Smokers and drinkers to discover higher cost of vice when new tax levied tomorrow

The mysterious new tax on alcohol and cigarettes will start to be applied tomorrow — but no one has any idea how much it’s going to be.

As Coconuts reported, that’s not because the government is trying to be mysterious, but simply because, even as of 10 days ago, they had not finished drafting the law.

Some people are guessing the price will double while at least one health expert fears that a very high tax will force booze enthusiasts on a budget to switch to harsh, cheap local liquor over beer and wine.

Government spokesperson Sansern Kaewkamnert refused to comment on the tax, reported Sanook.

A video report on the subject by Spring News says that the tax on cigarettes will jump from THB3 (about 9 cents US) per smoke to THB5 (15 cents). That would mean a pack will jump up in price by THB40 (US$1.2).

The Thai video report says that bottles of booze will have a tax increase of THB152 (US$4.6) per bottle, jumping from THB160 to THB312 (US$9.4).

But the real sticker shock might come from the price of wine. Taxes per bottle might jump from THB225 (US$6.8) to THB1,400 (US$42) — and that’s not including the actual cost of the product, just the tax.

However, it’s not clear where Spring got these numbers or if it’s simply a prediction. While scary, we don’t know if it’s reliable.

We’ll just have to wait and see tomorrow what the Thai government has come up with this time.

Learn all that we know about the new law here.