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WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE?
Alcohol Costs go way beyond the bottle and its contents.
Drunk driving,
higher insurance premiums, increased health care costs, fetal alcohol syndrome, domestic
violence, child abuse, sexual assault and other crimes are also Alcohol Costs.
Add to that the price of Underage Drinking, which can lead to academic failure,
juvenile delinquency, other consequent drug abuse, and teenage pregnancy,
and the total Alcohol Costs in New Mexico are pushed well beyond the billion dollar mark,
in addition to the human suffering, which accompanies all this.
WHO IS PAYING THE PRICE FOR ALCOHOL ABUSE?
Not the alcohol industry, nor the consumers.
Alcohol sales continue to grow every year. The industry lobbies the Legislature every year
to continue to pass on the huge cost burden to the public, because if the tax on alcohol were
increased, sales and profits might decrease.
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Nothing changes, since those elected to look after the public's interests are
being influenced to turn a blind eye towards the huge amount of Alcohol Costs,
and more in human misery. Year after year, these costs are passed on…. In 2002,
alcohol-related hospital charges totaled nearly $75 million. DWI crashes alone cost
the general public almost $1 billion per year, which equals $557 per capita, or $1.00
dollar for every drink consumed, while the current state tax on a 12 ounce bottle of beer
is less than 4 cents. The Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation documents the
costs of underage drinking at 941 million dollars.
The total alcohol excise tax collected amounts to just $39 million, or only 4% of the cost.
One way or another, we pay for the difference, while alcohol consumers and the alcohol industry
pay nothing for the damage that alcohol does to our society. Taxpayers and victims pick up the tab.
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HOW CAN YOU HELP CHANGE THIS TRAVESTY?
First, browse through our web site to learn our concerns regarding alcohol abuse.
You will see that our objective is "to Stop the increased burden of Alcohol-related Costs on Taxpayers."
You will also see how our proposal will benefit you. Then, when you have read the material, please
return to this page, and support us by casting your vote.
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HOME /
TAXPAYER'S BURDEN ON ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION /
ALCOHOL ABUSE AND UNDERAGE DRINKING / BRAIN DRAIN
OBJECTIVE /
PROPOSED LEGISLATION /
LINKS /
RECOMMENDED NEW OPTIONS FOR ALCOHOL ABUSE TREATMENT
Website Administrator: Margaret Oster
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