Congratulations to our legislators in MA for finally removing the alcohol salestax exemption. Why should this industry receive the privilege of an exemption that others including over-the- counter medications do not receive? The product of alcohol is a luxury item and also the cause of addiction that costs taxpayers billions of dollars each year in healthcare and addiction treatment expenses. This additional tax money is intended to be used for addiction treatment and prevention that is vastly underfunded in MA. The alcohol industry itself should also be required to grant money to the states for the problems it creates and the lives it ruins, just as the tobacco industry does. An alcohol exemption is just another example of corruption and influential lobbying that never should have happened in the first place. The liquor industry needs to get real and stop being such crybabies.

I agree with Steve. Why does the alcohol industry think they are above getting their taxes raised? The government raises my taxes! The gambling industry gives grant money to the state for the problems it causes too. Why should the tax payers fund treatment for addicts and the alcohol industry gets off scott free?