Wisconsin lawmakers have already indicated a willingness to raise the tax on hard liquor in order to pay for tougher drunken-driving laws.
Now, at least one Madison legislator wants to raise the tax brewers pay on a barrel of beer from $2 to $10. Rep. Terese Berceau (D-Madison) said the increase would generate almost $40 million per year that would go to law enforcement and treatment programs.
Do you support the new beer tax? Or is the cost to brewers and consumers too much to pay? Will this put smaller breweries out of business? Let us know what you think in our forum!
(30) Read All ResponsesI think its ridiculous. We don't need any more taxes. We already get taxed more than most states.
I think this is a great idea, to generate revenue. Based on the number of drunk driving arrests, and crimes where alcohol was a contributing factor, I don't think most people seem to "get it". Those apposed to this measure should point fingers at their fellow drinkers, that have cost the taxpayers millions of dollars annually. If Miller stands to profit from this, perhaps that will ensure that they will not move the brewery out of the state. This about it...
I like how the public fourm on Bender was brushed aside, At almost 550 votes the results were at 50% for keeping Bender the way it is. Somebody should share that with Mr.Bolender. Some sort of public referundum should be put on for the Bender Park issue, rather then the city council getting things passed and signed giving way to a project that proceeds over a few years to make it seem like nothing happened. For this, issue on the beer tax, i have one thing to say, Dump Doyle!
You better believe it! If they can tax smokers the way they do; why not the boozers. It might help to keep some of those drunk drivers off the road.
I dont think that raising taxes is going to make a difference. People will still drink no matter how much it costs.
Fines for drunken drivers is what should be raised to pay for enforcement of the DUI laws! It seems like the innocent always get screwed for the guilty!
Yes its about time the drinkers got hit with more taxes,whats good for the smokers is good for the drinkers.Crank it up higher,at least smokers dont cause accidents and kill people.
Have at it. I like taxes like this because I can CHOOSE not to pay them. I don't have to buy beer. I don't have to buy cigs. I don't have to buy gasoline. Just please don't tax my toilet paper.
We all know that this is just another revenue generator for Diamond Jim, and not one red cent that is collected from this will go to pay for law enforcement or treatment programs!!
I don't like the idea of smaller brewers going out of business, they're the only ones I enjoy, but all the same, beer is a luxury if you're willing to spend money on it at all, you'll be willing to spend more.
I think increasing the tax is a great idea. I am almost wondering if it should be $15.00 per barrel.
Should the beer tax be raised to pay for alcohol treatment? No! The people who need the treatment should be the ones paying for it. Same goes for the cigarette tax (I don't smoke). Sick of the extra taxes on everything. Sir-tax-alot should be dumped.
What next you gonna tax on how many peices of toilet paper we flush down the toliet. GIVE US A BREAK!!!!!!! NO MORE TAXES
If I thought for a second that the taxes collected by this would actually go to the programs mentioned, then MAYBE I'd entertain it. After all, sin-taxers have been around forever. That said, I am not naive enough to think that the revenue collected by this outlandish idea will actually go towards its intended program. This is just another way that the ever-growing government strong arms average citizens into giving up not only their money, but their freedoms as well.
This tax won't be used for law enforcement, it will just be funneled to one of Doyle's political friends or to enhance one of his social programs. We are taxed enough! Cut the waste in government spending and we'd all be rolling in dough!
Why shouldn't the beer drinkers have to join in and pay for these social programs like the cigarette smokers do!! What makes them exempt? It is very unusual for someone to smoke and kill someone with their car, but it happens everyday with people who drink and drive!!!
Surprise, Surprise another tax.
Something has to be done about irresponsible alcohol consumption and the poor judgement it leads to. It took a long time to raise public support for smoking curbs. Now it is past time to raise awareness for the damage done by alcohol consumption. If the alcohol industry won't be part of the solution then let them pay for the damage their products lead to and just maybe increased prices may convince drinkers that it isn't worth the price to drive drunk. Let the cause pay for the cure!!!
I don't support any new tax or any tax increases! To think that the new tax will reduce drunk driving is insanity. The State Government will find a way to waste it along with all the additional taxes that were increased over the past few years. Remember Clinton's 100 new cops? Did we see crime go down? Only the Government would spend $500 on a hammer or toilet seat, to think that they can use these funds wisely is a joke. Wisconsin needs legislation to make drunk driving a felony- not after the 4th or 5th time as it currently is. IF the law was changed properly, drunk driving would be measurably reduced because the drunks would be locked up. We just had a $0.75 per line phone tax added to improve 911 service. We continue to have our vehicle registration fees increased to make our roads better. Seriously? The middle class is being taxed to death ( slowly )- while the economy is in the tank, people are taking pay cuts to keep thier jobs. Our taxes should be reduced. Home values are down- did our property taxes go down? The US has spent more money bailing out corporate america than we the taxpayors can afford to pay back. When will it end? Unless we oppose all new taxes and all tax increases, we will see more unemployment and a much longer than forecasted recession. The day is coming when we will see well over half of our paychecks go to taxes- you people who say "I don't drink, so I don't care"- better think about that.
