Editorial: Raise Wisconsin's alcohol tax to help address issue

 We know that too many people in Wisconsin drive drunk. We read about repeat drunken driving offenders almost every day.

 And, as The Post-Crescent revealed in its extensive State of Drinking series last summer, Wisconsinites have a litany of other alcohol-related problems that rank high among states in the nation.

We appreciate that the Wisconsin District Attorneys Association wants to raise the state's beer and liquor taxes. This is long overdue. The beer tax hasn't been raised in almost 40 years and the tax on alcohol hasn't gone up since 1981.

Currently, Wisconsin's 6.5-cent tax per gallon of beer is two or three times less than what our neighbors in Minnesota, Illinois, Iowa and Michigan pay, at 14.8 cents, 18.5 cents, 19 cents and 20.3 cents, respectively.

However, while the WDAA wants a "modest increase" in alcohol tax primarily to cover the hiring of additional prosecutors, we would like to see the proposed added revenue pay for other solutions to the state's alcohol problem, including treatment programs and education.

Not surprisingly, the Tavern League of Wisconsin opposes the proposed tax increase, which others, including state Rep. Terese Berceau, D-Madison, have pushed for without success in the recent past.

The Tavern League claims the tax increase would hurt business. But in this economy, we doubt a few extra cents on a bottle of Bud is what is going to lead to a bar's demise.

If a modest tax increase on a voluntary enjoyment could provide needed revenue for law enforcement, crime prevention and possibly those who prosecute drunken drivers, we see nothing but a benefit to our community and state.