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Recovery in the News
Group opposes alcohol sales tax repeal
Kara Dominick
WWLP 22 News
September 10, 2010
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - Massachusetts has been charging a 6.25% sales tax on alcohol for just over a year.
And while a lot of people would like to see their booze return to sales-tax exempt status, one organization wants you to vote "no" on ballot question one because they say this tax saves lives.
Maryanne Frangules is the Executive Director of "M.O.A.R.;" the Massachusetts Organization for Addiction Recovery.
She wants you to vote "no" on question one, which would repeal the state's 6.25% sales tax on alcohol.
Frangules told 22News, "It's about saying the services that are dedicated to this alcohol sales tax which are about prevention treatment and recovery are saving hundreds lives across our state."
The state added the alcohol tax last summer to increase revenues.
But Frangules says the money does more than help close the budget gap.
It pays for services like the Phoenix House in Springfield, which helps people struggling with alcohol and drug addiction get back on their feet.
"What it gives for people is the chance to structure their lives, really think through their issues to live an alcohol drug free life," says Frangules.
The alcohol sales tax has generated more than $100 million dollars in dedicated funding for addiction-related services.
Recovering addicts call those services "life saving."
Adam Lamirande is a recovering addict. He told 22News, "if I didn't have this tax I wouldn't be here and I wouldn't be rebuilding my life"
"I think everyone can relate, that they know somebody or somebody in their family that as a problem with alcohol or drug abuse and these programs do they save lives," says Anthony Divaio, also a recovering addict.
For more on the campaign to not repeal the state's sales tax on alcohol, CLICK HERE