It seems the alcohol sales tax has not had quite the dramatic effect on prices that some package store owners would have you think. A friend recently sent me two receipts from their favorite wine: one from Massachusetts, the other from New Hampshire. Both bottles were purchased in August -- after the Massachusetts tax took effect. Here is what he paid for a bottle of Hess Select Cabernet Sauvignon, 750ml:
Massachusetts: $13.80, after tax
New Hampshire: $18.99, but it was on sale. Even with $4 off, the price was $14.99!
So this consumer paid the Massachusetts alcohol sales tax, and still saved $1.19 on a single bottle of wine. He would have saved $5.19 a week later. In real life, the alcohol sales tax works for Massachusetts.
Think this shows the value of free enterprise, at least in this case, is about a buck a bottle.
ReplyDelete