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Md. Alcohol Tax Revenues Miss The Mark

By: Rebecca Blatt // September 12, 2011
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Maryland's 50 percent increase in alcohol tax rates generated an additional $6 million revenue during July.
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Maryland's 50 percent increase in alcohol tax rates generated an additional $6 million revenue during July.

Maryland is releasing preliminary revenue figures for a 50 percent increase in the state's sales tax on alcohol this summer. The state took in approximately $6 million of additional revenue in July.

David Roose, Director of the Maryland Bureau of Revenue Estimates, says it's hard to tell from the first month of a new tax how much will be raised on a yearly basis.

He says several factors could have affected the July revenues. People may have stocked up on alcoholic beverages in June, and seasonal factors can play a role.

If the figure for July turns out to be the average, it would add up to approximately $72 million in extra state revenues a year. Initial estimates projected that number to be approximately $85 million a year.

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