www.alkoholpolitik.ch

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — An increase in Maryland’s alcohol tax advanced in the Maryland Senate on Tuesday, with a significant portion of the first year’s proceeds set aside for Prince George’s County and Baltimore schools.
The Senate measure would raise Maryland’s sales tax on alcohol from 6 percent to 9 percent over three years by 1 percent a year. Fiscal analysts said they estimate that it would raise about $29 million in fiscal year 2012, $58 million the following year and $85 million in the third year. (Source: Google Alcohol News, 03/30/11) wbaltv.com, 03/29/11

A measure that would have raised the alcohol tax in West Virginia and used the revenues to pay for addiction treatment and prevention programs has been killed. The Charleston Gazette reported Feb. 24 that the bill died in a legislative committee. However, lawmakers separately approved a pair of bills that would put a $300-million cap on Medicaid spending and dedicate any excess to paying for addiction services. Some estimates put the reserve amount at $60 million. The bill had called for raising the beer tax from 2 cents per bottle to 7 cents. (Source: Join Together, 3/1/10)