I really never intended to bring politics into this blog, but today I feel it must be done. The state of Maryland legislature is considering a bill (linked here), called The Lorraine Sheehan Health and Community Services Act of 2010. This bill proposes MASSIVE increases in the state’s alchohol tax. First, increasing any tax in these difficult economic times makes no sense. But, even more amazing is how the purpose of the bill is hidden by the title. The bill proposes to increase the tax on beer from the current 9 cents a gallon tax to $1.16 a gallon tax, a whopping 12 fold increase! The tax is applied at the level of the brewery or importer into the state. This is important because this is before the distributor and retailer markups are applied to the product, making the increase even worse.
Basically any (or at least any micro-brew) six pack price will jump from whatever it’s current price in your favorite liquor store to over a $1.10 more. So if your six pack costs $7.99, after this tax it will cost $ 9.19!!! Just as a side note, a 750ml bottle of wine will jump around $1.05 and a liter bottle of vodka will go up over $4 a bottle. A pint of beer at your favorite restaurant, will go up $.60 to $.70 a glass, and possibly more. And remember, this is all before the sales tax (which they increase 20% already).
I urge you to contact your local representative and tell them to not vote for this bill. And please pass this on to anyone you know, we need all the support we can muster to stop this.
Again, I hate making this political, but the damage this bill would do to the craft brewing industry in Maryland would be beyond repair, not to mention our wallets as every alcohol we consume would cost tremendously more. Here a link to a facebook group page you are welcome to join.
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Says:
Dave —
Here’s a draft of an email that I will be sending to all three of my District 32 members of the Maryland House of Delegates as well as my State Senator this week:
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Dear Delegate/Senator _________:
I urge you to oppose House Bill 832 and its companion Senate Bill 717 entitled “The Lorraine Sheehan Health and Community Services Act of 2010.”
The proposed very large tax increases on beer, wine, and spirits in the State of Maryland are extremely onerous, unfair and a very short-sighted huge burden on the entire hospitality industry in our state as well as on the local retail distributors. In the case of beer, the proposed increase from 9 cents/gallon to $1.16/gallon is a whopping twelve-fold increase. The proposed tax increases on wine and spirits are similarly draconian.
We are all very painfully aware every day that these are very, very difficult economic times. Many of us also realize that these are similarly difficult economic times for our state and the budget that you – our elected legislators – are trying to put together responsibly.
The “sin taxes” (on those old, reliable standbys beer, wine, liquor, and tobacco) have almost always been a favorite target of the less creative, thoughtful, and responsible politicians. Dare I say lazy and unimaginative? Yes, I do. Such simple and easy “targets” are not the answer to Maryland’s economic woes. You all know that. The damage that such tax increases would do to the huge hospitality and retail liquor industries, the jobs, and in turn the whole of the Maryland economy would be appalingly destructive – especially in these times when many in the industries are in “frail” economic straits already.
The easy and simplistic “sin tax” increases are not the way to go – especially not now.
Thus, I urge you and your colleagues from District 32 and throughout the House of Delegates and the State Senate to vote against these two companion bills.
I appreciate your attention to this issue on behalf of myself and all your constituents.
Sincerely,
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We went through this the last two years with the proposed 300%+ “S-CHIP” tax increase on cigars and cigarettes. As I point out in the email/letter: The “sin taxes” have always been the first easy target for basically lazy, inept, and irresponsible politicians. We – and they – can and must do better than that.
Cheers, mate!
March 17th, 2010 at 1:22 amWordsMyth
Says:
Horrified tha you guys actually franchised a location that can not fill the growlers up (BWI)! I mean yeah I can get a fresh Venom when Im off the plain (for 7 bucks and they said **edited** your pint club card!) but dammit the first thing I want to do when Im off the plane is fill up my 6 ro 7 growlers that are stashed in my car! Tell the people running that place to get a freaking liquor license that allows you to carry booze away.
March 20th, 2010 at 5:04 pm