Known as ‘dek cheer beer’ in Thai, these lovely beer promoters can be seen in restaurants, beer gardens, pubs, and other nightspots all over Thailand. Based on the premise that pretty girls in short skirts sell more beer (apparently men are this shallow!), these lovely ladies are usually young, pretty, and are clad in a dress that bears the colours and brand of the beer they are promoting (and the dress is usually tight enough to show off their slim figure and short enough to show off their long slender legs). Unlike in Singapore, where middle-aged beer promoters are common, you will not find middle-aged promoters in Thailand.
There can be one or more beer promoters, all promoting the same brand or each promoting a different one, in an establishment, depending on how big it is. They will usually talk to you if you engage them in conversation and sometimes, if competition is stiff, they might even flirt and tease a little to get you to buy their beer or to get you to buy more.
Their job scope is rather straightforward: They take your order, bring the beer to you, pour it into a glass, and then refill your glasses with ice or beer thereafter. All you have to do is to keep chugging and they will keep pouring, which is really great. They are also a great help to restaurants as they free the waiters and waitresses from having to refill beer glasses, leaving them with time to work on other things.
While it seems simple, a beer promoter’s job is not easy. They sometimes have to fend off aggressive drunks as well as those who try to take advantage of them. They may even meet stalkers who try to follow them home. Also, contrary to what some people think, they are not prostitutes and do not sleep with customers for money although some will date customers if they like them.
