(CNSNews.com) – Alcohol consumption by San Francisco residents costs the city “tens of millions of dollars in harm every year,” according to an alcohol industry watchdog that is pushing a local “alcohol mitigation fee” to offset the costs.
Under a bill introduced by San Francisco Supervisor John Avalos, the city would charge alcohol wholesalers a fee -- 0.076-cents for every ounce of alcohol sold -- to defray the costs linked to alcohol consumption in the city.
If passed, it would be the nation's first local charge for the “harm” attributed to alcohol.
Supporters of the bill say there is a direct correlation between wholesale alcohol sales/ alcohol consumption and health care, human services, and public safety.
“San Francisco government agencies cannot continue to subsidize the alcohol industry,” said the Marin Institute, a group that “envisions communities free of the alcohol industry’s negative influence.”
"It's time for Big Alcohol, including wholesalers, to pay its fair share. A local alcohol charge-for-harm fee is long overdue," said Bruce Lee Livingston, executive director of Marin Institute.
Alcohol-related “harms” are said to include the cost of treatment, prevention, ambulance services, hospitalization, police activity and the criminal justice system.
Advocates say the fee will restore funding at a time when essential health and human services budgets are being cut.
The fee will affect alcohol wholesalers -- not retailers, hotels, bars or restaurants, Livingston said. He noted that most alcohol wholesalers are located outside San Francisco, and most alcohol production is controlled by three global corporations based in Europe.
“This fee is trivial to San Francisco consumers and negligible to businesses, while every resident pays for the health, medical and transport services," Livingston added.
Avalos estimates the fee would add less than a nickel to the cost of a drink, press reports said.
Under a bill introduced by San Francisco Supervisor John Avalos, the city would charge alcohol wholesalers a fee -- 0.076-cents for every ounce of alcohol sold -- to defray the costs linked to alcohol consumption in the city.
If passed, it would be the nation's first local charge for the “harm” attributed to alcohol.
Supporters of the bill say there is a direct correlation between wholesale alcohol sales/ alcohol consumption and health care, human services, and public safety.
“San Francisco government agencies cannot continue to subsidize the alcohol industry,” said the Marin Institute, a group that “envisions communities free of the alcohol industry’s negative influence.”
"It's time for Big Alcohol, including wholesalers, to pay its fair share. A local alcohol charge-for-harm fee is long overdue," said Bruce Lee Livingston, executive director of Marin Institute.
Alcohol-related “harms” are said to include the cost of treatment, prevention, ambulance services, hospitalization, police activity and the criminal justice system.
Advocates say the fee will restore funding at a time when essential health and human services budgets are being cut.
The fee will affect alcohol wholesalers -- not retailers, hotels, bars or restaurants, Livingston said. He noted that most alcohol wholesalers are located outside San Francisco, and most alcohol production is controlled by three global corporations based in Europe.
“This fee is trivial to San Francisco consumers and negligible to businesses, while every resident pays for the health, medical and transport services," Livingston added.
Avalos estimates the fee would add less than a nickel to the cost of a drink, press reports said.
New York boosts cigarette tax
In an unrelated development, New York State has increased its cigarette tax to $4.35 a pack – the nation’s highest cigarette tax. The state also is increasing the tax on other tobacco products and taking action to make sure taxes are paid on cigarettes sold by Native American tribes to non-tribal members.
“Together, these actions will prevent kids from smoking and using other tobacco products, motivate smokers to quit, and save lives and health care dollars,” said the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids.
The group is urging the state to increase funding for tobacco prevention and cessation programs.
According to the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, the average state cigarette tax will be $1.45 per pack when the New York increase is factored in.
New York is the sixth state to increase its cigarette tax this year, joining Utah ($1 increase), New Mexico (75 cents), Washington ($1), Hawai'i (40 cents) and South Carolina (50 cents).
In an unrelated development, New York State has increased its cigarette tax to $4.35 a pack – the nation’s highest cigarette tax. The state also is increasing the tax on other tobacco products and taking action to make sure taxes are paid on cigarettes sold by Native American tribes to non-tribal members.
“Together, these actions will prevent kids from smoking and using other tobacco products, motivate smokers to quit, and save lives and health care dollars,” said the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids.
The group is urging the state to increase funding for tobacco prevention and cessation programs.
According to the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, the average state cigarette tax will be $1.45 per pack when the New York increase is factored in.
New York is the sixth state to increase its cigarette tax this year, joining Utah ($1 increase), New Mexico (75 cents), Washington ($1), Hawai'i (40 cents) and South Carolina (50 cents).
Millions of your friends and neighbors, waiters, bartenders and small business owners who run your local hotels, bars and restaurants will have their jobs threatened this year as lawmakers propose to increase alcohol taxes. The last time Federal taxes were raised on alcohol, $1.3 billion in wages were lost and 98,000 people found themselves out of work.
Join the California Alliance for Hospitality Jobs (CAHJ)! You will receive updates on pending legislation and information from CAHJ and our national partners, giving you the power to fight new taxes and fees on beverage alcohol.
Our state’s decision makers need know that hospitality workers play an integral part in California’s economic recovery. 
CAHJ is a coalition of employees, suppliers, restaurateurs, business owners trade associations and concerned citizens who work in and with the hospitality industry. If you have any questions about our fight, drop us a note.