Poll Results on 4 Draft Bills Changing Alcohol Tax Funding
Public hearing results on 4 draft bills proposing to shift fund subsidies from tobacco and alcohol taxes to the national budget show over 67% opposition.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Public hearing results released for 4 draft bills shifting alcohol and tobacco tax subsidies into state budget allocations.
- Proposed by Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and MP Supachai Jaismut from the Bhumjaithai Party.
- Public feedback collected from September 30 to October 14, 2026, reveals over 67% opposition across all drafts.
- Affected funds include Thai PBS, ThaiHealth, Elderly Fund, and the Sports Authority of Thailand fund.
The public hearing process for four draft acts under Section 77, which ran from September 30 through October 14, 2026, officially concluded on October 15, 2026. The core proposal involved shifting financial support and fund subsidies—traditionally sourced from excise taxes on alcohol and tobacco—into regular state budget expenditures. These legislative drafts were put forward by Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, in his capacity as leader of the Bhumjaithai Party, alongside list MP Supachai Jaismut.
Reviewing the feedback gathered from citizens, all four draft bills faced strong rejection, with opposition rates exceeding 60% across the board. The specific voting statistics for each draft bill are as follows:
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Thai Public Broadcasting Service (Thai PBS) Draft Act: Recorded 300,714 views and 124,593 votes cast (a 41% voting rate), with 72.42% voting against and 27.18% voting in favor.
- Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth) Draft Act: Recorded 118,479 views and 85,727 votes cast (a 72% voting rate), showing a notable 89.47% opposition rate and only 9.32% support.
- Elderly Fund Draft Act: Recorded 28,953 views and 17,327 votes cast (a 60% voting rate), with 73.11% against and 26.66% in favor.
- Sports Authority of Thailand (Sports Development Fund) Draft Act: Recorded 25,399 views and 15,546 votes cast (a 61% voting rate), featuring 67.88% against and 31.85% in favor.
Transitioning dedicated revenue streams—such as sin taxes allocated directly to agencies like ThaiHealth and Thai PBS—into standard government budget allocations has long been a subject of intense debate in Thailand. These independent funding models were originally designed to protect public health and media operations from political shifts and annual budget fluctuations. The overwhelming opposition seen in these survey results highlights public concern regarding the long-term financial autonomy and operational capacity of these vital public sectors. Observers will be closely watching how lawmakers address these public sentiments as the legislative process moves forward.
Source: Khaosod Politics
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