74% of likely Oregon voters oppose increasing beer, wine, cider and spirits taxes
PORTLAND, Ore. — Three out of four Oregonians say Oregon’s beer, wine, cider and spirits taxes are either too high or about right according to a recent survey conducted by Patinkin Research Strategies.
Oregon likely voters were asked how they felt about the state’s current beer, wine, cider and spirits taxes. Only 8% say the tax rate is “too low,” while 21% say “too high” and 53% say “about right.” And the overwhelming opposition to tax increases is bipartisan, with 53% of Democrats and 72% of Republicans opposing.
This new data comes as lawmakers in Salem are debating whether to take up legislation to increase taxes on brewers, winemakers, cidermakers and distillers, despite the harmful impact COVID-19 is having on these homegrown businesses. One of the proposals would increase the prices of alcohol by 20%.
Closures due to COVID-19, coupled with unprecedented wildfires, have had a devastating impact on Oregon’s breweries, wineries, cideries, restaurants, bars and hospitality sector. Nearly 90% of Oregonians say they are concerned about these local businesses being able to recover after the pandemic.
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Oregon was home to 400 breweries, 900 wineries, 1,200 vineyards, 100 cideries, 73 distributors, 10,000 restaurants and 37,200 farms, creating thousands of good-paying jobs and several billion dollars in wages. Many of those jobs are now at risk or have been lost. Tax increases only make it harder for these businesses to invest in rehiring, equipment, upgrades and expansion, and will result in higher prices for consumers.
Oregon already has some of the highest alcohol prices in the country. And Oregon’s beer, wine, cider and spirits sectors are the third largest source of revenue for the state — behind income taxes and the state lottery.
The survey of 600 likely voters in Oregon was conducted via live phone calls, as well as an online panel. Interviews were conducted Nov. 9-13, 2020. The margin of error for the sample as a whole is plus or minus 4.0 percentage points at the 95% level of confidence.
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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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