Booze You Can Use

Supervisors Hold Hearing on Drunk Tax

Cheers, that'll be six more cents please.
Cheers, that’ll be six more cents please. Photo: iStock Photo

The S.F. Board of Supervisors yesterday gave the first public hearing on new legislation proposed by Supervisor John Avalos to tax wholesale booze distributors six cents for every ounce of alcohol sold, in order to offset the public health impacts of alcohol abuse. Opponents like Café du Nord owner Guy Carson argue that the tax will simply be passed on through bars to consumers, which will hurt business. Gavin Newsom, for his part, thinks the idea is silly, and his spokesman told the Chron yesterday, “the mayor expects [the fee] would be challenged” if it manages to even get approved.

S.F. considers fee on alcoholic beverages [Chron]
Earlier: Bartenders, Drunks Balk at Booze Tax Proposal [Grub Street]

Supervisors Hold Hearing on Drunk Tax