Taipei City Government

The Taipei City Government's Department of Finance (DOF), in an effort to protect public health, has actively cracked down on illegal tobacco and alcohol products. As of November 30, 2024, a total of 133 cases of violations of the Tobacco and Alcohol Administration Act have been investigated, resulting in fines around 3.02 million NTD. A total of 4,348 packs of cigarettes and 672 liters of alcohol have been seized. In addition, DOF conducted random inspection of 1,106 places, which includes manufacturer, importer, wholesale and retailer, effectively preventing the illegal tobacco and alcohol products into the market.

Commissioner Hu, Hsiao-Lan of the DOF, stated that DOF is responsible for administrating tobacco and alcohol in Taipei City, as well as investigating illegal and substandard tobacco and alcohol products. In addition to conducting random inspections throughout the year, DOF also carries out special enforcement before major cultural holidays such as the Chinese New Year and Dragon Boat Festival. These efforts are aimed at protecting the rights of legal tobacco and alcohol business and ensuring public health.

DOF reminds the public that with the rise of new types of tobacco products in recent years, all tobacco products must undergo a health risk assessment and review by the central government before they can be manufactured or imported. Only after passing this review can the products be legally produced, imported, and sold. In 2024, DOF has uncovered several cases of illicit tobacco sales, that smuggling groups have smuggled heated tobacco products by splitting them into smaller quantities and combining them with unsuspecting travelers who bring them into the country from aboard for resale. DOF urges the public not to assist in purchasing from aboard or buying tobacco products that have not been legally imported.

Additionally, a recent incident involving a bar in Taipei City organizing a time-limited, high-volume drinking event led to a death due to suspected alcohol poisoning. In response, DOF not only imposed fines on the bar operator but also emphasized that, under Article 37 of the Tobacco and Alcohol Administration Act, alcohol advertising and promotions are prohibited from encouraging or promoting drinking behavior. DOF has strengthened guidance for bar operators in Taipei City, advising them to avoid organizing such marketing events to prevent similar incidents in the future. DOF also reminds the public to drink responsibly to protect their health.

Lastly, DOF encourages the public to actively participate in combating illegal activities. If the public discovers any violations of the Tobacco and Alcohol Administration Act, they can report it by calling the citizen service hotline at 1999, extension 6294, or through the mailbox at prosecute01@gov.taipei. If the case is verified as involving illegal tobacco or alcohol, the informant will be eligible for a reward, which is 20% of the total amount of fines and the proceeds from the forfeited goods. The reward for each case can be as high as 6 million NTD.