Politics & Government

Beer Tax Hike Killed

NH House Ways and Means Committee deems House Bill 168 inexpedient to legislate.

Less than a week after hearing NH brewers testified against a proposed beer tax hike, the NH House Ways and Means Committee overwhelmingly voted to kill it.

The Union Leader reported Wednesday that the House panel voted, 14-2, to deem House Bill 168 inexpedient to legislate. The legislation that was co-sponsored by NH Rep. Charles Weed, D-Keene, and NH Rep. Richard Eaton, D-Greenville, sought a 10-cent per gallon increase that would have provided more than $4 million for state alcohol and substance abuse prevention programs.

Earlier this month, hike a "sin tax" that would adversely affect microbreweries and nano breweries. At the NH House Ways and Committee public hearing for the bill on Jan. 23, several NH brewers and other trade groups said it would cause a negative ripple effect for the industry and make New Hampshire the highest beer tax state in New England.

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