Alabama House approves Calhoun Liquor tax bill

Rep. Randy Wood

The price of liquor at Alabama Beverage Control stores in Calhoun County would rise under a bill passed unamiously by the Alabama House of Representatives Tuesday.  The bill, Sponsored by Rep. Randy Wood  would add a 5 percent sales tax to liquor sales in Calhoun County only, and give the money to the Calhoun County District Attorney's office. Wood said the bill would generate about $300,000 per year.  The 5 percent tax would apply only to the base price of liquor, not to the excise taxes the state charges on drinks, meaning that the actual price of a drink wouldn't quite rise by 5 percent.  District Attorney Brian McVeigh has said that his office brought in nearly $600,000 less than expected last year. The office gets 80 percent of its money from court costs, and money collected through those costs has decreased.

The bill moves to the Senate for consideration.