California Legislator seeking tax hike on beer sales

Drinking in the U.S. state of California may soon become more expensive.

Assemblyman Jim Beall, a Democrat from San Jose, has proposed raising the tax paid on beer sales by 30 cents per can or bottle. With a current tax of 2 cents per can or bottle, that would be an increase of 1,500 percent.

Beall has already lobbied successfully to get the state’s Franchise Tax Board to increase the tax on alcoholic malt beverages known as ‘alcopops’. Previously, the alcopops had been taxed at a rate equal to that of beer. The change puts it in line with hard liquor taxes. That increase, when it comes into effect later this year, will raise the price of a six-pack by about $2.

The Assemblyman has said that the tax would generate $2 billion a year to fund health care services, crime prevention and programs to prevent underage drinking and addiction.

However, unlike the previous tax hike, this proposal would require a two-thirds vote in both the Assembly and the Senate, and then have to be approved by voters.

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