A tax worth pursuing

We are being bombarded daily with news about the budget shortfall in Oklahoma for fiscal year 2018. The governor and Legislature have considered raising taxes on everything that is produced or purchased in the state, including raising cigarette taxes. They report how much cigarettes cost in increased medical problems and deaths, but do not mention taxing alcoholic beverages. Alcohol is the most abused drug in the state and causes many more deaths and costs much more in actual dollars and human misery than tobacco.

In 2012, 206 people were killed in Oklahoma in crashes caused by drunk drivers. In 2013, the cost of vehicle crashes in Oklahoma was $902 million, including medical and work loss costs. A large percentage of these costs was due to impaired driving. These figures are only for traffic-related offenses. Alcohol consumption also adds to the incidence of sex- and domestic-related offenses.

One of the selling points on raising tobacco taxes is that as the price increases, purchase and use decreases, which decreases health-related costs and premature deaths. If this applies to tobacco, it also applies to alcoholic beverages. If the Legislature would impose a tax of 10 cents per can of beer and $1 per gallon on wine and liquor, it would go a long way in solving the budget shortfall.

Bill Sunderland, Woodward