A dime-a-drink increase in South Dakota's alcohol tax would raise $35 million to help pay for policing, jails, and other programs to address problems related to alcohol abuse, county officials told state lawmakers.

The Associated Press reported Jan. 14 that county officials proposed raising South Dakota's wholesale beer, wine and liquor taxes, saying that since alcohol is related to so much crime in the state, users should help foot the bill.

If a bill was passed, it would result in South Dakota having the nation's highest beer taxes, prompting protests from the Beer Wholesalers of South Dakota.

The plan calls for counties to get 62 percent of the tax revenues, and cities to get 15 percent. The remaining 23 percent would go to DWI and domestic violence programs, a teen court, and programs to provide legal aid to the poor.

South Dakota Attorney General Larry Long and the South Dakota Sheriffs Association spoke in favor of the tax increase, but the legislature has rejected similar tax plans in the recent past.