Gov. Hassan Says She'll Veto Beer Tax Hike

Gov. Maggie Hassan said Wednesday that she will veto a proposed beer tax increase if it passes the House and Senate.

At a media availability following this morning's Executive Council meeting, Hassan said she will veto the bill if it reaches her desk.

"She feels that raising the beer tax would negatively impact the economy and hurt New Hampshire brewers, small and large, who are important employers throughout the state," said Marc Goldberg, Hassan's communications director.

The proposed 10 cent hike in the state's 30 cent per gallon beer tax has drawn criticism from local breweries like Smuttynose Brewing Co. in Portsmouth, which have called it a "sin tax" that would just wind up being passed on to consumers.

“We should be encouraging local businesses to grow instead of raising taxes on them,” Smuttynose spokesman JT Thompson told Portsmouth Patch last week.