Beer And Wine Tax Hike Next For Excise Dept: Thailand

[yourauntbob]

This is just an excuse to "raise revenue," nothing more. If they were concerned with public health they could start by giving emissions tests to trucks, clean up the water systems, enforce the road laws......

[Moruya]

Prices are not exactly extraordinarily higher, if people cannot afford the price rise, then they shouldnt drink

or smoke cigarettes!!

Were i am from a packet of cigs will set you back 400 baht equiv and a bottle 750mm of spirits can set you

back 850 baht on average!

I only started drinking cigarettes yesterday and now I have to stop?

[Moruya]

Cant you guys read, beer is already maxed out and needs a law change to increase tax. Read the frikin words.

Cigerettes is a mere 2% increase. it will stop nothing.

Fishface becomes Eggface.

This discussion is about amending the legislation that puts a ceiling on the taxes so they can implement the change.

[julemanden]

I would like to see cigarettes made as illegal as heroin, as it certainly kills millions of people and it stinks real bad.

or put a 1000% duty on cigarettes

The government said they want to cut down on people drinking, I agree men in isarn are always drunk and acting like morons but the increases wont have any affect whatsoever as its not enough."just a couple of baht per bottle of that popular foul tasting lao khaao they like, ".

up the tax on cheap boose say, 2000% to 3000% that might have the desired effect.

But the government should bring the price of fine imported wines way down.

I guess you must be drinking wine and therefor the price should go down ? OMG

[Soi Sauce]

ridicules; this is the Muslimification of Thailand

what an inane and misleading comment. Last I looked most Thai's were anything but Muslim.

Well they ain't Buddhist either if they're drinking!

[newermonkey]

I would like to see cigarettes made as illegal as heroin, as it certainly kills millions of people and it stinks real bad.

or put a 1000% duty on cigarettes

The government said they want to cut down on people drinking, I agree men in isarn are always drunk and acting like morons but the increases wont have any affect whatsoever as its not enough."just a couple of baht per bottle of that popular foul tasting lao khaao they like, ".

up the tax on cheap boose say, 2000% to 3000% that might have the desired effect.

But the government should bring the price of fine imported wines way down.

I guess you must be drinking wine and therefor the price should go down ? OMG

FYI. Spot on !

Edited August 23, 2012 by newermonkey

[moskito]

A study commissioned by the Thai Health Promotion Foundation suggests higher cigarette prices will reduce the number of Thai smokers by about 0.5 per cent.

LOL, they should study something else...may be LIFE... More expensive Cigarettes or Alcohol will NEVER stop a smoker or someone who drinks everyday.... BUT it will take the money away what he needed from the money his wife and kids need for food, clothing or other things

I smoked for 35years and I would not have stopped if they have doubled the prices....in Europe Cigarettes are around 250.-BAHT for a package of 20...does this stop the smokers there? Bull....

[pacovl46]

I honestly doubt that this will decrease the consumption!

"More than half of all offences committed are related to alcohol consumption!"

Yeah, and why? Because all you get when they catch you drive drunk is a slap on the wrist.

[moskito]

ridicules; this is the Muslimification of Thailand

How they can tax the chemical pi££ they call beer here is a joke

another Muslimhater... brainwashing pays out....

[Fishface]

Ban smoking --done finished --a few weeks of cold turkey for the morons but then its gone.

Clean fresh air. After its all over and ciggs are NOT available they will thank you.

Make me President --i'lle frkin sort it.

[sprq]

"The aim was to create equality in the liquor market, as well as to reduce consumption, she explained."

To create such equality, the wine duties should be greatly reduced, not raised. What other country sells a bottle of decent whisky at the same price as a bottle of mediocre wine? None, because no other country has a duty and taxation structure on alcohol so out of whack. In most places, a bottle of decent wine costs a lot less than a bottle of bad whisky.

[Semper]

all you get when they catch you drive drunk is a slap on the wrist.

Where? Have you ever been caught? No, I didn't think so.

Edited August 23, 2012 by Semper

[DP25]

It seems the excise tax hike on wine and beer has only been left out because they are already at the maximum limits allowed by the Excise Tax Act which will now need to be amended.

