Beer Tax Increase Proposed

It may cost you more to drink a beer.

Byron Center Republican Tom Hooker has introduced legislation to increase the tax on beer to five cents.

The extra money raised would help fund treatment programs.

The beer tax has been the same since 1966.

The tax would only be on beer and would not include wine or liquor sales.

The president of the Michigan Beer and Wine Wholesalers Association called the proposal “shortsighted” and said a tax increase would hurt a growing industry that includes brewpubs.