Americans drink more than 6 billion gallons of beer every year. That's enough to fill almost 10,000 Olympic swimming pools, which would take Michael Phelps three and a half days to swim across. Three times as much beer was consumed in the U.S. in 2016 .
But like many American indulgences, beer comes at a price. The U.S. government in order to help pay the new government's debts from the American Revolution. Today, states impose excise taxes on all fermented malt beverages in addition to regular business and sales taxes. This added tax is generally how much beer has been sold鈥攁 fee retailers offset by raising prices. Some states have additional alcohol-specific sales taxes, which impact consumers directly. These fees function similarly to other on tobacco听and in some states听marijuana听by bringing revenue to state governments while theoretically听motivating Americans to control their vices. All told, about goes toward taxes.
To find out where in America the government has made it most costly to drink beer, 爆料TV dove into (updated May 2018), which ranks all 50 states and the District of Columbia on the basis of their current excise taxes on beer. 爆料TV supplemented that data with information on revenue from each state's beer excise taxes from (the most recent听data available), and information on beer brewers, wholesalers, and retailers. This slideshow also incorporates data on beer consumption per capita from by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
Read on to see how much your state is earning off your next happy hour.
搁贰尝础罢贰顿:听
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State excise tax in 2018: $0.02 per gallon (0% change from 2017)
State excise tax in 2017: $0.02 per gallon (#51听among all states)
Revenue from state excise tax in 2016 (most recent data): $237,600
Jobs directly supported by beer industry in 2016: 2,956 ($93听million total wages)
Beer consumption per capita: 1.18 gallons (9.3% above U.S. average; #20听among all states)
State excise tax in 2018: $0.06 per gallon (0% change from 2017)
State excise tax in 2017: $0.06 per gallon (#49听among all states)
Revenue from state excise tax in 2016 (most recent data): $7.6 million
Jobs directly supported by beer industry in 2016: 23,564 ($1.2 billion total wages)
Beer consumption per capita: 1.15 gallons (6.5% above U.S. average; #23听among all states)
State excise tax in 2018: $0.06 per gallon (0% change from 2017)
State excise tax in 2017: $0.06 per gallon (#49听among all states)
Revenue from state excise tax in 2016 (most recent data): $9.7 million
Jobs directly supported by beer industry in 2016: 35,046 ($1听billion total wages)
Beer consumption per capita: 1.36 gallons (25.9% above U.S. average; #8听among all states)
听
State excise tax in 2018: $0.08 per gallon (0% change from 2017)
State excise tax in 2017: $0.08 per gallon (#45听among all states)
Revenue from state excise tax in 2016 (most recent data): $26.6 million
Jobs directly supported by beer industry in 2016: 36,510 ($1.3 billion total wages)
Beer consumption per capita: 1.31 gallons (21.3% above U.S. average; #9听among all states)
State excise tax in 2018: $0.08 per gallon (0% change from 2017)
State excise tax in 2017: $0.08 per gallon (#45听among all states)
Revenue from state excise tax in 2016 (most recent data): $9.3 million
Jobs directly supported by beer industry in 2016: 26,631 ($1.2 billion total wages)
Beer consumption per capita: 1.14 gallons (5.6% above U.S. average; #26听among all states)
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State excise tax in 2018: $0.08 per gallon (0% change from 2017)
State excise tax in 2017: $0.08 per gallon (#45听among all states)
Revenue from state excise tax in 2016 (most recent data): $7.9 million
Jobs directly supported by beer industry in 2016: 20,188 ($727.5 million total wages)
Beer consumption per capita: 1.24 gallons (14.8% above U.S. average; #16听among all states)
State excise tax in 2018: $0.11 per gallon (0% change from 2017)
State excise tax in 2017: $0.11 per gallon (#41听among all states)
Revenue from state excise tax in 2016 (most recent data): $13听million
Jobs directly supported by beer industry in 2016: 31,262 ($1.2 billion total wages)
Beer consumption per capita: 0.95 gallons (12% below U.S. average; #43听among all states)
State excise tax in 2018: $0.12 per gallon (0% change from 2017)
State excise tax in 2017: $0.12 per gallon (#39听among all states)
Revenue from state excise tax in 2016 (most recent data): $16.6 million
Jobs directly supported by beer industry in 2016: 23,791 ($864.4 million total wages)
Beer consumption per capita: 0.82 gallons (24.1% below U.S. average; #50听among all states
