Finance Ministry plans to raise tax on non-alcoholic beer 

By The Nation

 

FILE photo

 

Patchara Anuntasilpa, director general of the Excise Department, said the department is studying the possibility of increasing tax rates on non-alcoholic beer.

 

Currently it is subject to tax of 14 per cent or between Bt5-12 per can, similar to tax rates on sugary drinks. 

 

He said the Public Health Ministry was worried that non-alcoholic beer may encourage young people to drink, so the department wanted to push up its prices by increasing the tax. 

 

The Public Health Ministry also prohibits producers from advertising non-alcoholic beer and requires them to call them "malt drinks".

 

Normal beer is subject to tax of 22 per cent of its price and alcohol content. Currently the minimum alcohol content for beer is 0.5 per cent. 

 

The new tax will be introduced after Songkran, he added.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/Economy/30367557

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2019-04-11

31 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

Finance Ministry plans to raise tax on non-alcoholic beer

Bloody bar stuards.

He said the Public Health Ministry was worried that non-alcoholic beer may encourage young people to drink, so the department wanted to push up its prices by increasing the tax. 

 

 

The reason sounds funny. People start drinking well aware of what to expect. They want to get high. Non-alcoholic beer just stays their on the shelf. I think it is bought by those who really want to get the taste of it but can’t drink the real thing because of the responsible tasks to do.

Non-alcoholic beer does not encourage young people to drink because they buy the real deal to start with.

They can put the tax as high as they want and just dreamingly wish people buying zero alcohol beer. 

It will be rotting there on the shelf.

 

moved to Thailand News

 

//Admin

Why would they do this, it's not a sugary drink like coca cola, it's just a pure money grab.

 

I've tasted that new Heineken zero and it's ok - actually tastes like beer. I doubt I could identify it in a blind taste test, especially after a few real ones.

Also don't forget to introduce a tax for air, because breathing air might encourage young people to eventually become inhalers.

 

I always find it quite hypocritical when governments increase taxes on the grounds that they're "worried about peoples' health" and similarly flimsy justifications, because the true reason underlying the constantly rising tax burden is actually rather mundane: The government needs money.  

Just killed the low alcohol beers for bs reasoning. I thought maybe the few beer barons would push this but they know most young people go for the beer with the highest alcohol content, but I am sure they won’t mind because it evens out the playing field.

12 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Patchara Anuntasilpa, director general of the Excise Department, said the department is studying the possibility of increasing tax rates on non-alcoholic beer.

The new tax will be introduced after Songkran, he added.

that was quick.

regards Worgeordie

What is the point of drinking fake beer? might as well drink water

Have they not considered that someone driving might just order a zero alcohol beer rather than risk lives by driving after drinking a normal beer?  No, I thought not! 

 

 

 

 

So... this means its going to be cheaper for kids to get alcoholic beer?

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

the Public Health Ministry was worried that non-alcoholic beer may encourage young people to drink

But a state monopoly on manufacture and sale of tobacco cigarettes doesn't encourage young people to smoke?

Clearly physical science doesn't drive Thai laws.

1 hour ago, Misterwhisper said:

Also don't forget to introduce a tax for air, because breathing air might encourage young people to eventually become inhalers.

Also don't forget to introduce a tax for air, because breathing air might encourage young people to eventually become inhalers.

I always find it quite hypocritical when governments increase taxes on the grounds that they're "worried about peoples' health" and similarly flimsy justifications, because the true reason underlying the constantly rising tax burden is actually rather mundane: The government needs money.  

Stop! Don't give em any ideas! 

A tax on "clean air" ? OMG !

My plan to get about wearing a scuba mask and air bottle is at risk !

Pressure and brown envelopes from Thai brewers are the main reason, the best zero alcohol beers come from international brewers not Thai companies. These zero beers are becoming more popular around the world.

1 hour ago, Orton Rd said:

What is the point of drinking fake beer? might as well drink water

My thoughts exactly and water is almost tax free (except for VAT)

2 minutes ago, Burma Bill said:

My thoughts exactly and water is almost tax free (except for VAT)

At the risk of going OT, is there VAT on drinking water here?

