www.alkoholpolitik.ch

Supporters of a successful Massachusetts ballot initiative to repeal the state’s year-old 6.25 percent sales tax on alcohol outspent opponents by more than 10 to 1, the Boston Globe reported Nov. 4.
The Beer Distributors of Massachusetts alone donated more for Question One on the state ballot than did opponents of the measure. In all, supporters of eliminating the tax raised more than $2 million, while the Committee Against Repeal of the Alcohol Tax raised not quite $200,000. (According to the No on 1 Campaign, the fundraising margin between supporters and opponents was 15 to 1.)
The fundraising led to an ad blitz that helped narrowly win repeal; supporters garnered 52 percent of the votes on Nov. 2. (Source: Join Together, 11/05/10)

Washington voters will be asked this fall whether private companies should be allowed to sell liquor, part of a ballot initiative driven by big-box retailer Costco. The Wall Street Journal reported June 18 that Costco wants to be able to sell liquor in its stores, but Washington currently restricts such sales to state stores, although beer and wine can be sold in grocery stores and elsewhere. Costco contributed more than half a million dollars to the campaign run by a group called Modernize Washington and had its employees collect ballot signatures from customers. (Source: Join Together, 6/21/10)

..in Washington State, USA
Just how low is a big-box retailer willing to stoop to undermine state authority over alcohol to increase its own bottom line? Costco is apparently willing go pretty darn low. The retail giant is making its employees gather signatures from customers in Washington State for a ballot initiative that would eliminate the state’s control over spirits sales.
Initiative 1100 would remove the state’s role in the sale of alcohol once and for all, as well as remove current restrictions on volume discounts, among other worrisome provisions that would deal a serious blow to state-based alcohol regulation. (Source: Marin Institute, 6/4/10)

Montana Supreme Court Justice and former Attorney General Mike McGrath has unveiled a ballot initiative that would earmark $5 million per year in state alcohol taxes to pay for addiction treatment, prevention, and drug/DUI courts. The Montana Alcohol Abuse and Drug-Free Plan was announced during McGrath’s recent appearance before the legislature’s Law & Justice Interim Committee. (Source: Join Together, 2/12/10)