The government has left itself few revenue options to fund its rapidly ballooning fiscal deficit most of which will be caused by wasteful projects that are designed purely to enrich ruling politicians. Property and inheritance taxes are off the table due to the fact that the populist party in power that successfully appeals to the poorly educated rural masses is actually comprised not of socialists but almost entirely of ethnic Chinese millionaires, while a hike in income tax is out of the question for the same reason. Corporate tax is being dropped and imports are nose diving, reducing the import duty tax. VAT cannot be raised back up to its official rate of 10% because of the detrimental effects that would have on CPI inflation.

They are clutching at straws with the excise tax on fags and booze as it will be a drop in a bucket compared to deficit but it's better than nothing and, although it hits a wide swathe of voters, they don't dare to protest due to the sinful implications of these products.

Although politicians are often seen drinking expensive wines in restaurants the excise tax hike is painless for them as they can import their wine without paying any duty or tax with the help of corrupt customs officials.

Great analysis of what is actually going on with this government. Well put.

[bigbamboo]

I would like to see cigarettes made as illegal as heroin, as it certainly kills millions of people and it stinks real bad.

or put a 1000% duty on cigarettes

The government said they want to cut down on people drinking, I agree men in isarn are always drunk and acting like morons but the increases wont have any affect whatsoever as its not enough."just a couple of baht per bottle of that popular foul tasting lao khaao they like, ".

up the tax on cheap boose say, 2000% to 3000% that might have the desired effect.

But the government should bring the price of fine imported wines way down.

I guess you must be drinking wine and therefor the price should go down ? OMG

I guess newermonkey has never heard of Prohibition either. What a roaring success that was.

Thailand would become a modern day Chicago with gangsters, corrupt policemen and a tax dodger running the show.

Oh, wait a minute.......

Edited August 23, 2012 by bigbamboo

[moskito]

Ban smoking --done finished --a few weeks of cold turkey for the morons but then its gone.

Clean fresh air. After its all over and ciggs are NOT available they will thank you.

Make me President --i'lle frkin sort it.

ok Mr. President...you have my quote....or was it vote? ... you are right...if one wants to stop he/she will stop.... no ciggis sold anymore should solve the problem....and they WILL thank the government for it after a year...when your really taste is back...when fresh air smells like fresh air and when your house doenst smell like an old ashtray anymore....I am soooo glad I have made it....

[moskito]

all you get when they catch you drive drunk is a slap on the wrist.

Where? Have you ever been caught? No, I didn't think so.

me and a friend, 20 years ago totally mao in Patong....I was so drunk couldnt start my motobike...until a

friendly policeman came and helped me....I was glad the next day I made it to Kata over the mountains,

but have no clue HOW.... was this a sign police doesnt like or like Farang`? ((((:

[F1fanatic]

Ban smoking --done finished --a few weeks of cold turkey for the morons but then its gone.

Clean fresh air. After its all over and ciggs are NOT available they will thank you.

Make me President --i'lle frkin sort it.

ok Mr. President...you have my quote....or was it vote? ... you are right...if one wants to stop he/she will stop.... no ciggis sold anymore should solve the problem....and they WILL thank the government for it after a year...when your really taste is back...when fresh air smells like fresh air and when your house doenst smell like an old ashtray anymore....I am soooo glad I have made it....

Its always entertaining reading the view of a non-smoker and a reformed smoker.

Edit - I think Tasmania has a good idea - ban cigarettes sales to those born before 2000. Obviously, there will be problems, but its a good start to stop kids taking up this horrible habit.

Edited August 23, 2012 by F1fanatic

[Pops]

Quote: "The aim was to create equality in the liquor market, as well as to reduce consumption, she explained."

Equality, by putting more tax on imported alcoholic beverages then on locally produced alcoholic beverages, really ??

And this price hike, of only several THB for locally produced alcoholic beverages that makes them a little bit more expensive but still within reach of the (poor) consumer, should reduce consumption.

Yeah, right !!

[tiger2]

What's next? A pussy tax???

[millwall_fan]

"White spirit, which accounts for a large portion of the Thai liquor market, was unlikely to be significantly affected, the market watcher said. ThaiBev enjoys the biggest share of this product, which is popular in the Northeast"

White Spirit ?? Where I come from that's sold as a solvent and brush cleaner, in the west they add poison to prevent people drinking it, but some still do!

source http://en.wikipedia....ki/White_spirit

Yep, that's the stuff!

[DrTuner]

That's it, I'm moving to Tibet to live in a cave and brew my own.

[chrissables]

Smart move, still a long way from measures taken by the Australian government (no more brand names on cigarette packs) or countries mulling a full ban on smoking for those born after the year 2000, or other Western countries where cigarettes cost many times more than in Thailand.

