Comments on: Where's the hangover in a beer tax increase? http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/wheres-the-hangover-in-a-beer-tax-increase-2/ Tue, 06 Sep 2011 18:31:23 +0000 hourly 1 By: greg carron http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/wheres-the-hangover-in-a-beer-tax-increase-2/comment-page-1/#comment-2585 greg carron Fri, 11 Sep 2009 16:04:45 +0000 http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/blog/?p=1624#comment-2585 With many consumer based taxes going up, why is beer a sacred cow in Lansing? If we can conquer the tobacco lobby, bring down the all powerful automotive lobby, discuss radical health care changes in the State that buck the almighty teachers and other state employee unions, taking on the beer lobby should be childs play. I can think of no reason why beer should not be taxed at an equitable rate. With many consumer based taxes going up, why is beer a sacred cow in Lansing? If we can conquer the tobacco lobby, bring down the all powerful automotive lobby, discuss radical health care changes in the State that buck the almighty teachers and other state employee unions, taking on the beer lobby should be childs play. I can think of no reason why beer should not be taxed at an equitable rate.

]]> By: Mark Lightfoot http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/wheres-the-hangover-in-a-beer-tax-increase-2/comment-page-1/#comment-2868 Mark Lightfoot Sun, 30 Aug 2009 16:03:36 +0000 http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/blog/?p=1624#comment-2868 As an owner of a tavern in Northern Michigan, I feel I need to comment on the tax increase on beer. First of all I am against any tax increase. We as consumers have to tighten our belt when times get tough. We cannot pull extra money out of thin air. We make due with what our income is. Furthermore, the small businesses in Michigan are getting taxed to death as it is. The increase in minimun, the gas increased gas prices cause suppliers to raise there prices, insurance rates go up every year, Small Business tax, unemployment tax, sales tax. ect. I could go on and on, it is not easy to operate a business in Michigan when 25 to 30% of all money generated goes to pay taxes. WE NEED LESS TAX, NOT MORE. The State needs to cut spending not look for ways to increase it. As an owner of a tavern in Northern Michigan, I feel I need to comment on the tax increase on beer. First of all I am against any tax increase. We as consumers have to tighten our belt when times get tough. We cannot pull extra money out of thin air. We make due with what our income is.
Furthermore, the small businesses in Michigan are getting taxed to death as it is. The increase in minimun, the gas increased gas prices cause suppliers to raise there prices, insurance rates go up every year, Small Business tax, unemployment tax, sales tax. ect. I could go on and on, it is not easy to operate a business in Michigan when 25 to 30% of all money generated goes to pay taxes. WE NEED LESS TAX, NOT MORE. The State needs to cut spending not look for ways to increase it.

]]> By: Ed M http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/wheres-the-hangover-in-a-beer-tax-increase-2/comment-page-1/#comment-2714 Ed M Tue, 11 Aug 2009 20:54:32 +0000 http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/blog/?p=1624#comment-2714 Sounds like a reasonable tax increase. As a beer drinker in a state that is in serious financial trouble, hasn't raised the tax in 35 years, and is proposing a tax increase that is virtually invisible. It should be considered. Will it seriously impact beer sales? I seriously doubt it. The state has bigger fish to fry. If they raised the tax to 25¢ per six pack or $1 per case, would that be exorbitant? Does it unfairly punish those who drink beer? If it enrages a beer drinker, then switch to wine or quit. The above example of a restaurant price is good. A tax increase would impact craft beers more than the common swill, because they typically cost more to begin with. Still,for pennies on the bottle, it's a relatively benign tax. I would rather all our taxes be lowered, but I'm not holding my breath for that to happen. Sounds like a reasonable tax increase. As a beer drinker in a state that is in serious financial trouble, hasn’t raised the tax in 35 years, and is proposing a tax increase that is virtually invisible. It should be considered. Will it seriously impact beer sales? I seriously doubt it. The state has bigger fish to fry. If they raised the tax to 25¢ per six pack or $1 per case, would that be exorbitant? Does it unfairly punish those who drink beer? If it enrages a beer drinker, then switch to wine or quit. The above example of a restaurant price is good. A tax increase would impact craft beers more than the common swill, because they typically cost more to begin with. Still,for pennies on the bottle, it’s a relatively benign tax. I would rather all our taxes be lowered, but I’m not holding my breath for that to happen.

