San Francisco Charge for Harm Campaign

The Groundbreaking San Francisco Charge for Harm Bill

This innovative bill was the first of its kind in California. In June 2010, Supervisor John Avalos introduced the Alcohol Cost Recovery Fee Ordinance, which was co-sponsored by Supervisors Maxwell and Mirkarimi.

Supported by a nexus study, ‘The Cost of Alcohol to San Francisco,’ the ordinance proposed charging alcohol wholesalers and others for some of the unreimbursed alcohol-related costs incurred by San Francisco government agencies, including alcohol treatment medical transport and health care.

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors passed the fee ordinance in September 2010 with a vote of 6-3. A few hours after its passage, however, Mayor Gavin Newsom vetoed the measure. Without the eight votes needed to override a mayoral veto, the Charge for Harm proposal was dead.