S.F. Lawmaker Ponders Changes to Alcohol Fee for Raising Health Funds

Microbrewers and small-yield winemakers could be exempted from San Francisco Supervisor John Avalos' (D) proposal to impose a fee on alcoholic beverages to raise funds for paramedic and public health costs linked with alcohol misuse, the San Francisco Chronicle's "City Insider" reports.

During a Monday Board of Supervisors' Budget Committee hearing, Avalos said that he would consider an amendment to exempt such manufacturers.

Fee Details

The fee would add approximately:

• 3 cents to a 12-ounce bottle of beer;
• 3.5 cents to the average hard drink containing 1.5 ounces of alcohol; and
• 4.5 cents to a 6-ounce glass of wine.

Possible Economic Effects

Collecting the fee from alcohol wholesalers and distributors would raise an estimated $16 million annually to help cover alcohol-related health costs.

However, alcohol vendors have united in opposition to Avalos' proposed fee, arguing that it would eliminate jobs and put further strain on businesses already suffering because of the recession (Gordon, "City Insider," San Francisco Chronicle, 8/9).