WKOW 27: Madison, WI Breaking News, Weather and SportsStanding room only at beer tax hearing

Standing room only at beer tax hearing

MADISON (WKOW) -- It's a contentious debate for those on both sides of the aisle at a public hearing for a proposed bill that would raise the state beer tax.

Legislators, supporters and opponents of Assembly Bill 287 filled the public hearing room - even overflowing into the hallway.

The bill would raise Wisconsin's beer tax 2.4 cents a bottle, with the money raised directed to pay for costs associated with alcohol abuse. More than 200 people registered at the hearing. The bill's sponsors estimate they would get 50-million dollars a year from the tax. The tax of 10-dollars a barrel.. would support grants for alcohol treatment centers and programs.. as well as pay for more law enforcement to enforce drunk driving laws.

Sponsor Terese Berceau, D- Madison, says, "We can't just wish these problems away, we can't just say talk about it, it needs some resources."

Numerous small breweries showed up to speak against the bill. Dylan Buttera drove almost two hours from central Wisconsin to show his opposition. His parents run a small brewery in Plover, Wisconsin, called O'So. Buttera says this tax would especially hurt the small breweries.

Buttera says, "With a 500 percent tax increase, from two to $10 a barrel: that makes production costs go up, that means if we gotta make our money we gotta make it somewhere or we gotta cut costs. So cut from the staff, otherwise the brewery could close."

Among those testifying for the bill, was Wendy Calvillo of Fort Atkinson. She lost her son and her husband to a first time drunk driver in February of 2009. She says she's hoping a beer tax would not only deter, but possibly start a change to a culture of drinking.

Calvillo says, "I don't want anyone to go through what we as a family have collectively gone through, it is debilitating and for someone to recklessly get behind a vehicle, it's senseless."

An entire school group from Beloit also came. They're hoping to stop underage drinking - or what they call the beginning of the problem. Sakisha Smith, a high school junior, says, "My aunt got into a car crash with a semi-driver, he was drunk.. she did not make it."

Yet the debate continues. Buttera says he can't imagine going through something like that but he doesn't believe taxing breweries will fix the problem. Other Buttera says, "What it comes down to is the breweries are not the problem. It's just the same as fast food restaurants do not make people gain weight, it's just that the people choose to eat there and in this case the people chose to drink beer. We're not any more responsible than a fast food restaurant would be."

Perhaps the comment of one lawmaker, points to the core, of the issue.

Alvin Ott, R- 3rd District, says, "We cannot do it alone ladies and gentlemen.. laws aren't going to solve this problem. and neither is money... It's about the people in the state of Wisconsin and how we want to continue to tolerate irresponsibility.. and the cost."

Wisconsin has the third lowest tax on beer.. in the country.. coming in before only Wyoming and Missouri.