]]> By: Mark R again http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/wheres-the-hangover-in-a-beer-tax-increase-2/comment-page-1/#comment-2712 Mark R again Tue, 11 Aug 2009 17:03:12 +0000 http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/blog/?p=1624#comment-2712 I agree this particular tax is long overdue to be raised. But you have to give their lobbyists credit for stopping all past tax increases... now THAT's effective lobbying! I agree this particular tax is long overdue to be raised.

But you have to give their lobbyists credit for stopping all past tax increases… now THAT’s effective lobbying!

]]> By: Gregory Creswell http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/wheres-the-hangover-in-a-beer-tax-increase-2/comment-page-1/#comment-2957 Gregory Creswell Thu, 06 Aug 2009 23:19:08 +0000 http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/blog/?p=1624#comment-2957 Jealous people are every where, what these people can not get on their own, they advocate for politicians to do,to take from others and give to them. They are envious of others too, so they support higher taxes, their life is not as successful as they want it to be so they cheer for the politicians to take and take and take. Jealous people are every where, what these people can not get on their own, they advocate for politicians to do,to take from others and give to them. They are envious of others too, so they support higher taxes, their life is not as successful as they want it to be so they cheer for the politicians to take and take and take.

]]> By: Terry Allen Blackburn http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/wheres-the-hangover-in-a-beer-tax-increase-2/comment-page-1/#comment-2569 Terry Allen Blackburn Thu, 06 Aug 2009 20:33:37 +0000 http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/blog/?p=1624#comment-2569 This is what we get when we cowtow to special interest groups. Beer has been a sacred cow for far too long. We taxed most people out of the addiction of smoking. The increased beer tax would create more incentives by having less drunk kids, less alcohol related problems, less traffic deaths from drunk driving, etc. The beer and wine wholesalers have gotten way too big and need to be shut down before they are running our State. Oh wait; they already are. This is what we get when we cowtow to special interest groups. Beer has been a sacred cow for far too long. We taxed most people out of the addiction of smoking. The increased beer tax would create more incentives by having less drunk kids, less alcohol related problems, less traffic deaths from drunk driving, etc. The beer and wine wholesalers have gotten way too big and need to be shut down before they are running our State. Oh wait; they already are.

]]> By: don speer jr http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/wheres-the-hangover-in-a-beer-tax-increase-2/comment-page-1/#comment-2716 don speer jr Thu, 06 Aug 2009 19:19:09 +0000 http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/blog/?p=1624#comment-2716 I'm a beer drinker and I say raise the tax by 20% and it won't change my consumption. This state needs the $$$. I’m a beer drinker and I say raise the tax by 20% and it won’t change my consumption. This state needs the $$$.

]]> By: rcarter42 http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/wheres-the-hangover-in-a-beer-tax-increase-2/comment-page-1/#comment-2956 rcarter42 Thu, 06 Aug 2009 18:59:04 +0000 http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/blog/?p=1624#comment-2956 I find it disturbing that a discussion would ask why not raise taxes, and the first response would agree. A point was made that the tax should have kept up with inflation. Taxes Always keep up with yearly inflation except in any year they are raised or lower. A $3.00 beer at 10% generates a 30 cent tax. Add 3% inflation, and a $3.09 beer generates a 31 cent tax. In reality, that beer probably stays a $3.00 for several years, before going up to $3.50. That would then generate a 35 cent tax. I find it disturbing that a discussion would ask why not raise taxes, and the first response would agree.
A point was made that the tax should have kept up with inflation. Taxes Always keep up with yearly inflation except in any year they are raised or lower. A $3.00 beer at 10% generates a 30 cent tax. Add 3% inflation, and a $3.09 beer generates a 31 cent tax.
In reality, that beer probably stays a $3.00 for several years, before going up to $3.50. That would then generate a 35 cent tax.

]]> By: Tom Zelinski http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/wheres-the-hangover-in-a-beer-tax-increase-2/comment-page-1/#comment-2570 Tom Zelinski Thu, 06 Aug 2009 15:42:28 +0000 http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/blog/?p=1624#comment-2570 How much revenue could a one cent per bottle increase generate? Bet no one would notice the cost increase. How much revenue could a one cent per bottle increase generate? Bet no one would notice the cost increase.

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