USA: Oregon’s government found higher taxes on wine didn’t deter alcohol abuse, then sat on findings

As the Oregon state legislature is locked in a contentious debate over raising excise taxes on wine and beer to curb excessive alcohol consumption, an Oregon health agency may have withheld a 2021 study that found higher taxes have little impact on getting abusive drinkers to cut back on consumption. The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) denies it was intentional, but when local newspaper The Oregonian first broke the news last week, area wine industry leaders were not so sure. The study was not shared with the state legislature or a task force recently established by the legislature to study the issue. “It does appear that OHA was intentionally withholding important information while simultaneously advocating for a tax increase that would really hurt industries that are already struggling with a myriad of business and climate-related challenges,” Jana McKamey, executive director of the Oregon Winegrowers Association, told Wine Spectator. Jonathan Modie, a lead communications officer ...