No Drink Tax

WASHINGTON – Today the American Beverage Institute (ABI), which represents over 185 restaurants in Illinois, denounced Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle’s proposal to hike alcohol taxes. Under the budget proposal, the tax on beer and wine would rise by 50 percent and the tax on liquor would rise by 25 percent.

Last night, the Maryland General Assembly voted to increase the sales tax on alcohol by 3 percent. Today, the American Beverage Institute, a restaurant trade association representing over 130 Maryland restaurants, announced its disappointment with this decision. The following statement may be attributed to Sarah Longwell, Managing Director of the American Beverage Institute:

WASHINGTON – Today, the American Beverage Institute (ABI), which represents over 130 Maryland restaurants, ran full-page advertisements in the Baltimore Sun and Annapolis Capital encouraging Marylanders to contact their legislators and demand that they reject the alcohol tax increase currently being considered by the General Assembly.

WASHINGTON – Today the American Beverage Institute (ABI), which represents over 130 restaurants in Maryland, denounced legislation that seeks to dramatically hike Maryland’s tax on alcohol. S.B. 168 is being heard today in the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee at 1:00pm. Increasing alcohol taxes costs jobs and disproportionally hurts those who are least able to pay them.

WASHINGTON – Today the American Beverage Institute (ABI), which represents over a dozen restaurants in Hawaii, denounced legislation that seeks to dramatically hike Hawaii’s tax on alcohol. S.B. 1289 is being heard today in the Senate Health Committee at 2:45pm. Increasing alcohol taxes costs jobs and disproportionally hurts those who are least able to pay them.

WASHINGTON – Today the American Beverage Institute (ABI), which represents 740 California restaurants, denounced alcohol tax hike bill AB1019 which is being voted on today at 1:30 in the Assembly Health Committee. This tax is disingenuously being called a “fee” in order to circumvent the backlash that comes with raising taxes.

WASHINGTON – Today the American Beverage Institute (ABI), which represents over 200 New Jersey restaurants, denounced the alcohol tax hike in the state budget which is being heard today in both the Assembly and Senate Budget Committees. Increasing alcohol taxes costs jobs and disproportionally hurts those who are least able to pay them.

WASHINGTON – Today the American Beverage Institute (ABI), which represents over 280 North Carolina restaurants, denounced the alcohol tax hike being considered by the House Finance Committee this morning. Increasing alcohol taxes costs jobs and disproportionally hurts those who are least able to pay them.

WASHINGTON – Today the American Beverage Institute (ABI), which represents over 300 Illinois restaurants, denounced the alcohol tax hike awaiting Governor Quinn’s approval or rejection. Increasing alcohol taxes costs jobs and disproportionally hurts those who are least able to pay them.

WASHINGTON – Today the American Beverage Institute (ABI), which represents over 100 Wisconsin restaurants, denounced the beer tax hike being considered by the state legislature. Increasing alcohol taxes costs jobs and disproportionally hurts those who are least able to pay them.

WASHINGTON – Today the American Beverage Institute (ABI), which represents over 280 North Carolina restaurants, denounced the alcohol tax hike being considered by the state legislature. Increasing alcohol taxes costs jobs and disproportionally hurts those who are least able to pay them.

WASHINGTON – Today, the American Beverage Institute (ABI), which represents over 200 Indiana restaurants, ran a full page advertisement in the Indianapolis Star encouraging Hoosiers to contact their legislators and demand that they vote down an alcohol tax increase.

WASHINGTON – Today the American Beverage Institute (ABI), which represents over 200 Indiana restaurants, denounced an alcohol tax increase amendment to HB1604 which is being heard today at 9am in the Senate Appropriations Committee. This amendment would double the state alcohol tax.

WASHINGTON – Today the American Beverage Institute (ABI), which represents thousands of American restaurants, denounced the alcohol tax hike proposal in Governor David Paterson’s budget. Increasing alcohol taxes costs jobs and disproportionally hurts those who are least able to pay them.

WASHINGTON – Today the American Beverage Institute (ABI), which represents thousands of American restaurants, denounced the alcohol tax hike proposal in Governor Bev Perdue’s budget. Increasing alcohol taxes costs jobs and disproportionally hurts those who are least able to pay them.

WASHINGTON – Today the American Beverage Institute (ABI), which represents thousands of American restaurants, denounced Maryland’s alcohol tax hike bills SB729, HB791 and HB1160. Hearings for these bills are being held today at 1pm in the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee and tomorrow at 1pm in the House Ways & Means Committee.

WASHINGTON – Today the American Beverage Institute (ABI), which represents thousands of American restaurants, denounced the alcohol tax hike proposal in Governor Corzine’s budget. Increasing alcohol taxes costs jobs and disproportionally hurts those who are least able to pay them.

WASHINGTON – Today the American Beverage Institute (ABI), which represents hundreds of American restaurants, denounced alcohol tax hike bill AB277 which is being heard today in the Assembly Taxation Committee today at 1:30pm. Increasing alcohol taxes costs jobs and disproportionally hurts those who are least able to pay them.

State sells less alcohol in Allegheny County