vincent13

The outcome was totally predictble, perhaps not by that margin but BJT was always going to come out on top.

It's the beginning of concert season in Isaan, happens around this time every year. Only lasts a couple of weeks at most.

The level of sweetness is a matter of choice by the consumer. A better strategy would be to conduct a campaign to educate consumers about the health risks of excess sugar consumption.

555 I don't believe any statistics in Thailand

Australian and NZ lamb is quite reasonably priced relative to Australia.

It did drop a little. "Import duties" on Australian wine are 0% under the Thailand-Australia Free Trade Agreement TAFTA) but it is excise duties and local taxes that are responsible for the high price of Australian wine in Thailand. Even so by my calculations the price should be no more than double that of Australia, not triple as in this case. It will be interesting to see if other retailers follow suit.

So I have been buying Jacobs Creek Chardonnay at Lotus for 445 baht a bottle. Thinking I would buy a few bottles for the festive season I went to the local Lotus only to discover the price has increased (in this land of no inflation) to 499 baht a bottle, a 12% increase. So I go to one of the mini Big C stores (it's a country town) where I purchase a bottle for 445 baht but there's only one bottle left. So I go to a 7-11 which has some in stock but at the increased price of 499 baht - Lotus and 7-11s are both run by CP. The new price of 499 baht is about $24 Australian dollars (the wine is produced in Australia). So I think I should check the price in Australia. I get on the internet and the wine is $7.85 at one of the major retailers in Australia ($8 at others). So in Thailand it's triple the price. The old price of 445 baht was the most I was prepared to pay for what is only an average, albeit acceptable, wine. So no more Jacobs Creek wines for me, at least from Lotus and 7-11s and I will be doing my best to not buy anything at all from them. It's just blatant thievery! Thanks for the Christmas present CP

I don't believe any of the Thai government statistics on the economy.

I misinterpreted your request. Even though I presented my Yellow Book when applying for the Pink Card, my understanding is that a Yellow Book is not a prerequisite for obtaining a Pink Card.

I have both a yellow book and a pink card, both obtained from my Amphoe Office. My understanding is that you need to be married to a Thai to obtain the yellow book. I rented a room in Udon Thani last year. All that was required was my passport. I would tell them to take a hike if they insisted on a Pink Card.

The thought of 45 or 60 million tourists annually is truly frightening. Would be time to leave Thailand for greener pastures.

My bad it was 2023 the child was born

Al Pacino, who has never been married, has four children to three different women. The most recent child was born in 1983, when Pacino was 83, to his 30 year old girlfriend. I haven't heard of any criticism of him. Everyone has free choice, even the bar girls in Thailand.

Must have been a "Big Buddha" day surely

Yes I have read previously. might have been BP, that there is a 1 year statute of limitations on speeding fines (not sure about other traffic offences).

Agree, we have heard this song before.

Import duties are 0% but they are subject to excise charges and local taxes.

And yet imported vodka in Thailand is cheaper than in Australia. Go figure!

About $14 so just under 300 baht at current exchange rate. We are being robbed!

Thanks I'll check it out.

Agree so the hope is that the excise duties on (at least) US wine imported to Thailand are reduced to zero as I can't envisage any reduction in the 17.5% local tax. It will be interesting to see how this plays out. One of the other, amongst many, categories I'm interested in are vitamins and supplements which as far as I can ascertain are subject to a 35% import duty but I can't find any information about whether they are then subject to excise taxes.

That's interesting what's the attraction of Ubon city?

I'm only familiar with prices of Australian wines but some Jacob's Creek have come down to 445 baht and Wolf Blass from 399 to 369 (but only at Makro). Not substantial reductions and still substantially higher than prices in Australia.

For those like myslf who are mystified by the price of imported wine in Thailand I came across an article from January 2024 that provides some clarity on import duties, excise and other taxes imposed on imported wines. My rough calculations suggest that the cost of an AUD$10 (210 baht at current exchange rate) bottle of Australian wine after import duties and taxes are applied rises to about 374 baht (AUD $18) in Thailand - note that "import duties" on Australian wine are 0% under the Thailand-Australia Free Trade Agreement TAFTA) so it is excise duties and local taxes that are responsible for the price of Australian wine in Thailand. For those hoping that the Trump trade negotiations will reduce the price of imported American wine you should note that it is already subject to 0% import duties so our only hope for reduced prices is if the negotiations result in a reduction in excise duties. I hold out little hope unfortunately. https://www.meiningers-international.com/wine/news/thailand-slashes-taxes-wine

And the non-tariff barriers such as excise?