Commentary: If we had a nickel… by Lisa Hutcheson
Prince Charles and Lady Diana were married. Ronald Reagan was inaugurated. Sandra Day O’Connor was appointed the first female judge on the Supreme Court. What do these events have in common? They all occurred in 1981…which is the last time the alcohol tax in Indiana was raised.
As far as I can tell, the alcohol tax is the only tax in Indiana that has not been raised in 42 years. Often called a “sin tax” (along with tobacco and gaming) this tax, unlike a sales tax, is levied in part to discourage the misuse of alcohol, which leads to increased costs for health care and behavioral health. Alcohol continues to be the most widely used drug by Indiana youth and adults.