Alcohol Justice

Alcohol Justice's Charge for Harm campaign aims to hold Big Alcohol accountable for the tremendous harm its products cause. Appropriately taxing alcohol in each state and at the federal level will help reduce over-consumption, as well as provide much-needed funds for prevention and health care. Alcohol Justice highlights the various efforts states are engaged in to increase taxes and fees. To see our report on States that Charge for Harm, click here.

Alcohol Justice has published an interactive colored-coded map that provides state by state data on beer taxes and illustrates the gross negligence of state policymakers. Click here to see how your state fared in our analysis.

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Latest News

• Arizona state initiative proposes new alcohol tax (January 2012)
• New Cook County budget with alcohol tax hike approved (November 2011)
• Texas: Lawmakers Pass Bill Requiring More Alcohol Data (April 2011)
• Maryland: Alcohol Tax Critics Argue Fewer Sales Leading to Job Cuts (March 2011)
• Pro & Con: Should Legislature Allow Atlanta to Raise Liquor Taxes? (March 2011)

Research and Resources

• Alcohol Tax Scenarios to Address the Fiscal Cliff (November 2012)
• In the Red: Alcohol Revenue and State Budgets(November 2009)
• Inflation-Adjusted Alcohol Taxes Since 1969 (California & U.S.) (November 2009)
• States That Charge for Harm (October 2009)
• Marin Institute on Taxes for NPN Conference (September 2009)
• Bill Ponicki on Taxes for NPN Conference (September 2009)
• Judy Cushing on Taxes for NPN Conference (September 2009)
• Increasing Alcohol Taxes -- Myth v. Reality(September 2009)
• Raising Alcohol Taxes Reduces Harm (September 2009)
• Briefing Paper on Alcohol Excise Taxes (NCSL) (September 2009)
• Alcohol Taxes: The European Model Works (January 2009)
• An Interview with Philip J. Cook (July 2008)
• Preventing Excessive Alcohol Use: Increasing Alcohol Taxes (June 2007)
• Increasing Alcohol Taxes (Center for Science in the Public Interest)

• Wine Industry Opposed to Local Tax Option (May 2011)
• California: BOE Institutes New Wine Regulation (February 2011)
• Marin Institute Calls for Alcohol Tax Increase in California (January 2011)
• Mayor Gavin Newsom Vetoes SF Charge for Harm Fee (September 2010)
• San Francisco Supes Pass Alcohol Fee; Mayor Vows Veto (September 2010)
• San Francisco Alcohol Cost Recovery Fee Passes (September 2010)

Connecticut

• Restaurateurs Adamant Against Alcohol Tax Increase (April 2011)
• Liquor Tax Lives, Soda Levy Dies (February 2011)
• Bill to Increase Taxes on Soda, Alcohol Sparks Vigorous Debate (February 2011)

• Iowa: Fee Hike Surprises Liquor Retailers (January 2011)

• Meeting on New Liquor Tax Set in Champaign (June 2011)
• Buck a Pack Cig Tax Proposed (March 2011)
• Illinois Appellate Court Throws Out Liquor Taxes To Fund Construction (January 2011)

• Substance Abuse Commission: A Blueprint for Change in Maine (January 2010)

• Maryland estimates an extra $6 million raised in July by alcohol tax increase (September 2011) 
• Maryland Governor Signs New Alcohol Tax (May 2011)
• Maryland Assembly Approves Alcohol Tax Increase, School Funding (April 2011)
• Trade Groups Urge Busch to Reject Maryland Alcohol Tax (April 2011)
• Maryland Senate Approves Alcohol Tax Increase (March 2011)
• Alcohol Tax Increase Advances to Full Senate (March 2011)

• Alcohol Tax Rollback Reveals High Price of Savings (January 2011)
• Substance Abuse Funding After Ballot Question 1 (November 2010)

• Michigan: Beer tax increase would cut property taxes (August 2012)
• Michigan liquor taxes cut: Rick Snyder signs bills affecting retailers (October 2011)

New Mexico

• Human and Economic Cost of Alcohol Abuse in New Mexico (November 2009)

• Oregon Looks at Extending Liquor Surcharge (March 2011)
• Oregon Legislature Unlikely to Increase Beer and Wine Tax (February 2011)

International News

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