tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7315262155858800734.post7912329450450819929..comments2024-03-09T00:31:10.190-05:00Comments on Seen Through a Glass: Pittsburgh Beer Lovers: Volunteer this weekend!Lew Brysonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04084380741402026573noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7315262155858800734.post-46341316744291454752008-09-13T17:26:00.000-04:002008-09-13T17:26:00.000-04:00lew i was in pittsburgh in august and the only bar...lew i was in pittsburgh in august and the only bar that charged the beer tax was the way overated FATHEADS .great beer prices in pittsburgh bars that i will never see in new yorkAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7315262155858800734.post-44513252375748558182008-09-12T16:44:00.000-04:002008-09-12T16:44:00.000-04:00Frank,Couldn't disagree with you more. The point i...Frank,<BR/><BR/>Couldn't disagree with you more. The point is that the tax is new, and people are fired up...so why not take it off? And if we can get them used to the idea of standing up against booze piracy -- much like Yuengling and craft beers pried open people's brand loyalty -- then we can move on to other things. Just because you can't get everything you want, doesn't mean you shouldn't try to get what you can.Lew Brysonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04084380741402026573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7315262155858800734.post-44686337965724216442008-09-12T16:26:00.000-04:002008-09-12T16:26:00.000-04:00Oh I know I just find it ironic that people around...Oh I know I just find it ironic that people around here are all fired up about this 10% pour tax, when it reality it is the least of inefficiencies related to the coercion that is the alcoholic beverage industry in this county and state. I mean its silly. If we could get this kind of support to start liberalizing the blue laws in the state you might see real liberalization, but we would rather expend energy on 10% that at least is going to be redistributed to as a public good (I am not in favor of this tax mind you, I am just trying to be logical) as opposed to the coercion of suppliers at every level of the distribution chain in this state. As far as sin taxes paying for public goods I can think of about a dozen other examples that have gone on for decades/centuries and I don't see or anybody out there protesting. Whiskey rebellion what a joke. But go ahead don't let me discourage you or anybody else but this is textbook missing the forest for the trees.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7315262155858800734.post-58748619444943719392008-09-12T15:26:00.000-04:002008-09-12T15:26:00.000-04:00I see the board...who would you expect to be on it...I see the board...who would you expect to be on it? Private citizens? This is like the people who make a big deal about beer distributors contributing money to the Maine beer tax repeal movement: it's their main issue. <BR/><BR/>But don't think things are different in other states. Sure, the six-pack thing is peculiar to us, but the rest of this jockeying isn't. The license situation's just as screwed in New Jersey, just as screwed in Indiana, and so on. <BR/><BR/>I don't intend to support them on license limitations. But when they're providing framework to fight something we can all agree on...why not join them? Common cause works everywhere.Lew Brysonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04084380741402026573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7315262155858800734.post-47210069486469662722008-09-12T15:18:00.000-04:002008-09-12T15:18:00.000-04:00It is not a front for the tavern association I di...It is not a front for the tavern association I did not mean to imply that. But it is a front for tavern owners look at (the board for Pete's sake). It is is a very salient point Lew. Out of one side of their mouth Allegheny tavern owners are crying to get government interference out their business when it takes money out of their pockets,(via FACT) Out of the other side of their mouth tavern owners are all about the importance of of Pa being a "control state" when its suits their interest and allows them to earn huge margins on take out business and put up barriers to entry to competition like limiting liquor licenses (via the lobbying efforts of Pa tavern association) You can't have it both ways. Well I guess you can if you are in Pennsylvania.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7315262155858800734.post-16584246320565863602008-09-12T14:26:00.000-04:002008-09-12T14:26:00.000-04:00Hey, Frank, do you have anything to back up your a...Hey, Frank, do you have anything to back up your allegation that FACT is a front for the Tavern Owners Association? Could be, I don't know, but if it's not, you've got no point. Two wrongs don't make any kind of right. I'll take things one at a time: this new tax is grabbing money right out of consumers' pockets when they buy a drink, and out of businesses pockets when it makes the cost of going out so much more expensive that people don't spend as much. I'll make it real simple: <B>beer tax = <I>bad</I></B>. And yeah, six-pack/case law = bad, and PA liquor license system = bad. It irks me that the TOA doesn't see that last one -- that it's driving licenses into big chain franchises and small taverns out of business -- but that's the way things go. <BR/><BR/><B>One thing at a time.</B> Except when it comes to abolishing the PLCB, of course.Lew Brysonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04084380741402026573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7315262155858800734.post-65849819224120043032008-09-12T14:16:00.000-04:002008-09-12T14:16:00.000-04:00Hey Lew, here's a poposition I will show up if FAC...Hey Lew, here's a poposition I will show up if FACT(and any other Pa state booze organization) will quit using their shills otherwise known as the PA Tavern Association to lobby the PA legislature to block meaningful reform of the blue laws. Man these guys are a joke. They claim they want to start a Whiskey Rebellion against government excess, but at the same time, use the very same excess to beat consumers over the head with a coercive monopoly on beer-take out policy, giving them huge margins. Or how about the way they block any meaningful reform on liquor license policy. People complain about 10% tax how about the effect on prices if you liberalize these laws? Yes they are getting the short end of the stick on this policy, but they have done a great job petitioning the government to prevent free market competition and really squeeze the consumer.As far as I am concerned they are as about free-market oriented as the Allegheny County Port Authority. Beer nuts to them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com