Dear Members of the Boston City Council:
On behalf of the members of National Taxpayers Union (NTU), I urge you to oppose a measure to increase the alcohol tax by two percent. If enacted, it is estimated that the levy would raise approximately $20 million to fund addiction recovery efforts in the city. No one denies that addiction is a serious problem, but punitive tax legislation, which could cause genuine harm to many of your citizens, is not the right way to address it.
Approximately 3.7 million Americans are employed by the beverage alcohol industry, including manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers – many of whom live and work in the Boston area. Raising taxes on this industry, increasingly dominated by small businesses, will hurt not only these entities, but their workers and customers as well.
As Governor Baker recently suggested, the Boston City Council should find a way to fund worthwhile addiction treatment programs using existing revenues. NTU agrees. Accordingly, our members strongly encourage you to oppose efforts to increase the alcohol tax.
Sincerely,
Clark PackardPolicy and Government Affairs Manager