Beer tax increase to have public hearing

It was a glass of water this lunch hour at New Franken Stein for Brent Smeester of Green Bay. But like many Wisconsinites, he has a lot of memories around a tall glass of beer.

"A long line of brewers and drinkers," said Smeester. "Owned a liquor store and a couple taverns in our family."

But cracking a cold one might get more expensive, with a proposal to raise the state beer tax by about 2.5 cents per bottle or can. The Assembl Committe on Public Safety will hold a public hearing on the bill Tuesday, October 13.

"It's aggravating that it's something so enjoyable, that you've got to pay more for again," said Smeester. "(However) I can't see less than three cents hurting the average person."

The proposal is worrying some tavern owners.

Right now, tax on a keg of beer is two dollars. That would jump to $10 under the proposal.

"Increases are one thing but when you're talking about a 400 percent increase, that's very hard to absorb," said Larry Rand, the Vice President of the Brown County Tavern League.

Rand says the increased tax would hurt small businesses the most.

"As prices go up and you have to charge more, people will start having fun at home," he said. "It's going to hurt the industry. It hurts fish fries Friday nights. It hurts your everybody."

Wisconsin's beer tax is currently the third lowest in the nation and has not gone up since 1969.

The increase would raise an estimated $58 million per year to be used for programs associated with alcohol abuse.

"I'm concerned with health issues that are raised, I'm concerned about the teenage drinking," said registered nurse Pat Finder-Stone of Green Bay.

Finder-Stone is also a member of All-Wisconsin Alcohol Risk Education (AWARE). The group will hold a rally at the state capitol before the public hearing on the bill Tuesday.

"There's a desperate need for us to address this issue and to catch up with the rest of the country," said Finder-Stone.

The proposal was brought up by two Democrats from Madison. The idea has been introduced in the state legislature before and has met opposition from both parties. Governor Jim Doyle says he is against raising the beer tax.