$5 per bottle – in TAXES!!!

California legislators are once again considering killing another industry within the Golden State in an effort to bridge the budget gap. The proposed Alcohol-Related Harm and Damage Services Act of 2010 would increase the excise tax on a bottle of wine 12,675 percent, bringing the current tax of 4 cents on a bottle of wine up to $5.11. Since most of the wine consumed in the Plonk household is between $7 and $10 (and from California), the price of a bottle of wine will almost double! Imagine how the good folks who sell Two Buck Chuck feel about this. Their customers will pay $7 (with only 29% of the total price going to Charles Shaw and company).

Hey Sacramento! Get a grip! I’m going to let you in on a little secret – STOP SPENDING! That sneaky trick will help you balance the budget without killing yet another industry in this state. Because if you do pass this idiotic tax, I’ll be sending my wine money (and, unfortunately, the jobs of those involved in the wine industry) to Australia and Argentina. And, if it applies there too, my new drink of choice will be Anchor Steam!

I drink wine. And I vote.

Best, Joe Plonk

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