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As you know, Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato was able to facilitate enabling legislation in Harrisburg in the summer of 2007 that allowed the Allegheny County Council to impose a 10% drink tax on all alcoholic beverages poured at restaurants, bars, stadiums, arenas and private clubs. This includes bottles of wine as well as individual drinks.

If you responsibly enjoy a beer, cocktail or glass of wine in establishments throughout Allegheny County, please go to www.stopdrinktax.com.  This web site allows you a click on quick link to an Allegheny County Map where you
can identify your county council member and then automatically send them an email, if you choose, communicating your OPPOSITION to the drink tax and urge them to revote on it and axe it.

This 10% Drink Tax was introduced in October, 2007, was voted on December 4th and put into effect in January, 2008 and is on pace to far exceed the $28 million it was expected to raise ­ maybe more than $40 million! This unfair tax was never about saving mass transit - it was meant to shore up a huge deficit in Allegheny County¹s general operating fund due to mismanagement.

This tax is not only unfair in targeting one industry to support our poorly run county government, it has also adversely affected servers and bartenders putting themselves through school, raising their families etc. and the owners who will end up paying credit card fees on this tax (the majority of food & beverage is paid by credit card).

Dan Onorato and Council wants to turn the hospitality industry against homeowners by telling them their property taxes will go up without the drink tax.  This is simply not true. There are several other tax alternatives such as a general sales tax, which would be fair for all taxpayers.

Did you know that prior to the new 10% drink tax that alcohol taxes in Pennsylvania already ranked among the highest in the country at 81%?

Be a Rebel and join Whiskey Rebellion II today!

Help the hospitality industry AXE THE DRINK TAX NOW by contacting your Council Member and tell him/her to revote!  Also, signing a petition that will be available at most restaurants and bars around town from June 17 ­
August 5. Your signature, which will be one of 50,000 collected, will ensure that a referendum will be on the November ballot for a public vote on this issue.