Nearly 2,000 individuals affiliated with the beverage alcohol sector contacted their members of Congress Tuesday to urge passage of the bipartisan Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act (H.R.1175/S. 362) as part of a “Day of Action” supported by a broad coalition of beverage alcohol trade associations.
Participants from every state in the country called on Congress to prioritize the passage of the legislation, which makes permanent the two-year federal excise tax reduction on distilled spirits, wine, beer and cider products. The daylong push resulted in more than 6,000 engagements with congressional offices through emails, phone calls and social media channels.
“Craft beverage producers are found in every corner of the country and are active members of their communities, spurring billions of dollars in economic development and tourism,” the coalition said. “In less than three months, the tax reduction that has enabled countless producers to reinvest in their businesses and communities will expire. This critical piece of legislation has broad bipartisan support with 288 cosponsors in the House and 70 in the Senate. Congress must act now to pass the Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act.”
Absent congressional action, beverage alcohol producers will face an increase in their federal excise taxes starting January 1. For some small producers, the tax hike could be as high as 400 percent. The threat of such a steep spike in costs already has created great uncertainty for small craft producers and will further compound the strain on companies, small and large, being burdened by tariffs from unrelated trade disputes.
The coalition supporting the “Day of Action” included the American Craft Spirits Association, Brewers Association, Beer Institute, Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, Wine Institute, WineAmerica and the United States Association of Cider Makers.