Reason Foundation

Recent Research and Commentary

Why Privatizing Liquor Stores in Virginia to Fund Transportation Makes Sense

July 22, 2009, 2:12pm

Leonard Gilroy

Bob McDonnell has announced an innovative proposal to get Virginia out of the liquor retail business and using a portion of the proceeds to invest in transportation.

The Catastrophe of What Passes for Alcohol Policy Analysis

What costs does alcohol impose on California's taxpayers?
Policy Brief 78

May 12, 2009

Edward Stringham

Is alcohol a good like other economic goods, or is alcohol a "catastrophe" that should be heavily taxed?

Which States Make the Most Beer?

April 21, 2009, 6:19pm

Adrian Moore

SloshSpot has a cool map and post showing the number of US breweries per capita.

Reason.tv’s “Beer: An American Revolution” video looks how government regulations have protected the big beer companies and how the "microbrew movement gave rise to massive consumer choice."

Nothing to Toast in California's Proposed 'Dime a Drink' Tax

False claims about alcohol's costs and lost wages are being used to push tax increases

April 20, 2009

Edward Stringham

California's taxes just aren't high enough yet. So Assemblyman Jim Beall Jr., D-San Jose, has introduced a bill that would raise alcohol taxes by a dime a drink. The government figures it can raise $1.2 billion a year by taxing every drink you choose to have.

In a press release, Mr. Beall explained why you need to pay more taxes: "The alcohol industry creates devastating problems – traffic accidents, alcoholism – and walks away with money stuffed in its pockets while the public – including nondrinkers – are left to pay billions for the mess."

And you thought that glass of wine with your dinner wasn't hurting anybody.

Mr. Beall is parroting the Marin Institute's deceptive and inaccurate claim that alcohol "costs" California taxpayers $38 billion a year and that high taxes will somehow reduce high-risk alcohol consumption. Let's look at a few ways the folks at Marin allege alcohol is costing you money.

They contend drinking costs the state "$25.3 billion in lost productivity and reduced earnings."

That claim, simply, is false. My 2006 Reason Foundation study found that drinkers earn 10 percent to 14 percent more money than nondrinkers. Men who drink socially, visiting a bar at least once a month, bring home an additional 7 percent in pay.

California's Dime a Drink Tax Proposal

April 17, 2009, 10:07am

Edward Stringham

California's taxes just aren't high enough yet. So Assemblyman Jim Beall Jr., D-San Jose, has introduced a bill that would raise alcohol taxes by a dime a drink. The government figures it can raise $1.2 billion a year by taxing every drink you choose to have.

New Documentary Beer Wars and Live Event With Ben Stein On April 16th

April 6, 2009, 5:19pm

Reason Foundation is a partnering to bring you the new documentary Beer Wars. The film makes its world premiere in a special live simulcast event in over 400 theaters on Thursday, April 16th. Beer Wars tells the David and Goliath story of the American beer industry and takes you inside the big business of beer - where the big are getting bigger, consolidation reigns and free enterprise often takes a back seat. The evening will feature the debut of Beer Wars, followed by a live discussion led by Ben Stein and featuring some of America’s leading independent brewers and experts.

More »