EUGENE, Erts. Bartenders in Eugene are surprised by House Bill 3296, a law that would increase taxes on beer by almost 3000% and wine by almost 2000%.
“It’s the most senseless thing I’ve ever heard,” said Dustin Cordeiro, Trev’s Sports Bar host. “We should have the right to drink a beer and not charge a shameful amount.”
Side Bar bartender Kyle Clark agrees.
“This is the wrong time to impose some kind of tax on us,” Clark said.
But proponents of the new bill said it would help create a fund to create an addiction district and curb minors and alcoholics.
“Take the income it generates and for the people who suffer from addiction, and put it into financing this strategic plan that we have spent the last three years, and fully finance it so that we can increase the recovery rates,” Mike Marshall , executive director of Oregon Recovers, said.
Marshall said Oregon has the third highest percentage of alcohol addiction and the least access to treatments.
But local bartenders believe that this new tax cannot solve alcohol-related problems, such as addiction or DUI.
“People are going to start moonshine, brewing on their own and brewing illegally. So I think it will push people in the wrong direction,” Cordiero said.
“Alcoholism is a problem. I think it’s something we need to take care of,” said Micah Bosket, bartender at Bailey’s Cafe. “But some people just want to have a drink with their friends. From where I stand now, we have a lot of other issues that we really need to take care of right now.”
Currently, the tax on a barrel of beer is $ 2.60. The bill will increase it to $ 72.60. For wine, the tax would increase from $ .65 to $ 10.65 per barrel.
If the bill passes, the amendments will take effect on January 1, 2022.