Deschutes Brewery, industry opposes proposed tax hikes on beer, wine and cider

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Oregon Well being Authority has proposed to lawmakers elevated taxes on beer, wine and ciders, in addition to cigarettes, in its new budget.

In response to the Oregon Beer & Wine Distributors Association, the 2021-23 biennium proposal would imply a $293 million tax enhance on their industries of 800 %.

If the Legislature approves the tax will increase, the cash raised would go to packages to assist battle habit.

The company said: “…Alcohol imposes giant and avoidable prices on the well being of all folks in Oregon, and on Oregon’s financial system, communities and well being care techniques.”

Lauding the transfer is Mike Marshall, co-founder and director of Oregon Recovers.

“As of final 12 months, 9.three % of the inhabitants, in order that’s virtually 400,000 Oregonians who’ve (been) untreated, and we rank 47th in entry to therapy for individuals who want therapy,” he stated. “So there is a correlation there.”

Marshall stated he needs the proposed taxes additionally included arduous alcohol.

“Value is necessary on the low price of issues, the bottom-shelf alcohol, it is the bottom-shelf beer and wine — these are the issues the youngsters are shopping for, these are the issues the binge drinkers are shopping for,” he stated.

Marshall maintained, nonetheless that, this transfer is a good first step.

“The breweries aren’t going to really feel this, proper?” he stated. “In the event you go strolling into your favourite brew pub and you order a beer for what $7, is that what it price?”

“And it goes as much as $eight underneath this proposal. There aren’t many individuals which can be going to cease going out to these (locations).”

The beer and wine trade group stated this week a current survey discovered greater than 80% of Oregonians oppose growing beer taxes.

On Thursday, Deschutes Brewery CEO Michael Lalonde who opposes the tax hike, spoke to NewsChannel 21.

“For an 800 % enhance in our excise tax for the state of Oregon is a burden that beer producers, craft brewers, eating places bars retailers all of these companies cannot actually tackle proper now,” Lalonde stated.

“We have gone by means of a lot with COVID, the shutdowns that occurred the layoffs that occurred within the trade,” he added.

Lalonde stated he feels these industries are already closely taxed.

“The typical worth of a six-pack at retail, 47 % is taxes — that is fairly unbelievable,” he stated.

He additionally thinks it may have an effect on his buyer base.

“Some folks suppose that when there’s a rise in taxes that the entire companies will simply take in it, which is one thing we simply cannot do,” Lalonde stated.

— to ktvz.com

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