpretation would consider the intent behind the act. In this instance, it is deemed a personal action rather than an attempt to advertise a product. He highlighted that Thai law's primary concern is with the advertising of alcoholic beverages, not their consumption.

Regarding the sharing of images related to the incident within Thailand, Mr. Phromphat noted that both media and the public have adhered to the law by blurring out product names and logos, which aligns with Thai legal expectations.

Mr. Phromphat also personally observed that the issue should not have escalated, considering it occurred overseas. He suggested that the heightened attention in Thai society is due to the involvement of a Thai artist, implying that if a foreign artist had been in similar circumstances, the criticism might not have been as pronounced.