Popular Post webfact Posted October 10, 2023 Popular Post Share Posted October 10, 2023 The Thai tobacco industry has recently been rocked by a price increase, prompting smokers to turn towards the illicit cigarette trade. Citing increased production costs, major domestic and international tobacco manufacturers have raised their retail prices by THB 3-4 per pack. The adjustment follows a scarcity and price surge of raw materials, exacerbated by the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Tobacco Authority of Thailand’s announcement outlines the new pricing for 16 brands, ranging from THB 67 to THB 105 per pack, a shift from the previous THB 63 to THB 102 range, reported Daily News. The hike, however, has not been well-received by the smoking populace. Retailers and street surveys reveal a visible pivot towards illicit, untaxed cigarettes, which are 2-3 times cheaper and increasingly available not only in the southern regions but also in Bangkok and its vicinities. Picture: Daily News The affordability of these illegal cigarettes, priced at a mere THB 28-32 per pack, juxtaposed against the legal THB 70-105 range, is accelerating their prevalence. The surge is facilitated by easy access through online cross-border and local clandestine suppliers, circumventing the regulatory radar with the aid of private courier services lacking advanced scanning equipment. The Tobacco Authority assures that the price adjustment was necessitated by increased production costs, not profit motives. But as the authority grapples with the prevailing issue of price-setting discrepancies and burgeoning illegal trade, the public's shift to untaxed, cheaper alternatives amplifies, underscoring a need for a balanced approach to taxation and pricing that considers market realities and consumer tendencies. Top Picture: Daily News -- ASEAN NOW 2023-10-11 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. Get your business in front of millions of customers who read ASEAN NOW with an interest in Thailand every month - email [email protected] for more information Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2baht Posted October 10, 2023 Share Posted October 10, 2023 Filth! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post redwood1 Posted October 10, 2023 Popular Post Share Posted October 10, 2023 10 minutes ago, 2baht said: Filth! I agree .....They are filth for making us pay more for our smokes.. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post dinsdale Posted October 10, 2023 Popular Post Share Posted October 10, 2023 Wait for the tax hike. Way more than a few baht. Bt10-Bt20 maybe is my guess. Have to pay for the populist e-wallet. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post ignore it Posted October 11, 2023 Popular Post Share Posted October 11, 2023 Hmm. Still a bit cheaper than 560 bhat a pack in the UK 930 B in Oz, 325 B in the US 1 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hotchilli Posted October 11, 2023 Share Posted October 11, 2023 8 hours ago, webfact said: The hike, however, has not been well-received by the smoking populace. Retailers and street surveys reveal a visible pivot towards illicit, untaxed cigarettes, which are 2-3 times cheaper and increasingly available not only in the southern regions but also in Bangkok and its vicinities Queue the illegal cigs coming in from Cambodia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shackleton Posted October 11, 2023 Share Posted October 11, 2023 I am all for people who want to smoke pay higher prices same in the UK ???? Nearly £10 per pack If not for those people paying the high tax The Government would be looking else where to recover the tax lost Maybe a rise in Alcohol prices ???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chelseafan Posted October 11, 2023 Share Posted October 11, 2023 9 minutes ago, shackleton said: I am all for people who want to smoke pay higher prices same in the UK ???? Nearly £10 per pack If not for those people paying the high tax The Government would be looking else where to recover the tax lost Maybe a rise in Alcohol prices ???? £10 a pack in the UK ? Try nearly £15. As a self-loathing smoker, they should tax the hell out of it!! That's the easiest way to get us to quit !! The downside is that over time there will be less smokers which equates to less tax and people liveing longer so more pensions are paid out. I suppose they'll go for the motorist even MORE now to make up the deficit. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superal Posted October 11, 2023 Share Posted October 11, 2023 35 minutes ago, Chelseafan said: £10 a pack in the UK ? Try nearly £15. As a self-loathing smoker, they should tax the hell out of it!! That's the easiest way to get us to quit !! The downside is that over time there will be less smokers which equates to less tax and people liveing longer so more pensions are paid out. I suppose they'll go for the motorist even MORE now to make up the deficit. Golden Virginia tobacco is now £34 for a 50 gram pouch . Many in the UK now vaping but come to Thailand with your vape is risky as a foreigner but not Thai folk . Thai vape laws set up to extract funds from foreigners and not for health reasons . 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post VocalNeal Posted October 11, 2023 Popular Post Share Posted October 11, 2023 6 minutes ago, superal said: Thai vape laws set up to extract funds from foreigners Or to protect tobacco monopoly.???? 3 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacko45k Posted October 11, 2023 Share Posted October 11, 2023 1 hour ago, shackleton said: Maybe a rise in Alcohol prices Tax weed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Photoguy21 Posted October 11, 2023 Share Posted October 11, 2023 Maybe I am blind but I cant see an avid smoker giving up cigarettes for a 4 Baht price hike. I could be wrong but I doubt it. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonnyF Posted October 11, 2023 Share Posted October 11, 2023 1 hour ago, Chelseafan said: The downside is that over time there will be less smokers which equates to less tax and people liveing longer so more pensions are paid out. I suppose they'll go for the motorist even MORE now to make up the deficit. The tax shortfall will probably be made up by green taxes, that's why the lies are being pushed so heavily by the doomsday cultists and climate alarmists. I think the better solution for Thailand would be to legalize and tax vaping. It is far less harmful than tobacco and in my case actually enabled me to quit smoking (cigs and vapes) altogether. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superal Posted October 11, 2023 Share Posted October 11, 2023 3 minutes ago, JonnyF said: The tax shortfall will probably be made up by green taxes, that's why the lies are being pushed so heavily by the doomsday cultists and climate alarmists. I think the better solution for Thailand would be to legalize and tax vaping. It is far less harmful than tobacco and in my case actually enabled me to quit smoking (cigs and vapes) altogether. Exactly and that is why the Thai gov; will not legalize vaping i.e. people stop smoking = loss of taxes to the gov; and revenue to the tobacco industry VIPs in Thailand . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kickstart Posted October 11, 2023 Share Posted October 11, 2023 Where I am most of the locals smoke roll ups ,you can still get a small pack of Black Cat tobacco for a few baht,it is locally grown tobacco. Back in the UK, I know people who roll they own ,never buy it in the UK ,know someone who buys it across the channel,truck drivers, and sell it on,bit like what the op said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianthainess Posted October 11, 2023 Share Posted October 11, 2023 3 hours ago, hotchilli said: Queue the illegal cigs coming in from Cambodia On sale all over Pattaya for years. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianthainess Posted October 11, 2023 Share Posted October 11, 2023 Last I heard in OZ 50aud a pack, class A drugs are cheaper, I've been told. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marcusb Posted October 11, 2023 Share Posted October 11, 2023 4 hours ago, jacko45k said: Tax weed! I enjoy weed, I would gladly pay a reasonable tax. Other countries were it is legal tax it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cowellandrew Posted October 11, 2023 Share Posted October 11, 2023 How much tax revenue does the UK raise from cigs! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chelseafan Posted October 11, 2023 Share Posted October 11, 2023 4 hours ago, cowellandrew said: How much tax revenue does the UK raise from cigs! Google is your friend. Tobacco duty receipts held up well relative to the large pandemic-related fall in GDP in 2020-21, standing at £9.8 billion and reaching £10.2 and £10.0 billion in 2021-22 and 2022-23, respectively. About 1.25% of total revenue collected. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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