Colorado lawmakers did not advance a tax increase on beer, wine, cider and spirits and instead showed support for these local businesses.
PORTLAND, Ore. — This week, the Colorado legislature adjourned without passing SB24-181, a bill that would have significantly increased the costs of beer, wine, cider and spirits through a tax. Colorado is like Oregon, in that these local businesses are an important part of the state’s identity and culture, both creating nearly 120,000 good-paying jobs.
The proposal in Colorado was incredibly unpopular with voters, who did not support a tax increase and questioned why existing taxes paid were going to the general fund instead of to addiction recover and prevention services. Similar polling has been done in Oregon, where 74% of voters oppose increasing taxes on beer, wine, cider and spirits.
“It is welcome news that state lawmakers in a state similar to Oregon realized raising taxes on beer, wine, cider and spirits – a vital sector to the state’s economy and identity – is harmful and reckless policy. And hopefully the Oregon legislature takes notice,” said the Oregon Beverage Alliance. “Budgets should reflect lawmaker priorities and when voters hear only 3% of alcohol taxes go toward funding mental health and addiction services, they’re appalled. Just like in Colorado, for Oregon, it’s not a revenue problem but a lack of priority and accountability problem.”
Oregon’s breweries, wineries, cideries, distilleries and hospitality partners are facing major challenges. Between inflation on the cost of ingredients, supply chain issues, employee shortages, natural disasters and a pandemic, these local businesses need the support of lawmakers and the public to survive. The last thing any local business needs are tax increases. Despite these hardships, alcohol generates more than $17 billion in economic activity in Oregon and is still the third largest source of revenue for the state. Yet only 3% of that revenue goes toward funding mental health and drug addiction recovery and treatment. The rest goes to the general fund.
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About the Oregon Beverage Alliance
The Oregon Beverage Alliance is made up of local brewers, winemakers, cidermakers, distillers and their supply and hospitality partners creating hundreds of thousands of jobs. Learn more: www.DontTaxMyDrink.org
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