Prosecution isn't on the table and neither is single payer, but this is:

http://finance.senate.gov/sitepages/leg/LEG%202009/051809%20Health%20Care%20Description%20of%20Policy%20Options.pdf

Page 33 - alcohol excise tax. This would put a serious damper in the beer business. :yoiks: :banghead:

:nopity:

.....to having taxes increased on anything they do that the health Nazi's consider sinful.

Correct me if I'm wrong but wasn't this country founded by people who didn't want to pay bullshit taxes? It's the American way, damn it!

Except, maybe, a serious lack of beer. Come on, stop the knee-jerk stuff. A six of decent beer already costs about $8.00. A thirty-pack of Busch Lite costs about the same, I think. Neither the connoisseur nor the 30-packer is going to stop buying beer because there is an extra 50 cent tax on it. Get real.

.

SECTION IV: Lifestyle Related Revenue Raisers

Impose a Uniform Alcohol Excise Tax

Current Law

An excise tax is imposed on all distilled spirits, wine, and beer produced in, or imported into, the
United States.54 The tax liability legally comes into existence the moment the alcohol is
produced or imported but payment of the tax is not required until a subsequent withdrawal or
removal from the distillery, winery, brewery, or, in the case of an imported product, from
customs custody or bond.55

Both the tax rates and the volumetric measures on which the taxes are imposed differ depending
on the type of beverage. Taxes are lower on the alcohol content of beer and still wines than on
the alcohol content of distilled spirits and naturally sparkling wines.

Distilled spirits, wine, and beer produced or imported into the United States are taxed at the
following rates per specified volumetric measure:

Item Current Tax Rate
Distilled Spirits: $13.50 per proof gallon

Wine
Still Wines:
Not more than 14 percent alcohol $1.07 per wine gallon
More than 14 percent but not more than 21 percent alcohol $1.57 per wine gallon
More than 21 percent but not more than 24 percent alcohol $3.15 per wine gallon
More than 24 percent alcohol Taxed as distilled spirits59 ($13.50 per proof gallon)


Hard apple cider: $0.226 per wine gallon

Sparkling Wines --
Champagne and other naturally sparkling wines $3.40 per wine gallon
Artificially carbonated wines $3.30 per wine gallon



Beer $18.00 per barrel61

On a per ounce basis, distilled spirits are taxed at roughly 21 cents per ounce of alcohol, still
wines at 8 cents per ounce of alcohol (assuming an average alcohol content of 11 percent), and
beer at 10 cents per ounce of alcohol (assuming an average alcohol content of 4.5 percent).

Proposed Option

This policy option contemplates imposing a uniform tax based on the alcohol content contained
in the product. The excise tax under the proposal is imposed at a rate of $16 per proof gallon on
all alcoholic beverages.62

As under present law, domestic wineries having aggregate annual production not exceeding
250,000 gallons would be entitled to a tax credit on the first 100,000 gallons of wine (other than

56
A “proof gallon” is a U.S. liquid gallon of proof spirits, or the alcoholic equivalent thereof. Generally a
proof gallon is a U.S. liquid gallon consisting of 50 percent alcohol. On lesser quantities, the tax is paid
proportionately. Credits are allowed for wine content and flavors content of distilled spirits. Sec. 5010.
57
Small domestic wine producers (i.e., those producing not more than 250,000 wine gallons in a calendar
year) are allowed a credit of $0.90 per wine gallon ($0.056 per wine gallon in the case of hard cider) on the first
100,000 wine gallons (other than champagne and other sparkling wines) removed. The credit is reduced by one
percent for each 1,000 wine gallons produced in excess of 150,000 wine gallons per calendar year.
58
A “wine gallon” is a U.S. gallon of liquid measure equivalent to the volume of 231 cubic inches. On
lesser quantities, the tax is paid proportionately.
59
Sec. 5001(a)(4).
60
A small domestic brewer (one who produces not more than 2 million barrels in a calendar year) is
subject to a per barrel rate of $7.00 on the first 60,000 barrels produced in that year.
61
A “barrel” contains not more than 31 gallons, each gallon equivalent to the volume of 231 cubic inches.
On lesser quantities, the tax is paid proportionately.
62
Because the rate of tax will not depend on the source of the alcohol, the section 5010 credit based on
wine content and flavors content of distilled spirits is not necessary and would be eliminated under the proposal.

they're looking for new targets. After the alcohol comes the chocolate, then the coffee.

Yes, indeed. Non-smokers can now join in on the fun. Forgive me if I chuckle a little...

homemade beer is better

on malt, hops and yeast!

on malt, hops and yeast!

Small businesses get RAPED (for lack of a better word) on taxes. Imagine the level that breweries will get taxed if this thing passes.

1)Increase vice taxes
2)Increase fees for Auto, Home, Utility
3)Don't ever increase income tax