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Tax would destroy local microbrews
In my opnion
by Tyler Graf | Opinion editor
PUBLISHED ON 5/29/07 IN Commentary
Over the past decade, Portland, Ore., has become the fastest growing beer Mecca in the world. According to the unfortunately named beer writer and expert Michael Jackson, Portland has more breweries per capital than any other city in the country, and possibly the world.
That's right, the world. Tschuss, Berlin. Adieu, Brussels. Get bent, Dublin. Portland is becoming the beer capital of the world. And not just Portland. Stop in any small or midsized town in Oregon, and you will come across a slew of craft breweries.
Nothing can get in our way - well, with the possible exception of the Oregon State Legislature, which is attempting to push through an imprudent brewers' tax.
For the last 30 years, Oregon has had one of the lowest beer taxes in the country. But with the current beer boon, the Oregon legislature is eyeballing a number of proposed bills that would raise this tax.
This is so incredibly transparent: Oregon brewers have toiled for years to build their businesses. In doing so, they have concocted products that have won numerous awards and whetted numerous palates - palates far too long subjected to the watery lager of the Midwest.
France has its wine, Oregon its beer.
I've lived in Germany, and I've traveled through Europe. In addition to this, I've tasted a number of different beers from Asia, South America and Oceania. Oregon beers rank among the best, for the best price, of any around the world - behind, perhaps, only Belgian beers; but it's hard to compete with a hearty, 11-percent-alcohol-by-volume bottle of Delirium Noel.
If this legislation passes, then it will become abundantly apparent that Oregon relies far too heavily on taxing the so-called "sin" industries. Cigarettes are already subjected to the third-highest rate of taxation in the nation. Although Oregon currently taxes breweries at a reasonably low level, comparative to other states, the proposed legislation would create one of the highest beer taxes in the nation.
That's right, the world. Tschuss, Berlin. Adieu, Brussels. Get bent, Dublin. Portland is becoming the beer capital of the world. And not just Portland. Stop in any small or midsized town in Oregon, and you will come across a slew of craft breweries.
Nothing can get in our way - well, with the possible exception of the Oregon State Legislature, which is attempting to push through an imprudent brewers' tax.
For the last 30 years, Oregon has had one of the lowest beer taxes in the country. But with the current beer boon, the Oregon legislature is eyeballing a number of proposed bills that would raise this tax.
This is so incredibly transparent: Oregon brewers have toiled for years to build their businesses. In doing so, they have concocted products that have won numerous awards and whetted numerous palates - palates far too long subjected to the watery lager of the Midwest.
France has its wine, Oregon its beer.
I've lived in Germany, and I've traveled through Europe. In addition to this, I've tasted a number of different beers from Asia, South America and Oceania. Oregon beers rank among the best, for the best price, of any around the world - behind, perhaps, only Belgian beers; but it's hard to compete with a hearty, 11-percent-alcohol-by-volume bottle of Delirium Noel.
If this legislation passes, then it will become abundantly apparent that Oregon relies far too heavily on taxing the so-called "sin" industries. Cigarettes are already subjected to the third-highest rate of taxation in the nation. Although Oregon currently taxes breweries at a reasonably low level, comparative to other states, the proposed legislation would create one of the highest beer taxes in the nation.
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