Red Bull Boycott in Thailand
                     Red Bull Boycott 
in Thailand
INTRODUCTION
• Thai energy drink brand Red Bull has sought to 
distance itself from a member of the business 
founder’s family who was involved in a hit-and-run 
case, as calls to boycott its products grow.
Source: CNA
COMPANY PROFILE
• Red Bull is an energy drink sold by Red Bull GmbH, 
an Austrian company created in 1987. Red Bull has 
the highest market share of any energy drink in the 
world, with 7.5 billion cans sold in a year.
Source: Alibaba.com
ACCUSED OF CRASHING 
• Vorayuth Yoovidhya, grandson of the late Chaleo 
Yoovidhya who created the Thai energy drink 
Krating Daeng, or Red Bull, was accused of 
crashing his black Ferrari into a policeman in 2012 
and dragging his body for dozens of metres before 
fleeing the scene.
Source: Chiang Rai Times
STATEMENT OF POLICE
• Police said that his charges, which included 
speeding, hit-and-run and reckless driving causing 
death, were dropped in a case that has raised 
questions about crime and punishment for the well-
connected.
Source: The Independent
STATEMENT OF TCP GROUP
• TCP Group, which owns the Thai Red Bull brand, 
said it is run by Vorayuth’s uncle and not directly 
associated with Vorayuth, whose father has part 
ownership in the international Red Bull brand that 
Chaleo had co-founded with an Austrian partner.
Source: PR Newswire
STATEMENT OF TCP GROUP
• Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha’s office said that 
news of the dropped case made him 
“uncomfortable” and he had ordered relevant 
agencies to review previous steps, adding that he 
had never granted personal favors.
Source: PR Newswire
STATEMENT OF PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE
• Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha’s office said that 
news of the dropped case made him 
“uncomfortable” and he had ordered relevant 
agencies to review previous steps, adding that he 
had never granted personal favors.
Source: PR Newswire
STATEMENT OF ATTORNEY-GENERAL
• The Office of the Attorney-General also said it 
would look into how the case was dropped. Many 
Thais were angered by the move to drop charges.
Source: South China Morning Post
BOYCOTT RED BULL PRODUCTS
• The move towards dropping charges prompted 
allegations of impunity for the rich and sparked 
calls on social media to boycott Red Bull products.
Source: Reuters
ABOUT VORAYUTH’S GRANDFATHER 
• Vorayuth’s grandfather was listed as the third-
richest person in Thailand when he died in 2012 
aged 88, with an estimated net worth of $5 billion, 
according to Forbes magazine.
Source: Forbes