Hopefully, this will curb drinking but maybe not. We will see.

Let the howling begin ... 50 PERCENT. Aughhhhhh. The world is coming to an end. Liquor sales will crash, bars will go out of business, and the hospitality industry will never recover. Panic in the streets and the destruction of our way of life! Or another way to look at it ... 3 whole pennies per dollar more per drink. If you cannot afford that; maybe you should be saving your money for a much more beneficial endeavor.

I do hope the Democrats would listen to the Republicans as to where to direct the funds. 15 million to advocates for the diabled seems to be asking for wasteful spending.

I will be visiting my local liquor store in June and making a MAJOR purchase of beverages, one that will last me until the next election.

Does that mean the $7.50 Natty Boh at the ballpark will go up also? (already)

The first two comments say all you need to know about liberals. The first wants the government to legislate behaviour by taxing people, or STEALING their money, the other socialist can't help but attack a group of people that doesn't agree with his/her point of view.

YAWN!

If I am understanding my local liquor store correctly, the tax is on each alcoholic drink (and the definition of a drink is 1oz.). If that is correct, the cost of a 1.75L of booze will go up by $6.50. Is this correct? If it is, the voting public will surely not accept this increase. I don't think someone is being honest with the statistics here!

I don't care about increasing the Alcohol tax. A 3% bump will not break anyone's bank, but PLEASE don't lie and say that it will curb underage drinking (it won't), or go to programs that assist the developmentally disabled (it won't). This money is earmarked for Balto City and PG County PERIOD. It does nothing but ensure that the Democratic Party in the State of Maryland retains the majority African-American vote in those jurisdictions by "buying" them off. If every jurisdiction in the state is paying the tax. We should ALL reap the results.
Gangster politics from the Democratic party in Maryland. Par for the course.

Yet another regressive sin tax. They should tax donations to the coffers of our pathetic, spend happy elected leaders instead...

Why is it ......that the rest of the state must be the ones responsible for footing the bill on PGC and Balto. City educational problems. I live in Harford Co. and haven't been into the city in over 2 1/2 years, and that was to visit an attorney who didn't live in the city either. I don't believe I've been into PGC since I was a junior in high school, playing basketball , which was 38 years ago.
Perhaps they would be wiser to open up a "special" slots parlor, for this venture.
All the while watching their political careers be shortened because they don't know how to control their own budgets and bank accounts.
Their bank accounts, with our money in them.

I will be purchasing a ample supply of beer and wine in June. Starting in July, all of our beer and wine will be bought in PA, DE or VA. The Democrats in Annapolis need to reduce spending across the board before they start increasing taxes.

There is an excellent wine dealer in DC who stocks wines not easily available in Baltimore. I am now motivated to give him more of my business.

@ yeahright

I guess those pesky liberals must be more sly than I realized. I actually thought the first post was from some neo-conservative Christian type (they're usually the one's who want to save us all from demon rum, not the libs). As for the second post you allude to, I'm assuming it must have been deleted. Otherwise, the post from afmcalax sounds as if he's right in your camp.

As for the post from Brain, it's all I can do to keep from laughing. You do realize that a reduction in alcohol consumption is the LAST thing the state is hoping for with this tax increase. If alcohol consumption were to drop by oh, let's say 50% as a result of this tax increase (don't worry Maryland legislature, it will never happen), there wouldn't be any $85 million increase in revenuse. That would be pretty embarrassing for the state, as apparently they've already spent $30 of the $85 they expect to reap (or should I say fleece).

@Yeah Right

Give us the Republican solution?

Oh, you don't have one other than to whine about decisions made by others....while you continue to never make a real decision.

Labeling entire groups of people shows you are no better than the people you criticize. In fact, you are worse beucase you brought nothing to the table at all....now go away and thanks for trying.

@Yeah Right

Please explain, with your limited IQ, how the second post attacks ANYONE or ANYTHING, as you so claim.

Republicans are some serious hypocrite whiners, always belittling people who mock their unedcuated views with facts and evidence.

Funny how no Republcian fees are labled "taxes" huh? right yeah right?

The alcohol tax is nothing but payola for Baltimore city and Prince Georges County for voting for MOM in 2010.
Taxes go up
fees go up
anything out of my pocket is a tax MOM
and once again the middle class gets crushed by Annapolis.
But, as a resident of NE Baltimore I certainly am getting the services that match my tax bill-NOT!

I have no problem with this tax, it's a luxury tax. I know many bar owners are not supportive of this tax - but it will just be passed on to the consumers (me). I'm not going to drink any less because of the tax. Like it or not, increased taxes are a necessity in order to keep our country running - especially now more than anytime.