听
State excise tax in 2018: $0.12 per gallon (0% change from 2017)
State excise tax in 2017: $0.12 per gallon (#39听among all states)
Revenue from state excise tax in 2016 (most recent data): $13.1 million
Jobs directly supported by beer industry in 2016: 19,748 ($552.4 million total wages)
Beer consumption per capita: 0.98 gallons (9.3% below U.S. average; #39听among all states)
听
State excise tax in 2018: $0.12 per gallon (+9.1% change from 2017)
State excise tax in 2017: $0.11 per gallon (#41听among all states)
Revenue from state excise tax in 2016 (most recent data): $2听million
Jobs directly supported by beer industry in 2016: 4,309 ($121.7 million total wages)
Beer consumption per capita: 0.94 gallons (13% below U.S. average; #44听among all states)
听
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State excise tax in 2018: $0.14 per gallon (0% change from 2017)
State excise tax in 2017: $0.14 per gallon (#37听among all states)
Revenue from state excise tax in 2016 (most recent data): $47.2 million
Jobs directly supported by beer industry in 2016: 69,936 ($2.9 billion total wages)
Beer consumption per capita: 0.91 gallons (15.7% below U.S. average; #47听among all states)
听
State excise tax in 2018: $0.14 per gallon (0% change from 2017)
State excise tax in 2017: $0.14 per gallon (#37听among all states)
Revenue from state excise tax in 2016 (most recent data): $4听million
Jobs directly supported by beer industry in 2016: 5,090 ($146.7 million total wages)
Beer consumption per capita: 1.62 gallons (50% above U.S. average; #3听among all states)
听
State excise tax in 2018: $0.15 per gallon (0% change from 2017)
State excise tax in 2017: $0.15 per gallon (#35听among all states)
Revenue from state excise tax in 2016 (most recent data): $6听million
Jobs directly supported by beer industry in 2016: 5,893 ($194.6 million total wages)
Beer consumption per capita: 0.92 gallons (14.8% below U.S. average; #46听among all states)
听
State excise tax in 2018: $0.16 per gallon (0% change from 2017)
State excise tax in 2017: $0.16 per gallon (#31听among all states)
Revenue from state excise tax in 2016 (most recent data): $11.6 million
Jobs directly supported by beer industry in 2016: 24,645 ($904.2 million total wages)
Beer consumption per capita: 1.41 gallons (30.6% above U.S. average; #6听among all states)
State excise tax in 2018: $0.16 per gallon (0% change from 2017)
State excise tax in 2017: $0.16 per gallon (#31听among all states)
Revenue from state excise tax in 2016 (most recent data): $22.1 million
Jobs directly supported by beer industry in 2016: 23,662 ($778.9 million total wages)
Beer consumption per capita: 1.14 gallons (5.6% above U.S. average; #25听among all states)
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State excise tax in 2018: $0.18 per gallon (0% change from 2017)
State excise tax in 2017: $0.18 per gallon (#28听among all states)
Revenue from state excise tax in 2016 (most recent data): $43.4 million
Jobs directly supported by beer industry in 2016: 40,099 ($1.3 billion total wages)
Beer consumption per capita: 1.15 gallons (6.5% above U.S. average; #24听among all states)
State excise tax in 2018: $0.18 per gallon (0% change from 2017)
State excise tax in 2017: $0.18 per gallon (#28听among all states)
Revenue from state excise tax in 2016 (most recent data): $9.7 million
Jobs directly supported by beer industry in 2016: 8,160 ($246.3 million total wages)
Beer consumption per capita: 1.02 gallons (5.6% below U.S. average; #35听among all states)
State excise tax in 2018: $0.18 per gallon (0% change from 2017)
State excise tax in 2017: $0.18 per gallon (#28听among all states)
Revenue from state excise tax in 2016 (most recent data): $6.9 million
Jobs directly supported by beer industry in 2016: 3,826 ($116.7 million total wages)
Beer consumption per capita: 1.19 gallons (10.2% above U.S. average; #18听among all states)
State excise tax in 2018: $0.19 per gallon (0% change from 2017)
State excise tax in 2017: $0.19 per gallon (#27听among all states)
Revenue from state excise tax in 2016 (most recent data): $14.1 million
Jobs directly supported by beer industry in 2016: 16,111 ($428.9 million total wages)
Beer consumption per capita: 1.3 gallons (20.4% above U.S. average; #10听among all states)
State excise tax in 2018: $0.20 per gallon (0% change from 2017)
State excise tax in 2017: $0.20 per gallon (#24听among all states)
Revenue from state excise tax in 2016 (most recent data): $145.9 million
Jobs directly supported by beer industry in 2016: 125,289 ($4.9 billion total wages)
Beer consumption per capita: 0.96 gallons (11.1% below U.S. average; #40听among all states)
