Joe Six-pack will have to pay a lot more to get his buzz on if Assemblyman Jim Beall has his way.

The San Jose Democrat on Thursday proposed raising the beer tax by $1.80 per six-pack, or 30 cents per can or bottle. The current tax is 2 cents per can. Thats an increase of about 1,500 percent.

Beall said the tax would generate $2 billion a year to fund health care services, crime prevention and programs to prevent underage drinking and addiction.

“The people who use alcohol should pay for part of the cost to society, just like weve accepted that concept with tobacco,” Beall said.

[emphasis added]

Another sin tax, to be used to pay for more social[ist] programs. These are the people to vote out of office, folks.

The full article is here: Higher state tax on beer? - San Jose Mercury News