Minnesota Lawmakers Consider Charging for Harm
Members of the Minnesota House of Representatives are considering a bill that would raise taxes on alcohol, and increase funding to mitigate costs related to countering alcohol harm. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Karen Clark (DFL - Minneapolis) and Rep. Tina Liebling (DFL - Rochester), would raise the state tax rate by 3.5 cents a glass on beer, 4 cents a glass on wine, and 10 cents a glass on spirits. Money generated by the tax would go into an "Alcohol Health and Judicial Impact Fund," with half the money dedicated to judicial and public safety costs, and the other half to chemical dependency treatment. Raising taxes on alcohol is one of the most effective ways to reduce the amount of alcohol-related harm in communities. It is also helps the economy by providing revenue for government programs that are necessary to mitigate alcohol-related harm. Read more about Alcohol Justice's Charge for Harm campaign here.