Excise Department sues 12,000 contraband dealers during Oct and Jan

BANGKOK, 5 February 2016 (NNT) – The Excise Department has taken legal action against more than 12,000 contraband dealers over the past four months.

Mr. Somchai Poonsawat, Director General of the Excise Department reported that the department had between October last year and January this year prosecuted 8,800 liquor traffickers and 4,100 tobacco traffickers. Both groups faced fines totaling over 30 and 85 million baht respectively.

Mr. Somchai disclosed that relevant departments had been instructed to tighten their control of alcohol sales and licensing. A working group has also been appointed to prevent alcohol sales being made around school zones in response to an order from the National Council for Peace and Order.

The Excise Department chief added that local offices were stepping up their survey at different outlets during the Chinese New Year, as the demand for alcoholic drinks normally surges, leading to the likelihood of illegal liquor sales.


-- NNT 2016-02-05

Mr. Somchai disclosed that relevant departments had been instructed to tighten their control of alcohol sales and licensing. A working group has also been appointed to prevent alcohol sales being made around school zones in response to an order from the National Council for Peace and Order.

So this law about alcohol sales near to schools hasn't gone away or been abandoned.

There was an article linked on this forum a month or two ago about a wine bar / restaurant closing in Hua Hin, it was right next to a school. I drove past it earlier this week and saw that it's now 'For Rent' and has closed.

Contraband is defined as anything the government heavily taxes.

Lawful stuff is anything fake like a Rolex watch that the BiB can tax.

I wish they would stop making the place boring, and just begin to enforce the laws that exist