The effects of the beer tax hike were devastating.
Approximately 60,000 Americans lost their jobs in brewing, distributing, retailing, and related industries. Rolling back the beer tax increase would benefit our nation's economy and could create thousands of American jobs. The beer industry directly or indirectly accounts for nearly 1.8 million jobs nationwide now; a roll back could significantly increase that number.
Nearly 90 percent of the beer consumed in the U.S. is domestically produced. At a time when so many manufacturing jobs are being lost, it is unfair to allow the U.S. tax code to contribute to job loss in the beer industry.
Additionally, the high quality domestic manufacturing jobs in the U.S. beer industry are already being unfairly suppressed by high taxation. Consider that a recent study found the total tax burden on beer to add up to 44 percent of the price paid. The $27 billion in taxes that this represents is fourteen times greater than what domestic brewers make in pre-tax profits.
