• Home
  • News
    • Politics / Govt
    • Legislature
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
    • Archives
  • Sports
    • Badgers
    • Packers
      • Titletown Report
    • Brewers
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support

Wisconsin Radio Network

Wisconsin News and Sports

You are here: Home / Politics / Govt / Brewing battle over beer tax

Brewing battle over beer tax

October 13, 2009 By WRN Contributor

Proponents and opponents of a legislative proposal to increase Wisconsin’s beer tax for the first time in forty years are out in force at the Capitol today. Members of a coalition backing an increase in Wisconsin’s beer tax say the money is needed to fight alcohol abuse and drunk driving. “We have a problem in Wisconsin,” says Lisa Maroney with UW Health. “We lead the country in some, quite frankly, staggering statistics, and it’s time for us to move into the mainstream and to do something to address the problem.”

The AWARE coalition backs the legislation from Madison Democrat, state Representative Terese Berceau, which would raise the beer tax from two dollars to ten dollars a barrel. “I’ve been called a prude, that’s just in the last couple of days,” says Berceau, adding that she’s not a prude, she just thinks it would be a good idea to raise the beer tax, which hasn’t increased since 1969. More money is needed in Wisconsin, to battle alcohol abuse and drunk driving, according to Kathy Poi of the Wisconsin Nurses Association. 

But there’s strong opposition from the Tavern League of Wisconsin. “We are very frustrated, we’ve been taxed to death,” says league president, Rob Swearingen. “We’re looking at a statewide smoking ban beginning next July, on top of cigarette taxes that have gone up twice in the last two years.” Raising the beer tax is a “bad idea.” says Swearingen. “In a state where we’re known for brewing beer, and enjoying our beer responsibly. The overwhelming majority of our people enjoy their beer responsibly. The fact is, the beer tax is not going to help this issue.”

A hearing on the bill (AB 287) before the Assembly Public Safety Committee drew a big crowd, with people for and against spilling out into Capitol hallways.

WIBA’s John Colbert contributed this report

AUDIO: John Colbert reports (:60 MP3)

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Politics / Govt



Featured Stories

Arrest in 2022 firebombing at Wisconsin pro-life group’s office

Senate Republicans shut down debate on conversion therapy in Wisconsin

UW Madison based Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center receives funding renewal

Secretary of State La Follette resigns from office, Godlewski named as replacement

Republican proposal to alter 1849 abortion statute won’t advance in Senate

TwitterFacebook

Sports Headlines

Evers’ AmFam funding plan ‘a nonstarter’ with Assembly Republicans

New pitch clock could speed up MLB games this season, says UW expert

Giannis breaks franchise scoring record, Bucks beat Nets in OT

Wisconsin’s Davis declares for NBA Draft

Badgers to face Arizona State in Las Vegas Bowl

More Sports

Tweets by @WRN

Get our news delivered to your inbox:

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Copyright © 2023 · Learfield News & Ag, LLC