AS SEEN IN THE SACRAMENTO BEE, APRIL 11, 2008

A CALIFORNIA STATE LAWMAKER IS PROPOSING AN ADDED TAX ON BEER, AT THE RATE OF 30 CENTS PER 12 OZ. CAN OR BOTTLE, TO PAY FOR HEALTH CARE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT COSTS ASSEMBLYMAN JIM BEALL HAS LINKED TO ALCOHOL USE.

BEALL SAYS TAXING BEER AT THE RATE OF TWO DOLLARS AND EIGHTY CENTS PER GALLON WOULD ADD TWO BILLION DOLLARS ANNUALLY TO THE STATE TREASURY. BEALL DEFENDS TAXING BEER SAYING IT IS THE TYPICAL ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE OF CHOICE FOR UNDER-AGE DRINKERS, AND BECAUSE UNDERAGE DRINKERS ARE MOST LIKELY TO BE PROBLEM DRINKERS LATER IN LIFE.

BEALL SAYS ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION COSTS THE STATE 36 BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR IN INCREASED HEALTH CARE COSTS, LOSS OF PRODUCTIVITY AND VEHICLE CRASHES. BEALL IS PROPOSING THE TAX BE LEVIED AS A STATE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, WHICH REQUIRES A TWO-THIRDS VOTE OF BOTH HOUSES OF THE LEGISLATURE AND VOTER APPROVAL BEFORE IT BECOMES ENACTED.

EDITOR’S NOTE:
THERE ARE NO PLANS FOR TAXING OTHER ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES YET, JUST BEER, BUT IF THIS PASSES AND SETS A PRECEDENT, YOU CAN BET THEY WILL TAX ALL THE OTHERS SOON ENOUGH. GASOLINE TAXES, BY COMPARISON, ARE AROUND 40 CENTS A GALLON.