May 18, 2026 - Business
Charted: Arkansas' tax on 'sin'
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Taxes collected on tobacco and alcohol sales account for less than 3% of the $7.13 billion in gross general revenue collected in Arkansas during the first 10 months of fiscal 2026, almost $209 million.
The big picture: The state's "sin taxes" could be — what we've heard some CFOs describe it — a rounding error.
- Nonetheless, the money helps fund state government, infrastructure, education, public assistance, corrections, Medicaid and transportation.
By the numbers: Fiscal year totals for alcohol were about $60.5 million, but tobacco was more than double: about $148.2 million
- April alone brought in $6.3 million from alcohol sales and $15.9 million from tobacco.