Faced with strong opposition from the liquor industry, a measure that would have raised the alcohol tax in South Dakota was killed in a Senate committee, the Associated Press reported Jan. 16.

The measure would have given South Dakota the highest alcohol tax in the nation; an estimated $35 million in annual proceeds from the "dime-a-drink" tax would have been used to support alcohol-related law enforcement and other services to mitigate the harm caused by alcohol use.

Opponents said the tax unfairly targeted responsible drinkers. Backers, including the South Dakota County Commissioners Association, vowed to gather enough petitions to put the measure before voters in November.