The Oregon Health Authority is proposing a tax increase on beer, wine and cider that would generate $293 million in new revenue during the 2021-23 biennium. The hike would translate to an additional tax of 7 cents per 12-ounce serving of beer or cider and about 23 cents on a five-ounce serving of wine. The current tax is 0.8 cents for 12 ounces of beer or cider and 2.5 cents for five ounces of wine.
Oddly, distilled spirits are not included in the proposal.
Michael LaLonde, president and CEO of Deschutes Brewery writes a guest column for the Bend Bulletin here in the impacts a tax hike would have on the industry.