Liquor tax may increase

BANGKOK: -- The Thai government is considering increasing excise duties on liquor in order to discourage consumption.

The deputy Finance Minister Varathep Ratanakorn will hold talks on the issue with senior ministry officials, including the permanent secretary, on Monday.

Mr. Varathep said the forthcoming discussions would focus on the prime minister’s policy to restructure excise taxes on liquor after it was brought to his attention that the tax was levied on the sale price of the liquor and not its alcoholic content, as it is overseas.

Liquor consumption has not fallen at all after the increase in excise duties and the import of cheap, foreign brands has also increased, said Mr. Varathep.

The minister said he was surprised to see young people today prefer to drink cheap liquor. It is now necessary to overhaul the liquor taxes in order to discourage people from consuming liquor, he said.

--TNA 2005-05-29

LOL...

I'm glad I stick mostly with beer. If I drink liquor, I don't know why exactly but, I try to do it like I'm drinking beer. And, that isn't good.