In order to fight alcoholism among Thailand’s youth, the country will increase tax on all types of alcohol in the fiscal year 2023. However, since also non-alcoholic beer will be taxed, the reasoning seems to be used only as an excuse.
Thailand’s Excise Department Director-General Ekniti Nitithanprapas said yesterday that the department is considering raising tax on six products in fiscal 2023 – namely bio-jet-fuel, bioplastics, electric vehicle batteries, non-alcoholic booze and beer, electric cigarettes and carbon.
“The department has a strategy to drive the economy with excise tax under the environmental, social and governance (ESG) principle,” Ekniti said. And he added that the “principle is to collect less tax or not collect any taxes for environmentally friendly products and services, while taxing products and services that are not in line with ESG principles.”
