Maryland state legislators have been busy coming up with various schemes to increase the amount of money they collect from citizens enjoying a drink. There are a number of tax proposals floating around the Maryland General Assembly targeting beer, wine and spirits.
Taxes on alcohol in Maryland were last raised about 30 years ago. Consumers pay about 2 cents per drink of wine or spirits and a penny per beer in state taxes. Proposals in Annapolis call for an increase in those taxes to 5 cents per drink.
Shop owners and tavern operators say increasing taxes may cause some customers to cross nearby state lines to make purchases.