Does food carry VAT too I wonder? Assuming the company sells in excess of 1.8 million Baht & therefore VAT registered.

 

14 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Patchara Anuntasilpa, director general of the Excise Department, said the department is studying the possibility of increasing tax rates on non-alcoholic beer.

Yet another reason not to drink it. 

 

Non alcoholic beer, decaffeinated coffee, Coke Zero, artificial sweeteners...either enjoy the real thing or do without is my philosophy. 

Edited April 12, 20197 yr by Bluespunk

I can not see them making much money, I do not know you live, I live in a rural area, our local 7-11, Tesco Express, etc do not sell non-alcoholic beers.

If they are like the non-alcoholic beers in the UK, I would rather drink water.

I saw the heineken NA yesterday and thought that would be a fairly easy mistake to make.  I think heineken is a thorn in the side of the government mobsters...they can kill the Tiger, but not Heiny....Even though Heiny and tiger are brewed in nonthaburi...it appears that many stores have been threatened about selling tiger...a premium brand selling for the same price as the standard duopoly piss.

decrease tax on local produce beer, decrease tax on coca cola or pepsi, 
increase tax on everything else.

working for the multinationals and industries , elected by people.

19 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Patchara Anuntasilpa, director general of the Excise Department, said the department is studying the possibility of increasing tax rates on non-alcoholic beer.

Keep death on the road then, by killing off the incentive to buy non-alcoholic beverages.

6 hours ago, Bluespunk said:

Yet another reason not to drink it. 

 

Non alcoholic beer, decaffeinated coffee, Coke Zero, artificial sweeteners...either enjoy the real thing or do without is my philosophy. 

Like bonking with a johnny on!   LOL

Wine sales tax must be a shocker to the treasury by now and could explain the scrabbling around taxing flavored water????  

This new tax is obviously going to serve the interests of some major beverage lobbies. ????

 

On the other hand and despite the logic in discouraging over consumption of booze in society, would we have appreciated if the alcoholic beverages got taxed instead ?

17 hours ago, Thunder26 said:

He said the Public Health Ministry was worried that non-alcoholic beer may encourage young people to drink, so the department wanted to push up its prices by increasing the tax. 

 

 

The reason sounds funny. People start drinking well aware of what to expect. They want to get high. Non-alcoholic beer just stays their on the shelf. I think it is bought by those who really want to get the taste of it but can’t drink the real thing because of the responsible tasks to do.

Non-alcoholic beer does not encourage young people to drink because they buy the real deal to start with.

They can put the tax as high as they want and just dreamingly wish people buying zero alcohol beer. 

It will be rotting there on the shelf.

 

Well you could also use the the fact that the Junta assumed power through the military coup so hence the use of guns by them was encouragement to the young to subvert democratic process.  Therefore all weapons that may be utilised against a peacefully established regime should be taxed. So 500% tax on guns, petrol, bottles, knives, catapults or anything else that could become an offensive weapon. In my opinion zero alcohol beer is BS.  Real beer is alcoholic, anyone who buys a non alcoholic drink, sold as beer, should be locked up along with the con artists that flog it as beer.

5 minutes ago, Father Fintan Stack said:

I love a good wine but I simply won't buy it here.

 

Not because I can't afford it, I certainly can, but because I don't want them trousering 500% of the actual value of the bottle I am drinking. 

 

I bring all my wine in duty free and limit my consumption when in Thailand.

 

If everyone did the same they might have an epiphany but then they are not the sharpest tools in the shed.

Agree 100% Halfling the quantity for the same price Mar Sol as the last bottle of laughing bird flew off the shelf ended my cheap plonk tipple just cant justify it here????

9 hours ago, Orton Rd said:

What is the point of drinking fake beer? might as well drink water

Actually water is preferable. It tastes better too.

makes sense for me,

as soon this is approved all soft drinks and even mineral water can be taxed as it has the same amount of alcohol.. 

Let me make a guess who buys this 'near beer' and therefore will be paying the tax.