ABL Battles Ignition Interlocks, Alcohol Taxes and License Fees

The American Beverage Licensees is gearing up for several battles on your behalf. The draft Surface Transportation Authorization Act of 2009 includes a new provision withholding highway funding for states that have not enacted a law requiring the installation of an ignition interlock device for all first-time alcohol impaired driving offenders. ABL is fighting this federal blackmail proposal which threatens our industry.

ABL is also working against a proposal to raise all federal alcohol taxes to $16 per proof gallon as part of the federal health care plan. The current federal excise tax rates are $13.50 per proof gallon for spirits, $1.07 per proof gallon for wine and $18 per barrel for beer.

Another threat to retailers on ABL’s radar is the Obama Administration’s budget proposal to fund the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) with new “fees for services rendered to the regulated community”. It creates three “fee categories” (one for each of the three tiers of the alcohol beverage industry), including a $300 fee for retailers. It is unclear what services TTB does or will provide to retailers necessitating this fee. TTB’s $109 million budget is currently supported by the general fund. Keep an eye out for ABL’s requests for your participation in their grassroots efforts to prevent these damaging proposals from becoming law.