BOSTON (AP) - Liquor store owners in Boston aren’t exactly toasting a proposal to put a 2 percent tax on alcohol sales in the city.
A public hearing is scheduled for Wednesday on the proposal from City Council President Bill Linehan and Councilor Frank Baker. The councilors say the tax would raise about $20 million to use for substance abuse and prevention programs.
Smitty Patel of North Station Liquors tells the Boston Herald (https://bit.ly/1ErlPsM ) the tax - if approved by the council and state Legislature- could drive away customers and hurt business “big time.”
Leonard Rothenberg, who operates Federal Wine & Spirits on State Street, predicts he’ll lose one-third of his business to liquor stores outside the city.
Linehan says he’ll share data at the hearing on addiction rates and the rising costs of treatment.
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Information from: Boston Herald, https://www.bostonherald.com
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