Charlie Papazian's Call to Action

Charlie Papazian, founder of the American Homebrewers Association, recently warned of pending beer tax increases to pay for universal health care. Our Congress is contemplating tripling the beer tax, which would raise the price of a case $2 to the brewer. By the time the distributors and the retailers have added their markups, you and I will pay about $4 a case more. They are also proposing raising the taxes 20% on liquor and 233% on wine.

Papazian writes: "If you spend $3.38 on anything these days you need to actually earn about $5.40 (assuming 25% income tax bracket +4% state income tax rate). The bottom line is that a beer drinker will need to earn $5.40 (before income related taxes) in order to pay for that mythical $2 a case excise tax increase."

The main problem with raising excise, or sin, taxes is that the tax increase reduces sales, and ultimately revenue. The tax will also force those microbreweries on the edge to fail, increasing unemployment. These taxes are also a bigger burden for the poor, since a larger percentage of their income will go to taxes.

So, guess what this all means? That's right! It's time to contact your Congresscritters and let them know how you feel. Don't know who to talk to? Here's a website that can help you out.

Be polite, but be firm. Your salary isn't going up as fast as your taxes are.