Oregon Recover wants 20% Increase in Alcohol Taxes
January 26, 2021
As the new legislative session opens on Jan. 24, Oregon Recover is finalizing a bill which would raise excise taxes on beer, wine, and spirits.
Michael Marshall is executive director and co-founder of Oregon Recovers, a statewide coalition which builds a movement of people in recovery and those around them to fight addiction. In his proposed legislation, Marshall seeks more money to deal with the prevention and treatment of substance abuse disorder.
In the past two years, the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) received $519 million in tax revenues, out of which $18 million was apportioned to Mental Health Alcohol and Drug Treatment Program. Marshall and state Representative Tawna Sanchez (D-Portland), a chair of the House Committee on Behavioral Health, are looking to raise liquor prices by 20%. In total, the bill would increase OLCC tax revenue to $746 million over the next two years.