Comments on: BAD BAD Beer Tax Could Pass in CA!

By: Captain Beer

Captain Beer — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 18:24:06 +0000

our wallets may be safe, but what do we do about ourselves when all the bees come for us? what’s that… that… buzzing! is it… it… oh NO! it’s the BEEEEEEEEEEEEES!!!!! AUGH! AAUUGH!

beer is good

By: Private Pilsner

Private Pilsner — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 22:41:33 +0000

Tax increases require a 2/3s vote in the State Legislature. The Democrats lack the required votes to pass this as the Republicans in both the Assembly and Senate will oppose any measure to increase taxes. So, don’t worry, this is going nowhere. It’s just a political drill – grandstanding. Drink comfortably, your wallets are safe.

By: General German

General German — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 16:36:04 +0000

Look, this just won’t pass. Pigs will fly before it does. It would backfire just like ethanol (oooooh, I didn’t just go there).

By: Sergeant Stout

Sergeant Stout — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 00:50:57 +0000

I called them. I explained that they’re going to make every small-time CA brewpub bankrupt, and every microbrew would not be able to go on.

A guy who runs to office named Chris picked up the phone and I expected either a canned response or even worse, some half-cocked argument. He heard every word I said (I chose them carefully and wisely, I explained the financial peril it would surely place the microbrews in) and I even heard him write it all down, including my name.

I closed it with a semi-dramatic sentence, something to the tune of, “Look, microbrewers are a tight-knit group here in CA with a tiny profit margin as-is. Please break out a calculator and think of them in this tax, because it would put families out of business in a matter of weeks.” Slightly melodramatic I know, but he assured me, “The last thing we want to do here is put the little guys out of business.” I responded, “Thanks, Chris, but currently, that’s where you’re headed.”

What the hell is wrong with San Jose? They elected this guy!

By: General German

General German — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 23:48:27 +0000

Baloney. This would never work. Ever. This would only squash the existing beer industry in California, and most other

By the way, it is a fallacious argument to compare tobacco with alcohol. For Crying out loud, is this guy a complete teetotaller?

-Talk about a way to squash the economy. Despite being 3000 miles away, I can see disatrous ripple effects throughout the country. Think about a world without Sierra Nevada, Anchor Steam, etc.
-Beer represents about $70B of revenue for businesses throughout the country, and we are teetering on a fragile economy. Even FDR repealed prohibition as an economic stimulus!
-California has 256 breweries, according to the Beer Institute. The next highest amount of breweries in a state is Wisconson, with 92 breweries. Given the chance that this tax is designed to wipe out most any affected brewery, this would mean almost 16% of the country’s breweries would be kaputt. This would mean 13% of the country’s beer production? GONE. Jim Beall needs to get a clue.

By: Captain Beer

Captain Beer — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 23:47:40 +0000

This was JUST brought to my attention by the “prodigal” Herr Hefewizen. We gotta fight this, peoples! Post here, spread the word! Nah! Nah, dude, we say, nah!

Perhaps we’ll get a formal petition going. Pvt. P! Kick some ass up there in the Capitol!