Post by Logan on Feb 18, 2016 4:39:45 GMT -6
Brewers, bar owners, restaurant owners, distillers, bartenders and distributors showed a popular front Tuesday as the Alaska Senate’s Labor and Commerce Committee took public testimony on a bill to double the state’s alcohol taxes.
The increase would make Alaska’s alcohol taxes the highest in the United States.
“I know the state’s in a fiscal situation and we’ve got to pull together, but … if you’re a drinker of alcohol, you’ve got to pull a little harder, it seems like,” said Jack Manning, owner of Juneau’s Duck Creek Market and president of the Juneau Cabaret, Hotel, Restaurant and Retailers Association.
The bill is one of three that raise consumption taxes as part of Gov. Bill Walker’s comprehensive budget plan. To eliminate the state’s $3.7 billion annual deficit, the governor has proposed raising three consumption taxes (tobacco, alcohol and fuel), raising three business taxes (mining, fishing and cruise ship tourism) and making three large-scale changes (oil and gas tax credits, income tax and Permanent Fund investment spending).
Senate Bill 131 calls for increasing the tax on a “drink” (defined by 1 ounce of liquor, 5 ounces of wine or 12 ounces of beer) from 10 cents to 20 cents.
Read more: juneauempire.com/state/2016-02-17/states-alcohol-industry-moves-against-tax-hike
The increase would make Alaska’s alcohol taxes the highest in the United States.
“I know the state’s in a fiscal situation and we’ve got to pull together, but … if you’re a drinker of alcohol, you’ve got to pull a little harder, it seems like,” said Jack Manning, owner of Juneau’s Duck Creek Market and president of the Juneau Cabaret, Hotel, Restaurant and Retailers Association.
The bill is one of three that raise consumption taxes as part of Gov. Bill Walker’s comprehensive budget plan. To eliminate the state’s $3.7 billion annual deficit, the governor has proposed raising three consumption taxes (tobacco, alcohol and fuel), raising three business taxes (mining, fishing and cruise ship tourism) and making three large-scale changes (oil and gas tax credits, income tax and Permanent Fund investment spending).
Senate Bill 131 calls for increasing the tax on a “drink” (defined by 1 ounce of liquor, 5 ounces of wine or 12 ounces of beer) from 10 cents to 20 cents.
Read more: juneauempire.com/state/2016-02-17/states-alcohol-industry-moves-against-tax-hike