Govt urged to raise tobacco taxes
An anti-smoking network urged the government to raise tobacco taxes and the special tax on cigarettes.
In a statement released today, its chairman Somsri Paosawat said that tax hikes should work effectively in lowering tobacco consumption.
The statement countered a proposal by Thailand Tobacco Monopoly's executive that the junta put an end on contribution from cigarette sales to a health fund. The executive also said that TTM would then generate more revenue through cigarette exports.
Somsri noted that the government earns no tax from uncured tobacco sales but it has to finance medical bills of the smokers, who are mostly poor. The network estimated that about 6 million Thais smoke uncured tobacco.
Meanwhile, the special tax on cigarettes should be raised from Bt1 a gramme to Bt1.5-Bt2.
"Through these means, tobacco consumption will drop," said Somsri. She opposed the planned exports, saying that it would tarnish the image of TTM which is owned by the Thai government.
