Evening star., 1940-07-01
Defense Taxes
Hike Prices
In District
Gasoline and Liquor
Cost Buyer More
Starting Today

The country's expanded national
defense program was brought home
to citizens in Washington and else
where today as new taxes designed
to help pay for increased prepared
ness went into effect on gasoline,
beer, liquor and cigarettes.
The additional half cent a gallon
on gasoline brought the price in the
District generally to 16 cents for
regular and 18 cents for high-test
brands.
Beer, Liquor Prices Vary.
Increases on beer and liquor prices
varied. Most bars and taprooms
stated there would be no change in
the charge in individual drinks at
present. In few instances. a s.
cent increase in mixed drinks is
contemplated.
The Reconsideration additional
levy on liquors and ST barrel added
to beer taxes, however, will be felt
IN sales of bottle quantities, par
tlcularly in large lot transactions.
Many stores formerly selling 10-cent
bottles OF beer at three for Is cents
announced the price henceforth will
be 10 cents straight. Liquor BUYERS
will find retail prices higher today
IN virtually all stores by five cents
on half pints, 10 cents or pints anc
from 20 to IS cents and even higher
on quarts.
Carton Prices Increase.
Cigarette smokers will find that,
for the time being at least, the one
half cent a package increased tax
will have little effect on retail prices
In purchases in less than carton lots.
AT most counters 13-cent cigarettes
still sold at two packages for a
quarter today, with 15-cent cigarettes
remaining at two for 49, Purchasers
OF cartons in one large drug store
chain found the 13-cent brands in
creased one cent from the former
price of $120; with the 10-cent
variety raised from 95 to 80 cents
and the 15-cent brands raised from
$l.38 to $1.40.
In the theater amusement field
the present tax of cent on every
10 cents is to start with tickets cost
ing 81 cents instead of tickets cost
ing Al cents as heretofore. This
means that moviegoers who have
been tax-exempt on Is to 40 cent
ticket admission charges must pay
at the new rates.
A rush of customers was noted in
retail liquor stores here Saturday.
A majority of the buyers in this in
stance, however, were interested in
quantity purchases, with case lots
predominating. w.. $3.50
Pay Day Came Too Late.
Several liquor store owners re-
marked that Saturdays sales would
have been higher still had the day
for the new tax come after the Gov
ernment's bi-weekly pay day. with
my customers" said one, June %
was long, long time from June IS.
The change just before a pay day
didn't help at ALL"
Beer manufacturers and distribu-
tors noted moderate to heavy addi-
tional sales last week, apparently
due to accumulation of advance
stocks by many wholesalers and re-
tailers.
The Alcoholic Beverage Control
Board reported that it had received
rumors that many liquor and beer
dealers had nllrchased heavily 10 ct
week. An A. B. c. official explained
that while the board discouraged
these unusually large volume pur-
chasers, they did not violate any
A. B. c. regulation except possibly
that limiting the credit wholesaler
might extend to retailer to a "rea-
sonable" amount. No complaints
had been received in that connec-
ton, it was said.