Bangkok--24 Jul--124 Communications Consulting
Small retailers in Pattaya and members of the Thai Tobacco Trade Association (TTTA) are voicing their opposition to the draft Tobacco Consumption Control Act (TCCA), which is being pushed by anti-tobacco activists, who have said that they will propose the bill to the National Committee for Peace and Order (NCPO). Retailers in Pattaya are heavily concerned by the excessive regulations put forth in the bill and the extreme burdens it will impose on small businesses, including the over 870,000 shops across the country licensed to sell tobacco.
An owner of a mom-and-pop shop in South Pattaya said, “I have been following the news about the tobacco control bill and heard that public health NGO groups are trying to propose the bill to the NCPO. Retailers like us are worried because the new regulations will severely impact our sales and lower our income. For example, the law will limit where and how tobacco can be sold, ban us from selling single cigarettes to our customers who do not want to buy a whole pack and force us to submit costly and complicated annual reports to the government. We have been already facing pressure from the economic troubles and the drop in tourists. This law would only make things worse for us.”
According to the data from TTTA, the tobacco industry in Chonburi-Pattaya is worth over 600 million baht monthly. Thai tobacco products dominate the market, accounting for about 80%, while the rest goes to imported brands from overseas and neighbouring countries. More than 60% of the retail trade in Pattaya is done by small retailers, demonstrating that small mom-and-pop shops are a key part of the local economy, particularly in areas of the region where tourists visit and foreigners live. Research reveals that cigarettes rank in the top 10 products for traditional retailers and help drive sales of other products in small shops. The TCCA would threaten the livelihoods of these retailers.
“Our Association has been voicing its concerns to the government about how the draft law would impact retailers and TTTA members. The bill would restrict the rights and business freedoms of retailers and add more costs to shop owners. The Association believes that the current laws on tobacco control are already strict enough and the government should focus on education and enforcing the existing laws, not creating more laws,” Mrs. Varaporn Namatra, Thai Tobacco Trade Association (TTTA) Executive Director, commented.