WASHINGTON, DC - Efforts to rollback the Federal excise tax on beer continue to gain momentum in Congress. Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA) introduced legislation in the US Senate that would roll back the 100 % increase of the federal beer tax imposed in 1991. “I am hopeful that in these uncertain economic times, we can pass this bill and help restore the estimated 30,000 jobs this tax increase has cost the American economy since 1991," said Sen. Santorum, who is the Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference and a member of the Senate Finance Committee.

44% of the cost of every beer purchased is comprised of various taxes, with the Federal excise tax being a large part of the cost. All the other "luxury taxes" enacted in 1991 have been repealed because each caused the loss of thousands of jobs in the industries impacted. The same has happened in the beer industry where the Federal beer tax increase caused a loss of 30,000 jobs in the brewing, distributing, retailing and related industries. Efforts to fix this fundamental tax inequity continue to gain momentum, and we are confident in Congress' ability to fix it this year," said Jeff Becker, President of the Beer Institute. The beer tax rollback legislation in the US House has already garnered the support of 132 cosponsors.

18 April, 2003