Developmentally Disabled Rally for Dime-a-Drink

ANNAPOLIS – Protesters rallied Friday outside the State House in Annapolis to show their support for the proposed dime-a-drink alcohol tax.

A group of developmentally disabled Marylanders, their families and advocates gathered, chanting "10 cents makes sense" and "Dime a Drink, DD link," insisting that the revenues from the proposed tax be designated for the Developmental Disabilities Administration.

The tax, intended to raise revenue specifically for health programs in Maryland, has run into opposition both from the alcohol lobby and some legislators.

Advocates say the tax would raise $215 million. The current language in the bill designates that 15 percent, or about $32 million, would go to the Developmental Disabilities Support Fund.

The rest of the money would be used for other health services, including addiction treatment.

Carol Glowacki, a Towson mother of two intellectually disabled adults, said that the high turnover rate and low levels of support staff in residential services is a problem that could be solved by the funds raised from the tax.

Her 47-year-old son, Scott, is living at home but is on a waiting list to get into a residential service.

There is a waiting list of more than 1,000 individuals in need of services, a waiting list that advocates say could be significantly shorter if the tax is raised and designated for health services.

While lawmakers have acknowledged the problems in the Developmental Disabilities Administration, there is significant hesitance to raising taxes. Other concerns are for the bottom line of bars and liquor stores, many of which are small businesses.

The alcohol tax has not been raised since 1955 for spirits and 1972 for wine and beer, making Maryland's rates among the lowest in the nation. The hike would take the rates over the national average.

Here's how it would look from the shopper's perspective:

Beer: The current alcohol tax is about 5 cents for a six-pack of 12-ounce cans or bottles. That would go up to about 65 cents under the proposed law.

Wine: For a standard 750-milliliter bottle, the tax is now about 8 cents. If the legislation passes, that would go up to about 59 cents per bottle.

Liquor: That's about $1.99 for a fifth of liquor, up from about 30 cents.

The tax would be a steep increase, but word of a compromise like 7 or 5 cents a drink is floating around the State House.