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I am an Oregonian and yes, I like beer, especially beer brewed in Oregon.  I am outraged by the proposed beer tax increase.  It is crazy to impose such an enormous (1900%) tax increase on any business especially in this economy.  Oregon's craft brewing industry is something we Oregonians should be proud of and something our State lawmakers should continue to support.  

Before wildly increasing beer taxes, I'd  like to know what the State does with the 150 million plus dollars they currently collect from the breweries, wineries and spirits?    Another question, why should brewers be responsible for funding substance abuse programs that treat prescription drug abusers, gasoline huffers, meth users and other drugs abusers? 

It is no myth or "claim" that the 15 cent a beer will result in a $1.50 per pint, it is the truth.  The proposed tax is at the brewery level.  How could you expect any business to absorb a 1900% increase.  Any business would have to increase the price of their product .  It is no secret that breweries don't control price after the beer leaves their brewery.  By law, the brewery sells to a distributor,  the distributors sells to retail at a markup , retail sells to consumer at yet another mark up.  Each link in the chain needs to make some profit to cover the cost of operations.  That is not a sin, that is how it works in the real world.  

Let's not strangle one of the few industries in Oregon that is homegrown, provides family waged jobs and brings tourists dollars into our state.  Face it, this tax will not solve Oregonian's problems it will only add to them.   If Oregon is in such bad shape maybe it's time we look at an overhaul of our taxing structure and yes, a sales tax and yes, an increase in the corporate tax.

posted 4 years, 2 months ago
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