Therefore, this amendment proposes to reduce by one-half the increase in the tobacco excise and offset the losses by increasing the excise on distilled liquors. Like the tobacco tax, the Federal excise tax on liquor has remained unchanged for almost 3 decades. If it is time to adjust the excise tax on cigarettes for the effect of three decades of inflation, that argument applies with equal force to beverage alcohol. When a person drinks, on the other hand, other members of his family and society, in addition to the consumer, pay the price for his abuse. It is an unfortunate fact that approximately 26,000 American men, women, and children are killed in drunk driving incidents each year.
Alcohol abuse imposes massive economic costs upon today's society.
Billions of dollars are lost to health and medical expenses incurred from prolonged alcohol use, motor vehicle accidents, violent crimes attributed to liquor consumption, and social responses needed to care for those who suffer mental difficulties due to alcohol abuse. It is clear that both tobacco and alcohol have adverse health ramifications to those who partake of these habits excessively. This amendment is therefore fair and equitable in terms of estimated revenue and asks both of these industries to share in meeting the targets we have set.