Wisc. Alcohol Taxes Get Mixed Reception

Proposals to raise beer and liquor taxes in Wisconsin — partly to pay for alcohol treatment and anti-drunk-driving programs — drew big crowds to the state capital, but the response from lawmakers was less than enthusiastic.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Oct. 13 that while the liquor-tax proposal has garnered support in the state Senate, the Assembly has been cool to the idea of raising either the beer or the liquor tax. A hearing on using higher beer taxes to pay for treatment drew lawmakers and supporters but also alcohol brewers and other opponents.

Beer-tax sponsor Rep. Terese Berceau said it would be a tough fight to get the measure passed but said the proposal was gathering steam. Her bill would raise the state beer tax from $2 per barrel to $10 and use the anticipated $39.6 million in new revenues for addiction treatment and anti-DWI projects. “This won’t affect the average beer drinker all that much,” Berceau said. “There would be less than three pennies on that (bottle of) beer.”

Brewers contend the cost to consumers would be $3 per case because wholesalers and retailers would raise their prices. They also claim higher taxes would cost jobs by curtailing consumption.

A plan to raise liquor taxes to pay for drunk-driving prevention has passed a Senate committee and now faces a Senate floor vote. An assembly measure on drunk driving doesn’t include the tax, however.