NIDA Poll: higher tax for booze and cigarettes
As the new excise tax rates on alcoholic beverages and cigarettes are in force on Sept 16, a poll released by the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA) says the majority of people it asked agreed to the tax increase.
Most respondents, however, viewed that the higher tax rates could not stop people from drinking and smoking.
NIDA Poll conducted a survey of the increased tax rates from Sept 11-12.
A total of 1,250 samples over 20 years old were asked about the new excise tax rates on alcoholic beverages and cigarettes.
The result showed that 39.92% agreed to the new tax rates, while 20.88% disagreed.
Almost 70% of the respondents were concerned that the new tax rates will lead prices of other products to increase, while 18.08% believed prices will remain unchanged.
Most respondents (45.20%) said the tax increase could not help to lower the number of consumers, while 27.92% saw it could slightly reduce the number of consumers, and 16.64% said it could greatly reduce the number of consumers.
On the impact of the new tax rate on the business operator, 34.40% view that it will cause no impact on the business sector, while 12.80% saw the new tax rate will greatly affect businesses such as food shops, night entertainment venues, and consumers.
Source: Thai PBS
