Taxing beer.

• Author: Jedlicka, III, Joseph F.
• Position: Letters - Letter to the Editor

Editor:

"Taxing Behavior" from the June edition missed the point when it comes to beer taxes. Although the three states mentioned in the article did consider raising beer taxes, they did so in the context of larger budget issues, not because of misguided notions about controlling irresponsible or illegal behavior.

More telling is that these states and more than two dozen other states considered beer taxes in 2003 and 2004, but rejected them when finally deciding on tax and spending programs.

The article is also one-sided with respect to whether beer taxes have a significant impact on abusive behavior. The only spokesperson referenced, George Hacker, has promoted beer tax increases for nearly two decades. He routinely ignores, as does the National Research Council report he cites, several recent studies that contradict his assertions and point out the fallacies in his arguments.

Thankfully, most legislators and legislative bodies have a more balanced view of beer taxes. In the first place, the vast majority of beer drinkers drinks responsibly and do not cause problems for society, nor themselves.

In fact, numerous medical studies have shown that there can...