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Stepping Up and Stepping Back
Posted November 9th, 2011 by sean@bevx.com in
This is a classic good news/bad news story in the world of alcohol beverage sales and basic liberty.
On the good news front, yesterday the people of Washington State passed a measure that would end the state’s 78-year monopoly on the sale of liquor. The initiative was backed vigorously by Costco who has been on the frontlines of fighting for consumer liberty in regards to alcohol sales. The result of this vote is expected to have an impact on battles long brewing in other control states. Let’s hope that Virginia and Pennsylvania are not far behind.
In my current (the clock is ticking on this one…) home of Chicago the news is not as bright. In Chicago residents can now look forward to our fourth alcohol tax increase since 2005. This time the corrupt, feckless, and reckless politicians led by Toni Preckwinkle are set to impose a county tax (Cook County) that would raise beer taxes by 50% and spirits taxes by 25%. In an act akin to rubbing salt into a fresh wound Preckwinkle is now making a linkage between legal alcohol sales and crime. Apparently the people of Cook County are prone to commit acts of theft, violence, and participate in acts of random mischief after enjoying a drink or two.
This sort of governmental overreach is not new. Of course the result will be that more Cook County residents will purchase their adult beverages from outlets beyond the county lines. When this happens we can count on two things to occur: the citizens of Cook County (some of the most heavily taxed on all levels) will be made villains for making their purchases elsewhere, and of course the taxes will be raised once more just as they are now. In the midst of this wine/beer/spirits retailers and their employees will be harmed, as will bar and restaurants owners, bartenders, servers, dishwashers, and more. The Chicago area hospitality industry is already down 13,000 jobs in the last three years with more layoffs on the way.
If you have not been paying attention – and sadly this applies to far too many citizens – Chicago residents when buying a bottle of vodka, rum, bourbon, whisky, tequila, or any other spirit from a Chicago retailer are actually paying more for tax than goods. 60% of the total price paid for a bottle of your favorite spirit is there to satisfy federal, state, county, and city taxes. Congratulations – in 2012 you will have the privilege of paying even higher taxes. Is 60% not enough? Apparently not. When do we wake up and realize that these damn fools in government work for us or do we continue to allow the reverse to be true? Had enough yet?
On the good news front, yesterday the people of Washington State passed a measure that would end the state’s 78-year monopoly on the sale of liquor. The initiative was backed vigorously by Costco who has been on the frontlines of fighting for consumer liberty in regards to alcohol sales. The result of this vote is expected to have an impact on battles long brewing in other control states. Let’s hope that Virginia and Pennsylvania are not far behind.
In my current (the clock is ticking on this one…) home of Chicago the news is not as bright. In Chicago residents can now look forward to our fourth alcohol tax increase since 2005. This time the corrupt, feckless, and reckless politicians led by Toni Preckwinkle are set to impose a county tax (Cook County) that would raise beer taxes by 50% and spirits taxes by 25%. In an act akin to rubbing salt into a fresh wound Preckwinkle is now making a linkage between legal alcohol sales and crime. Apparently the people of Cook County are prone to commit acts of theft, violence, and participate in acts of random mischief after enjoying a drink or two.
This sort of governmental overreach is not new. Of course the result will be that more Cook County residents will purchase their adult beverages from outlets beyond the county lines. When this happens we can count on two things to occur: the citizens of Cook County (some of the most heavily taxed on all levels) will be made villains for making their purchases elsewhere, and of course the taxes will be raised once more just as they are now. In the midst of this wine/beer/spirits retailers and their employees will be harmed, as will bar and restaurants owners, bartenders, servers, dishwashers, and more. The Chicago area hospitality industry is already down 13,000 jobs in the last three years with more layoffs on the way.
If you have not been paying attention – and sadly this applies to far too many citizens – Chicago residents when buying a bottle of vodka, rum, bourbon, whisky, tequila, or any other spirit from a Chicago retailer are actually paying more for tax than goods. 60% of the total price paid for a bottle of your favorite spirit is there to satisfy federal, state, county, and city taxes. Congratulations – in 2012 you will have the privilege of paying even higher taxes. Is 60% not enough? Apparently not. When do we wake up and realize that these damn fools in government work for us or do we continue to allow the reverse to be true? Had enough yet?