Alcohol tax could finance health care

(WWLP) - The federal government is considering a plan to raise taxes on beer, wine, and sugary sodas.

Consumers could end up paying nearly two dollars more for a case of beer and that money would help fund universal health insurance. Beer taxes would go up by 48 cents a six-pack. Wine taxes would increase by 49 cents per bottle, and the tax on hard liquor would jump by 40 cents per fifth. Advocates for the increased taxes say this money could help cover an estimated 50 million uninsured Americans.

22News talked to local residents who were purchasing alcohol for their Memorial Day weekend festivities. They had mixed reactions to the proposal. "Well I think we're overtaxed already. There is enough taxes out there. It's time to reduce the size of government and reduce taxes on the consumer," said Harry Moore of Southampton.

Mandy Gerry of Northampton supports the raise. "I think government has been hitting cities and towns really hard. We don't have the revenue that we used to have and I support anything we can do to raise revenue. I wish it wasn't like this."

There could also be a new tax on soda and sugary drinks as well. Supporters say these items contribute to obesity. Diet soda would be exempted from this tax.