The Bishop and the Butterfly: Murder, Politics, and the End of the Jazz Age
    we are stardust's picture

    Help fund health care public option with an increase in alcohol taxes.

    By we are stardust on Mon, 07/06/2009 - 12:22pm |

    I am having trouble finding accurate national alcohol sales numbers, but one site claimed that americans spend $77.8 billion on take-home alcohol.  More, obviously, is consumed in restaurants and bars.

    Tobacco has taken a huge federal tax increase, and some states have levied equal amounts in addition to boot.  Why is alcohol not being considered?  Or has it been, and gotten shouted down? 

    A percentage of total cost would make sense: a magnum of dom perignon would bring in more revenue than a bottle of coors lite.  Jeez, louise, californians are advocating pot legalization often with the tax revenues possible as the main incentive.

    Alcohol treatment costs are large.  Drunk-driving accidents cause death and huge medical costs.  Those are health-related...so why is alcohol such a sacred cow?  I don't get it.