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"It soon could cost you a little bit more to pick up a six pack of beer.A proposed increase in the state's beer tax would likely raise the cost for you when you go to the store and local brewers aren't happy about it.Even though the proposal would raise the tax on a gallon of beer by 10 cents, at the Smuttynose Brewing Company in Portsmouth, they said the proposed tax would result in a 50-75 cent cost increase on all of their six packs.\"When we heard about it we were horrified, nobody ever wants to see taxes raised on their business, especially when you feel singled out like this bill singles out beer,\" said John Thompson with Smuttynose Brewing.Smuttynose is one of the most popular beers brewed in New Hampshire and at their Portsmouth plant, they said the proposed bill to raise the state's beer tax would be bad for business, especially smaller craft brewers that have exploded in the state in recent years.\"We want to encourage the growth in these businesses, because they serve the same purpose as a sports team, they are a sense of civic pride for people,\" said Thompson.The bill would raise the state's tax on a gallon of beer from 30 cents to 40 cents.\u00A0 It's co-sponsor, Rep. Charles Weed, of Keene, said that money would be used for alcohol and drug abuse prevention programs.\"The 10 cents out of the 40 cents that the tax will be raised to will go for rehab effort,\" said Weed.Weed said the tax increase is not a drastic price hike for consumers and that it is still less than other states which charge a 5-cent bottle deposit.\"I drink an occasional beer now and then and I am ready to pay a little more for my beer if its going to put to good use,\" said Weed.But, those in the state's beer industry said the tax could have a negative effect when it comes to bringing business to the state.\"One of the main issues that we are facing right now as a state is making New Hampshire a more attractive place to do business,\" said Scott Schaier with the New Hampshire Beer Distributors Association.This bill is still in the early stages as the legislation is before the House Ways and Means committee."^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.wmur.com/article/people-hopping-mad-over-proposed-beer-tax-1/5178942>