Beer Institute Commends U.S. House for Passing COVID Relief

House passage first step in providing critical relief for bars and restaurants

WASHINGTON – Tonight, Jim McGreevy, president and CEO of the Beer Institute, released the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed COVID-19 relief legislation:

“As bars and restaurants continue to struggle under the weight of the pandemic, this legislation is a first step to providing relief. However, more work is needed to support this critical sector of the economy. Entire communities are built around local breweries, mom and pop diners, and neighborhood bars. Across the country, these local businesses support millions of jobs and employ our friends and neighbors.

“The permanent alcohol excise tax relief included in the legislation provides needed certainty at a time of significant economic distress. We look forward to the Senate quickly passing this legislation and it being permanently signed into law.”

In 2017, Congress included two years of excise tax relief for all brewers and beer importers as part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which was extended for one year in December 2019. Permanent extension of the excise tax rates will protect American beer jobs for years to come by lessening the tax burden on the industry.

According to recent polling done by the Beer Institute, 63 percent of Americans support Congress making the current federal excise tax rates permanent for all brewers and beer importers. Further, more than 350 members of the House and more than 75 members of the Senate are cosponsors of the Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act of 2019, which makes the excise tax relief for brewers and beer importers contained in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act permanent.

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