DOCTORS SUGGEST HIGHER ALCOHOL TAX

Milwaukee Group's Report Says Money Would Pay For Anti-Abuse Programs

A "dime a drink" or "nickel a drink" statewide tax should be imposed to
combat the toll of death, injury and illness in Wisconsin from alcohol use,
which claims about 1,800 lives each year, according to a report released
Thursday by the Milwaukee Academy of Medicine.

Such a tax would raise about $259 million yearly at 5 cents a drink, and
more than $500 million at 10 cents, according to the latest state
Department of Revenue statistics on alcohol sales.

The proposal drew sharp criticism from the Tavern League of Wisconsin,
which contends that such a tax would chill an already "fragile market."

Revenue Department statistics show that Wisconsinites downed 410 million
gallons of beer, wine and liquor in the state in 1997 -- but that's down
25% from 1990, when 549 million gallons were consumed.

Nevertheless, noting that alcohol misuse is estimated to be involved in up
to half of traffic fatalities, 70% of domestic abuse cases, 40% of
assaults, 60% of rapes, 38% of child abuse cases and 86% of manslaughters,
the report also recommends:

A ban on billboard advertising of alcohol in Milwaukee County.

A restriction in alcohol advertising on local television during prime time.

Lowering the allowable blood-alcohol level in drivers to 0.08, from 0.10.

"Alcohol permeates the practice of emergency medicine almost daily and
hourly, and sometimes minute to minute," said Stephen Hargarten, chairman
of the emergency medical department at the Medical College of Wisconsin. He
was also chairman of the public health committee of the academy, which
Thursday issued the "white paper" on public health strategies to reduce
alcohol-related illness, injury and death in Milwaukee County.

Alcohol-related costs associated with deaths, injuries and illnesses can be
tracked to amount to $3 billion yearly, Hargarten said. But millions more
likely are lost to alcohol use. One example: jail costs, because it's
common for people to be jailed for drunken driving.

"If we are going to get a handle on this, then there needs to be
comprehensive, programmatic efforts in the community, and that costs
money," he said, defending the proposed tax.

But Scott Stenger, a spokesman for the Tavern League of Wisconsin, said any
additional tax -- especially at such levels -- would have a detrimental
effect on brewing, tavern and restaurant businesses statewide.

"It is a very fragile market and any additional tax would have an impact on
jobs and the economy," Stenger said.

Furthermore, consumption appears to be on the wane, he said.

Statistics back him up.

The drink tax would add a nickel for the sale of every 12 ounces of beer, 5
ounces of wine or 1.5 ounces of liquor. For example, a six-pack of beer
would cost an additional 30 cents, a fifth of wine an additional 25 cents
and a fifth of liquor about 85 cents. If the tax were 10 cents, the revenue
would double.

Department of Revenue figures show that, based on tax revenue collected on
alcohol, sales have declined across the board since 1990. Beer sales have
declined steadily from 17.5 million barrels in 1990 to 12.5 million in
1997, the most recent statistics. That is a decline of 29%.

Similarly, liquor sales declined from 9.7 million gallons to 9.1 million in
the same period, a decline of 6.2%; and wine with an alcohol content of 14%
or less -- the most common -- decreased from 8.4 million gallons to 7.7
million, a decline of 8.3%.

Also, on-premise liquor licenses -- restaurants and bars -- declined from
14,596 in 1986 to 12,818 in 1994, another indication of declining alcohol
consumption.

Michael Brophy, a spokesman for Miller Brewing Co., said the firm would
oppose such a tax.

Brophy questioned why "the vast majority who drink responsibly should be
burdened with a tax to pay for the costs of those that abuse it."

Among other findings:

Despite the decline in consumption, Wisconsin ranks first nationwide in the
number of liquor licenses issued annually, with about 16,700; and ranks in
the top five on licenses per capita, according to the report. In Milwaukee
County, more than 58,000 people engage in chronic drinking: more than 14
drinks a week for men, more than 7 a week for women.

Nearly 140,000 Milwaukee County residents are binge drinkers, defined as
consuming five or more drinks at a sitting. Altogether, nearly 652,000
county residents are classified as alcohol consumers.

Hargarten said he hoped the report would be a catalyst for change and
adoption of the recommendations, although the academy will not take an
active role.

Instead, the academy will send the report to state legislators and other
policy-makers, in the hope they will act on the information.