Last updated on October 12th, 2015 at 10:39 am
The Massachusetts Restaurant Association (MRA) recently joined with operators to testify against a city of Boston proposal that would add a 1 to 2 percent tax on all alcohol transactions within the city.
The hearing was the second this year on the proposal. Boston City council members heard directly from both large and small operators about the impacts that this tax would have on customer dining habits.
According to an MRA newsletter, “We do not believe that customers should face a triple tax at the local level for enjoying a legal product. This triple tax would be in addition to taxes already paid at both the federal and state levels of government. If this were to pass, customers would be paying nearly 10 percent for the privilege of enjoying a glass of wine or bottle of beer within Boston.
“Boston already imposes a local option meals tax, which has generated more than $120 million since its enactment and can be used at the city’s discretion. The yearly amount collected from this tax has increased more than 40 percent since it was first put in place a few years ago. If the city believes that attention should be directed at treatment and rehabilitation programs then the monies collected from this fund should be reallocated. Raising the tax on glass of wine or a bottle of beer is not going to solve the problem.”
