March 22, 2010

Dear Hawaii Beer Activists,

The Aloha Brewers Guild is actively opposing legislation seeking to raise the tax on all alcoholic beverages.
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Hawaii’s small brewers are battling a bill proposing to increase the taxes on alcohol in Hawaii. Hawaii already has the second highest tax rate in the country and this bill seeks to increase that amount by an as yet unspecified figure.

On Tuesday March 23 at 9:30 AM, a hearing will be held on HB 2850 HD1 by the Senate Ways and Means committee.

Although the State is facing severe financial troubles, careful consideration must be given to the fact that the very existence of the businesses affected by such a tax increase is in danger. If these businesses are choked by this additional financial burden, there may soon be no businesses to tax.

Additionally, this tax will certainly increase the costs to consumers at a time when taxpayers cannot afford such increases. The proposed increase in tax could add more than a dollar per six-pack of beer to the cost for the consumer. Decreased sales and the potential loss of countless jobs within the state may well result in less, rather than more, tax revenue.

Please email the following legislators and urge them to vote against the passage of HB2850. Let them know that this bill will have an extremely negative impact on Hawaii’s beer and brewing businesses, as well as consumers.

Senate Ways and Means Committee

Donna Mercado Kim - senkim@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Shan S. Tsutsui - sentsutsui@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Suzanne Chun Oakland - senchunoakland@Capitol.hawaii.gov
J. Kalani English - senenglish@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Carol Fukunaga - senfukunaga@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Brickwood Galuteria - sengaluteria@capitol.hawaii.gov
Clayton Hee - senhee@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Gary L. Hooser - senhooser@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Michelle Kidani - senkidani@capitol.hawaii.gov
Russell S. Kokubun - senkokubun@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Jill N. Tokuda - sentokuda@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Fred Hemmings - senhemmings@Capitol.hawaii.gov

Thank you,

Aloha Brewers Guild
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Thanks for your support of Hawaii’s small brewers.

Charlie Papazian President Brewers Association

Gary Glass Director American Homebrewers Association

Watch a video revealing the issues, then use the
H.R. 4278 resource page to take action.