Taiwan Tobacco and Liquor
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Taiwan Tobacco and Liquor Corp (TTL; 台灣菸酒公司) is a state-owned manufacturer and distributor of cigarettes and alcohol in Taiwan, Republic of China.
TTL was established as a government agency during Japanese colonial rule, and was renamed the Taiwan Tobacco and Wine Monopoly Bureau (菸酒公賣局) in 1947. Between 1947 and 1968, it enjoyed a monopoly over all alcohol, tobacco, and camphor products. It retained its tobacco and alcohol monopolies until Taiwan joined the WTO in 2002.
Its most famous product is Taiwan Beer, which until market liberalization in 1987 held a market share of more than 99 percent. In 2006, its market share was around 50 percent.
Observers agree that TTL will be privatized eventually, but as of January 2007, no timetable had been set.
