Cigarette tax goes up
PHUKET: A proposal by the Excise Department to increase cigarette tax from 75% to 79% of the factory price was approved by the Cabinet yesterday and came into effect today.
Thai brand cigarette prices rose by 5 or 6 baht a pack, while foreign brands rose by 7 or 8 baht. Under Thai law, tax on cigarettes may not exceed 80% of the factory price.
The Phuket Excise Office said that the price of cigarettes in the province will not rise until old stock is sold out, but the Gazette has learned that several local retailers have already implemented the rises.
