Huge Alcohol Tax in Maine Proposed to Decrease Domestic Violence
There is a bill that could raise taxes on alcohol significantly to try and cut the rate of domestic violence and suicide.
Democrat Rep. Barbara Cardone from Bangor is the sponsor and says according to Fox22 Bangor, that scientific research published in Scientific American has found an increase in the alcohol tax decreases violent assault and gun suicides.
But according to the Heartland Institute, taxes on booze are 'sin' taxes and shouldn't be used to control people's behavior and...
,,,there is little evidence that an increased tax on alcohol would reduce the number of suicides and domestic violence incidents in Maine.
Plus, taxes are higher on cheaper alcohol, which means lower income people would be hit the hardest. People with higher incomes buy more alcohol, but they buy more expensive alcohol that isn't taxed as much.
The increases are pretty substantial...as high as 67%. Heartland Institute broke down the increases:
If passed into law, the bill would raise the excise tax on malt liquor from $0.35 to $0.50 per gallon. The tax on low-alcohol spirits and fortified wine would increase from $1.24 to $1.50 per gallon. Taxes on wine (other than sparkling wine) would increase from $0.60 per gallon to $1 per gallon. The taxes on sparkling wine would increase from $1.24 to $1.50 a gallon, and the tax on hard cider would rise from $0.35 to $0.50 per gallon. The state’s excise tax on distilled spirits would also increase, from $1.25 to $1.50 per proof gallon.
According to Fox22 Bangor, Rep. Cardone said there hasn't been an increase in several years. She said that because of 'scientific proof of the link between an increase in the alcohol tax and the decrease in violent assaults and gun suicides, we owe it to Maine residents to look at an alcohol tax increase,'
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