2005, Alcohol Tax Alert, Louisiana

Your Voice can make a difference.
.pdf copy to download and print
2005 Louisiana Alcohol Excise Tax Report
We must remind law makers that the
 "Sin Tax" increases for alcohol offer great hope in allowing Louisiana to reach the national average in treatment availability.


HB436  2005 Legislation to Increase The Alcohol Excise Tax

2005 Legislative Bill List
Update April 26, 2005

Currently The Alcohol Excise Tax Legislative effort is lead by Bruce Hammett, the Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee.

Teachers are counting on the Excise Tax, and Governor Blanco is pledging her support for an increase in all 3 "Sin Taxes", at present no monies are dedicated to Treating Alcohol Problems.

**Meetings held by members of HopeNetworks indicate a need for our members who want to communicate their support for Alcohol Abuse Treatment--must send a clear message of support, otherwise those with a very strong organized  voice will be heard by  lawmakers (Our Teachers).

The last effort to increase the tax included the Teachers too, it failed, the lack of increase and rate of inflation over the last 50yrs, means the Alcohol Excise Tax could be doubled, and have little effect on consumption, therefore raising 50 million more than currently collected.

*Current efforts for the Teacher Pay raise alone, calls for only a 25% increase in the alcohol excise tax current rate (raising 16 million) this could be doubled, and still not reach the southern average for wine and spirits.

Clearly For the Prevention of Underage Drinking, the tax should pass, however with the ongoing URGENT need for more than 32 medical detox beds, and more than 8% of the treatment need being met statewide, some monies should also be dedicated to Louisiana Office for Addictive Disorders to aid in getting alcohol abuse treatment to those in need.

What you can do?

1.  Write the committee members on House Ways and Means let them know the Alcohol Excise Tax is:

1.  Long Overdue- 50yrs all other "Sin Taxes" have been raised numerous times, only Alcohol has not been increased.

-Gambling Treatment is mostly funded by taxes on Gaming in our state.

-Tobacco taxes are used for cancer costs, while alcohol treatment, and related medical expenditures are not paid for by the alcohol excise tax in place.

2.  Public Health Initiative Recommended to State Legislatures  for Prevention of Underage Drinking- Will reduce Underage Drinking

3.  Monies are Desperately needed to increase Alcohol Abuse Treatment, and common sense says the Alcohol Excise Tax provides "Fee For Use" for those who drink the most, will also pay into their own treatment.

Addiction Problems Cost Louisiana tax payers an estimated 8 Billion annually in direct and indirect costs.  Alcohol is the drug of choice for teens, and illegal underage drinking decreases with price increase.

The Solution:  You Drink, You Pay.
The costs that can be measured (direct costs) are est. $800 Million each year.

Dime a' Drink increase could raise est.  180 Million in Revenue each year.

Not all Louisiana citizens drink, but we all pay for costs and consequences that do.

Those who choose to drink should invest in costs for predictable harm to communities, alcohol excise taxes allow states to raise revenue to cover costs they are forced to pay out for direct expenses to government related to alcohol consumption

Help us Help Louisiana!
What you can do:
In Louisiana contact us Info@Hopenetworks  We will send you a simple "how-to" guide on our statewide collaborative to support the prevention measures of an alcohol excise tax.
Read Louisiana News Online with Commentary by Samantha-Hope Atkins

2005 Legislative Bill List   Alcohol Costs to Communities


DWI info  

Get Updates-

Alcohol/Other Drug Help Louisiana

Outside of Louisiana?
Begin Organizing people, organizations
A good source for finding state statistics:  CSPI
Send us updates to send out to our entire network
Info@HopeNetworks.org

Report to Congress outlines Excise Tax for States serious about tackling illegal underage drinking.
Landmark report and call for action  on Alcohol Risks to Youth overview here

Prevention Effort by Increasing Alcohol Taxes
Alcohol Problems--Greatest Costs....Our Kids
Tragic health, social, and economic problems result from the use of alcohol by youth. Underage drinking is a causal factor in a host of serious problems, including homicide, suicide, traumatic injury, drowning, burns, violent and property crime, high risk sex, fetal alcohol syndrome, alcohol poisoning, and need for treatment for alcohol abuse and dependence.

Look up your state's ranking for Teen Deaths

Locate your STATES Underage Drinking Costs  Estimates courtesy of America's Partners to Prevent Underage Drinking

Underage Drinking Fact Sheet

National Resources for Info and Facts

National News    Alcohol News     '03  News Archives

2. Reduce Underage Drinking and further need by our high number of uninsured citizens who need Treatment and Recovery support.

3.  It is time!!!

LA has had No Alcohol Tax Increase in more than 50 Years!

Underage drinking cost the citizens of Louisiana $1.1 billion in 2001.

These costs include medical care, work loss, and pain and suffering associated with the multiple problems resulting from the use of alcohol by youth.

This translates to a cost of $2,258 per year for each youth in the State. Louisiana ranks 21st highest among the 50 states for the cost per youth of underage drinking.

Excluding pain and suffering from these costs, the direct costs of underage drinking incurred through medical care and loss of work cost Louisiana $416 million each year.
Estimates courtesy of America's Partners to Prevent Underage Drinking

Louisiana ranks in the top five for most  teen deaths by accident, homicide, and suicide

Build Healthier Safer Communities to Bring Business to Louisiana!

Fiscal Effects of Increasing the Alcohol Excise Tax
Increasing the alcohol excise tax also represents and engine for economic growth by increasing the desirability of Louisiana for businesses and tourists by reducing the visibility of alcohol related problems. (2003 Alcohol Excise Fiscal Report, Dr. Richard Scribner)



HopeNetworks encourages you to get involved!  Contact Louisiana Alliance to Prevent Underage Drinking.
 More facts on alcohol and other drug addiction

Last Efforts-2 of the Alcohol Excise Tax Bills Proposed in 2002

HB163      HB227

Economic Report-Problem Drinkers, Underage consumption---Good customers for the Alcohol Industry!

2005- TP Article, House Ways and Means Committee Hears Testimony by Alcohol Industry on how this Excise Tax is not wanted by their industry

4/12/05  Governor to pursue Six Taxes