|
Economic Contributions of the Distilled Spirits Industry
The beverage alcohol industry's role in the U.S. economy:
- The U.S. beverage alcohol industry contributed nearly $350 billion to the U.S. total economic activity in 2004.
- Total economic activity contributed to the U.S. from distilled spirits in 2004 was $ 103.4 billion, or 30 percent of total economic activity from all beverage alcohol.
- The U.S. beverage alcohol industry generated $78.6 billion in wages and over 3.8 million jobs for U.S. workers.
Industry's contributions to the state treasuries:
- The beverage alcohol industry contributed over $16 billion directly to state and local revenues during 2004. Of that amount, distilled spirits accounted for over $6 billion or 39 percent of this direct revenue.
- In 2004, beverage alcohol's total contribution to state and local revenues was $32.5 billion. Of that amount, $16.2 billion came from indirect revenues such as corporate, personal income, property and other taxes generated by the beverage alcohol industry.
- Direct and indirect revenues from distilled spirits were $11.7 billion in 2004, or 36 percent of total beverage alcohol revenue.
Heavy Tax Burden of the Distilled Spirits Industry
- Distilled spirits are one of the highest taxed consumer products in the United States.
- Standardizing for alcohol content, the distilled spirits' federal excise tax burden per proof gallon is more than double that of beer and almost triple that of wine. The spirits' federal excise tax burden per proof gallon is $13.50. In comparison, the tax burden per proof gallon for beer and wine is $6.18 and $4.86, respectively.
- Federal, state and local taxes accounted for $7.23, or 55%, of the average $13.10 price for a typical 750ml bottle of 80 proof distilled spirits in the United States in 2005.
|
|
Equal Opportunity Employer