Beer taxes

Lately, I've received a lot of information about increasing taxes on beer. Increasing the cost of alcohol has proven to reduce underage drinking. Lawmakers are looking at beer taxes as a way to generate revenue during these difficult economic times.

Here are some links about beer taxes:

-- The Marin Institute recently release an online alcohol tax and fee calculator to assist lawmakers looking for new revenue. According to the calculator, "The Washington beer excise tax was last changed in 1997 and has lost 25% of its value. If the tax had kept pace with inflation, instead of $0.25 per gallon, it would now be $0.35 per gallon."

-- According to JoinTogether, Senate lawmakers are looking at raising the federal tax on beer and soft drinks as part of a funding package for national healthcare reform.

-- New Jersey's National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence has launched a media and advocacy campaign that includes a proposal to increase the state's beer tax to raise money for treatment services.