Small laws, and small tax increases, here and there may not seem like much but they have the uncanny ability to develop into bigger things.
While this is not prohibition in the traditional sense, the city planners don't want alcohol to go away, they want the tax money, they don't care if you drink too much, just as long as you pay the tax.
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors want to tax wholesalers and distributors that would add about 3 cents to a 12-ounce bottle of beer, 4.5 cents to a 6-ounce glass of wine and 3.5 cents to a standard drink with 1.5 ounces of hard alcohol.
What it's really all about is the $16 million a year it would bring in, according to the city's controller's office.
Once they get a taste of $16 million dollars, where will it go from there?
Once they get a taste of $16 million dollars, where will it go from there?
We are promised, the money would be used to help cover expenses the taxpayers end up paying for emergency room visits that go unpaid, prevention programs, a sobering center and ambulance transports.
San Francisco Supervisor John Avalos, the the main supporter of the legislation said:
"As an elected official, I am constantly asked to do more to help those who have fallen prey to alcohol abuse. This fee will enable the city to continue the work to make our sidewalks safer and provide hope and dignity for people struggling in the streets and alleys,"
Well, if $16 million dollars can do all that for the sidewalks and struggling people, imagine what $30 million could do, how about $50 million?
Well, if $16 million dollars can do all that for the sidewalks and struggling people, imagine what $30 million could do, how about $50 million?
Where does it stop?
When it comes to tax money it usually doesn't stop.
The alcohol and hospitality industries are against the tax, arguing that it would hurt business and kill jobs, and this idea is supported by Supervisor Bevan Dufty.
"I just think that in this difficult economic time, adding on a new fee is not the right thing to do," said Dufty.
And if it does pass, Mayor Gavin Newsom has promised to veto the legislation.
We know the photo above doesn't fit the report, but we love the photo.
So perhaps at the end of the day this piece of tax legislation won't pass in San Francisco.
But beware, there are money hungry politicians everywhere who claim they only want to help.
We know the photo above doesn't fit the report, but we love the photo.
So perhaps at the end of the day this piece of tax legislation won't pass in San Francisco.
But beware, there are money hungry politicians everywhere who claim they only want to help.
