Democrats want $60M in new fees for alcohol industry
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To combat Colorado's high rate of alcohol-related deaths, Democratic lawmakers want to levy as much as $60 million in fees on manufacturers of beer, wine and spirits.
Why it matters: The legislation would shift more of the public costs of alcohol misuse — like health care and treatment programs — onto manufacturers instead of taxpayers. But the industry says it can't absorb another hit.
State of play: The new revenue would go toward alcohol prevention and treatment programs, as well as recovery services — all of which face potential cuts as state lawmakers look to fill a roughly $1 billion budget deficit.
By the numbers: The new fees equate to 3 cents on a six-pack of beer, 5 cents for a standard wine bottle and 26 cents for a fifth of spirits, the Denver Post reports.
What they're saying: Even if it seems small, the industry says it would put 131,000 jobs and more than $22 billion in economic activity at risk. The industry currently pays $7.2 billion in taxes.
- "Increasing taxes on breweries in Colorado would be like Maine lawmakers going after lobster fishermen or Georgia with peach farmers," said Shawnee Adelson, executive director of the Colorado Brewers Guild, in a statement.
The other side: State Rep. Jamie Jackson of Aurora, one of the bill's sponsors, told KUNC that the fees would boost "desperately" needed programs and services.
- The bill's supporters point to figures showing 1,419 alcohol-induced deaths in Colorado in 2024, whether from organ damage or withdrawal. The numbers do not include alcohol involved in other deaths, such as car wrecks.
- "We still have a rate of alcohol deaths that is twice the country as a whole and twice the rate a decade ago," Bill Burman, a Denver Health physician and member of the Colorado Alcohol Impacts Coalition, told the Post.
What's next: The legislation is poised to become one of the more contentious fights this legislative session. No hearing date is scheduled yet.