Thai Commerce Min tightens control on liquor, tobacco prices after tax hike

[webfact]

Commerce Min tightens control on liquor, tobacco prices after tax hike

 

NONTHABURI, 21 September 2017 (NNT) – The Ministry of Commerce is undertaking stringent inspections on liquor and cigarette prices after new excise tax rates came into effect in a bid to protect consumers from unscrupulous vendors. 

Deputy Commerce Minister Sontirat Sontijirawong led officials from the Department of Internal Trade on a visit to wholesale and retail outlets in Nonthaburi province in order to check on their pricing of alcohol and tobacco products. The inspection was aimed to deter price gouging on the items following the excise tax increase on September 16. 

The Deputy Minister admitted that two days prior to the tax hike, there were reports of store closures, leading to suspicion whether the closures were attempts to reserve the products for sale after prices went up. This has prompted the Commerce Ministry to begin the nationwide examination of alcohol and cigarette prices. Authorities have been instructed to ensure that prices of products put on shelves before the tax increase remain unchanged. 

Vendors found guilty of overpricing or refusal of sale will be subject to a jail term of no more than seven years or a fine not exceeding 140,000 baht or both. Suspicious operators can be reported to the Department of Internal Trade via Hotline 1569.

 

-- nnt 2017-09-21

[yellowboat]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Vendors found guilty of overpricing or refusal of sale will be subject to a jail term of no more than seven years or a fine not exceeding 140,000 baht or both.

Overpricing is one thing, but closing your shop to go fishing one or two days is not a crime.  It could be something one might confess to clergy at some time, but it is not unlawful unless the law is whatever the government says it is. 

[natway09]

Another load of publicity rubbish.

Hoarding is rife although I laugh a little as the increase is much smaller than the media 

made it out to be & i know some that will take 6 months to clear their hoarded inventory

[dinsdale]

Bt140,000 X every (or almost every) mum and pop shop who put their prices up immediately, (which would have to be old stock) should just about pay for those subs. Happens every time. I'm still buying cigs at 711 and beer at CJ Express where the prices still haven't gone up.