Published by Front Page Mag
Written by Daniel Greenfield
The left hates two things…
1. Fun
2. Tax cuts
This combines both.
The bill includes changes to the tax code designed to spur growth for craft spirits producers, and will reduce the federal excise tax on distilled spirits producers for the first time since the Civil War, according to the Distilled Spirits Council.
Taxes tend to go up rather than down. Real tax cuts threaten the left. And the left is once again… unhappy.
People hoisting a beer mug or tipping a champagne glass to ring in the New Year have an extra reason to celebrate: Congress just slashed taxes on alcohol for the first time in decades.
But public-health advocates fear the effects of the Republican tax law will be dire — more drunken driving, underage drinking and other alcohol-related programs.
Because taxes have worked so well at preventing them.
While lawmakers emphasize the benefits to small craft brewers, their plan would cut taxes on all alcohol companies, with the largest reduction going to liquor makers.
They currently pay a $13.50 tax per “proof gallon,” which is defined by the beverage’s alcohol content. Under the legislation, that would fall to $2.70 for the first 100,000 gallons produced.
Beer makers now generally pay $18 per barrel, which translates to about 30 cents per six pack, though small producers pay $7 on their first 60,000 barrels. Beginning Jan. 1, brewers will pay $3.50 on the first 60,000 barrels, and $16 after that, up to 6 million barrels.
This is meant to benefit craft breweries, not that Politico sees fit to mention that. Instead it treats that as a ‘claim’ and lists the facts without explaining them.
The Distilled Spirits Council rejects complaints that lower taxes will lead to more alcohol-related problems, and that it will even necessarily result in cheaper liquor. Distillers will use their tax savings to expand production and hire more people, said Frank Coleman, a spokesman for the trade association.
“They’re going to invest in their companies — they’re not necessarily going to lower their product prices,” he said. “It will help provide more jobs.”
I wouldn’t count on especially cheap liquor prices. But the left doesn’t really care about that. It does want to loot more money through high taxes.
January 2, 2018
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