Beer taxes won’t be jumping by 200% in Michigan if state Representative Al Pscholka has anything to say about it. Republican Rep. Tom Hooker of Byron Center, near Grand Rapids, is proposing the increase and wants to put the money toward substance abuse courts. Pscholka tells Michigan’s Big Show, heard on News/Talk 94.9 WSJM that Hooker doesn’t drink.
“Yeah, he doesn’t like alcohol, so let’s raise taxes on everyone else? Not gonna happen,” quipped Pscholka.
Other lawmakers are also pushing back against the idea, with some saying it would hurt low-income Michigan residents. The hike would increase taxes on a barrel of beere from $6.30 to $21.70, which comes out to about a nickel more per can. Pscholka did say lawmakers are likely to approve legislation allowing gas stations to start selling alcoholic beverages, however.