Let the person who is caught and charged with OWI pay for the added costs. If you think that this special tax is going to be segregated and put aside specifically for covering this legislation, you are sadly mistaken. This is just another money grab by the state. Don't pass a law when you have no idea how to pay for it.
The tax will not decrease the amount of drunks on the street by single person. Those people have already devoted their money to drinking. Secondly, it will hit the middle to lower class people hardest. Those who LEGALLY and RESPONSIBLY enjoy a cold one after work or at the weekend cookout will not be able to. Third, I believe the money collected is designated to be dumped into the states general fund making it impossible to actually get to the money to the programs they wish to create. Lastly, if beer is such a plague on society, ban it. Oh, Wait! They won't because then they couldn't milk the public for money like they milk the cigarette smokers.
No, I do not support the new beer tax, it will never be used for what they say it will, just like the cigartte tax. What a joke!! Why not charge the criminals more in fines? Now there is a concept.
this is a total crock. This state will do ANYTHING to garner more taxes instead of lowering spending. You know darn well the ill gotten gain would be tossed in the general fund to pay off Doyle's cronies.
I think it is ridiculous. This is just one more thing "Big Brother" wants to take over. No matter what you do, people will still drink. Do we not learn from the past? Does prohabition ring a bell? If this goes through, there will be more small businesses going out of business. We all kniow drunk driving is bad, but this will only hurt the wrong people.
mojo nixon says that, "beer aint drinkin'" and i agree. leave the beer drinkers alone. or if not, then maybe y'all better tax your coffee, too. i mean it is addictive mini-speed, right? no? don't drink any today and see how ya feel. so how many more of our personal freedoms are we gonna let these rich elitist socialists take from us, before we get in their faces and tell them we have a right to be here, and that THEY work for US. somewhere along the way, they got a tad too drunk on their power and now think that WE are THEIR SLAVES. maybe y'all should start sending tax bills to your leaders for being too drunk on the power they're bullying you with. tell em to back off. remind them that they work for you. enough is enough.
Are you kidding? This is Wisconsin. People won't let a few cents stop them from overconsuming, especially here in Cudahy. I think it's a fantastic idea, and long overdue.
Studies show raising the beer tax can have significant impact and amount youth drink. Wisconsin leads the nation in underage binge drinking. It also leads to increase in OWI's among youth, suicide, and health effects for youth. It is not shown to impact adult use of alcohol. Alcohol impacts each and everyone of us whether we wish to acknowledge its impact. It has positive impacts such as social interaction and comaraderie but it also has negative impacts such as criminal activity, decreased work productivity, and damaging relationships. Right now each one of us pays for those consequences in relation to increased need for law enforcement, increased medical costs, and increased costs to the products we buy. Those who choose to drink beer should be liable for the impact that drinking has on all of us in Wisconsin. To say that only the criminals should pay is a good point but remember that it is only a small portion that get caught for OWI's. Wisconsin leads the nation in heavy alcohol use and admitting to drinking and driving in the last month. If they raise the price a little and people start cutting back. It will save Wisconsin alot more in the long run. I support both the increase in beer and liquor tax
So, anyone who drinks beer is now guilty of contributing to those who drive drunk and should be taxed? Where is the logic in THAT? Raise the fines and start prosecuting drunk drivers instead of waiting until their 5th, 6th, 7th offense. As to smoking not killing anyone else I'm a cigar smoker, but I indulge away from others to avoid second hand smoke. Oh, and this just in: Oct. 29, 2009 1:24 p.m. | Madison — The state Senate has dropped plans to increase the liquor tax as part of a bill to stiffen drunken driving, the lead sponsor of the bill said Thursday.
Our elected officials don't mind raising taxes because they keep getting their raises while the rest of us see our incomes shrink. Look at Greenfield, all city workers will be getting raises while the citizens incomes shrink or are lost altogether. The school board raises taxes 11.4%, the mayor cuts firefighting and plice positions which could have been kept had the police and firemen taken paycuts or at least no raises instead of the council approving their raises. Who is thinking of the 35,000 citizens isntead of the few hundred employess of the city? Beer tax, county sales tax, school taxes, county wheel tax, etc... Have you had enought to think outside the box next election?
Once again the state hasn't seen a tax that they didn't want to raise. You just passed the budget a few months ago and are already talking about raising more taxes. I don't understand how you can pass a law, and then try to figure out how to pay for it later. Leave my beer alone.