4 - Cent Beer Tax Being Debated in Ohio

Do you think that a 4 cents tacked on to every beer sold at neighborhood bars, restaurants or even package stores will solve, or at least help officials in college towns deal with drunken behavior by rowdy students? Well it might not be right for the whole state, but Kent Ohio Councilman John Kuhar has officials in Kent considering the idea, which has a state lawmaker interested in sponsoring legislation for the idea that would cover all of Ohio.

Kuhar's position is that since Kent is a college town, they have a tremendous budget amount allocated to alcohol-related events that include house or frat parties that are out of control because of littering, dumpster and couch burnings and the health issues associated with abusive alcohol consumption. The 4-cents per beer would be applied to additional police and fire personnel to help campus officials deal with these circumstances.

My concern is this, it seems as though proposal resigns itself to the fact that this type of behavior cannot be controlled at the source by offering alternatives to alcohol, or better and more thorough education about the dangers of alcohol abuse on campuses. I'm not saying that information isn't available, or that efforts aren't being made, but this approach just seems like a "white flag" approach to things.

I know many colleges now have some form of alcohol education required prior to incoming students starting at their universities, I myself as an alcohol awareness have been called upon by 3 colleges in Ohio to help implement initiatives about responsible alcohol consumption, and the dangers associated with alcohol abuse on campus.