Same goes for alcohol, hand in hand with nicotine these two are the most addictive, dangerous and lethal drugs on earth. Kudos for Thailand!

Who put you on you moral high ground? They are both legal, and although i don't smoke they (the world governments) should let things be sometimes. I had enough in my life of people telling me what i can do or not. If i like a drink and it effects nobody around be leave me the #uck alone, if you would be so kind!

[tragickingdom]

The prices of cancerous products like cigarettes should be 400 or 500% at the very least. It is not only a dirty habit, the costs to people who do not smoke are monstrous. On top of that cleaning the filth from smokers from streets to restaurants is absurd too.

[moskito]

What's next? A pussy tax???

yeah, goood one... But how many ppl you know here are paying tax at all? There has to be something where so money comes from to keep a government running...or not? If I see the tax and insurance on cars and motobikes its pathetic low and I ask myself since years HOW the government are building streets for it...AND to be honest, Thai Roads are not so bad at all.....go to India, Africa or the USA if you dont know what I am talking about......so a tax for the pussycats living everywhere around me here should do it....i am a bird lover anyway

[moskito]

The prices of cancerous products like cigarettes should be 400 or 500% at the very least. It is not only a dirty habit, the costs to people who do not smoke are monstrous. On top of that cleaning the filth from smokers from streets to restaurants is absurd too.

Reminds me of a small restaurant in Patpong Road, excellent Sirloin Steak and f....g crowded every day....it was a smokers place but the japanese Owner NEVER opened the doors or cleaned anything at all in about 50 years... It smelled very much but the food was GORGEOUS... anybody an idea if this little shop still exists? visited last around 15 years ago

[Semper]

Bye bye Thailand, hello Cambodia.

Yes, great idea. Let's all move to a country that has absolutely no rule of law. Let us move to a country where the strongman, Hun Sen, regularly has people assassinated, like Che Vichea, the labor rights leader, because he does not like them, or they are critical of him, or they oppose his billionaire cronies confiscating land with zero compensation to the families who own the land, or have been living on the land and farming the land for decades. Let's all move to a country where the sons of the richest 6 families regularly kill someone who looks at their girlfriends, and suffer zero jail time, and are usually not even arrested. If you think Thailand is the wild west, just move to Cambodia, one of the most lawless nations on earth, and report back to us in a few years, if you are still alive.

I was thinking of the price hike on beer. But thanks for the political heads-up on Cambodia.

[Fatherfluffybottom]

Prices are not exactly extraordinarily higher, if people cannot afford the price rise, then they shouldnt drink

or smoke cigarettes!!

Were i am from a packet of cigs will set you back 400 baht equiv and a bottle 750mm of spirits can set you

back 850 baht on average!

And how much is the average wage in the country you came from? Somehow I suspect it will be far higher than the average wage in Thailand.

Edit - We do not know yet how much the cost of beer and wine will increase - only cigarettes and spirits have been affected so far, and this thread is about beer and wine increases.

Sorry i was basing my case directly at ex pats, and it mentions about cigarettes and spirits in the article, therefor i am fully obliged to comment on.

[sirchai]

Girls in Laos have bigger tits and beer's much better,.

Titties and beer...................

[robkey69]

Lets face it guys...the reason a lot of us over the last 20 years have been attracted to Thailand was there was only one rule....There are no rules...In the last 5 years its gotten ridiculous....like can't sell alcohol at Lotus or Big C between certain hours...7-11's have to stop selling after a certain time...Do you really thing thats going to stop alcohol abuse? ..others like BIB pulling your motorbike over for a quick 500 baht.. When 1/2 the Thai's don't have licenses or even wear helmets. I was on the road the other day in a car going to Rayong and the BIB were flagging cars down....and in the last 2 weeks I have seen this happen at least 3 times....whats this about????

With all the other "quirks" of Thailand we farlangs could put up with the other BS in Thai culture. If we were allowed certain freedoms... But now the Thai government seems to be consumed at making Thailand a place you don't want to visit....

I'm seriously thinking of selling my house...Price increases, service decreases and a unfriendly attitude to farlangs is going to lead to big problems for the Thai economy soon...

For what its worth

[Fatherfluffybottom]

Girls in Laos have bigger tits and beer's much better,.

Titties and beer...................

Im with you on this one pal,,lets go!!