Members of the House Liquor Control Committee traveled to Pittsburgh Tuesday to hear craft brewers’ concerns about a planned change in the taxation of their beer.
With the State Department of Revenue slated to soon begin collecting sales tax on beer sold at craft brewers’ establishments, Pittsburgh Brewers Guild Chairman Brian Eaton is among those voicing concerns about the impact it will have on craft brewers like him.
“I’m either going to have to eat the cost, or pass it onto my customers…both of which are going to negatively affect my business,” Eaton said.
If breweries are required to collect sales tax, Eaton says they would be paying a rate four to five times that of restaurants, bars, taverns, grocery stores and convenience stores.
The sales tax changes could take effect on July 1.