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State excise tax in 2018: $0.20听per gallon (0% change from 2017)
State excise tax in 2017: $0.20 per gallon (#24听among all states)
Revenue from state excise tax in 2016 (most recent data): $122.5 million
Jobs directly supported by beer industry in 2016: 80,682 ($3听billion total wages)
Beer consumption per capita: 1.3 gallons (20.4% above U.S. average; #12听among all states)
State excise tax in 2018: $0.20 per gallon (0% change from 2017)
State excise tax in 2017: $0.20 per gallon (#24听among all states)
Revenue from state excise tax in 2016 (most recent data): $38.5 million
Jobs directly supported by beer industry in 2016: 34,390 ($941.7 million total wages)
Beer consumption per capita: 1.04 gallons (3.7% below U.S. average; #34听among all states)
听
State excise tax in 2018: $0.23 per gallon (0% change from 2017)
State excise tax in 2017: $0.23 per gallon (#22听among all states)
Revenue from state excise tax in 2016 (most recent data): $61.4 million
Jobs directly supported by beer industry in 2016: 45,504 ($1.6 billion total wages)
Beer consumption per capita: 1.12 gallons (3.7% above U.S. average; #28听among all states)
State excise tax in 2018: $0.23 per gallon (-4.2% change from 2017)
State excise tax in 2017: $0.24 per gallon (#21听among all states)
Revenue from state excise tax in 2016 (most recent data): $13.4 million
Jobs directly supported by beer industry in 2016: 11,483 ($397.3 million total wages)
Beer consumption per capita: 0.85 gallons (21.3% below U.S. average; #48听among all states)
听
State excise tax in 2018: $0.26 per gallon (0% change from 2017)
State excise tax in 2017: $0.26 per gallon (#19听among all states)
Revenue from state excise tax in 2016 (most recent data): $34.4 million
Jobs directly supported by beer industry in 2016: 26,723 ($1听billion total wages)
Beer consumption per capita: 0.96 gallons (11.1% below U.S. average; #42听among all states)
听
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State excise tax in 2018: $0.26 per gallon (0% change from 2017)
State excise tax in 2017: $0.26 per gallon (#19听among all states)
Revenue from state excise tax in 2016 (most recent data): $43.3 million
Jobs directly supported by beer industry in 2016: 28,623 ($996.3 million total wages)
Beer consumption per capita: 1 gallon听(7.4% below U.S. average; #37听among all states)
State excise tax in 2018: $0.26 per gallon (+62.5% change from 2017)
State excise tax in 2017: $0.16 per gallon (#31听among all states)
Revenue from state excise tax in 2016 (most recent data): $3.4 million
Jobs directly supported by beer industry in 2016: 3,179 ($116.3 million total wages)
Beer consumption per capita: 1.2 gallons (11.1% above U.S. average; #17听among all states)
State excise tax in 2018: $0.27 per gallon (0% change from 2017)
State excise tax in 2017: $0.27 per gallon (#17听among all states)
Revenue from state excise tax in 2016 (most recent data): $4.4 million
Jobs directly supported by beer industry in 2016: 4,495 ($145.2 million total wages)
Beer consumption per capita: 1.56 gallons (44.4% above U.S. average; #4听among all states)
听
State excise tax in 2018: $0.27 per gallon (0% change from 2017)
State excise tax in 2017: $0.27 per gallon (#17听among all states)
Revenue from state excise tax in 2016 (most recent data): $6.5 million
Jobs directly supported by beer industry in 2016: 4,668 ($112.3 million total wages)
Beer consumption per capita: 1.46 gallons (35.2% above U.S. average; #5听among all states)
State excise tax in 2018: $0.30 per gallon (0% change from 2017)
State excise tax in 2017: $0.30 per gallon (#16听among all states)
Revenue from state excise tax in 2016 (most recent data): $12.7 million
Jobs directly supported by beer industry in 2016: 6,778 ($263.2 million total wages)
Beer consumption per capita: 1.87 gallons (73.1% above U.S. average; #1听among all states)
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State excise tax in 2018: $0.31 per gallon (0% change from 2017)
State excise tax in 2017: $0.31 per gallon (#15听among all states)
Revenue from state excise tax in 2016 (most recent data): $14.2 million
Jobs directly supported by beer industry in 2016: 8,979 ($235.5 million total wages)
Beer consumption per capita: 1.3 gallons (20.4% above U.S. average; #11听among all states)
State excise tax in 2018: $0.34 per gallon (+47.8% change from 2017)
State excise tax in 2017: $0.23 per gallon (#22听among all states)
Revenue from state excise tax in 2016 (most recent data): $12.6 million
Jobs directly supported by beer industry in 2016: 5,440 ($157.8 million total wages)
Beer consumption per capita: 0.93 gallons (13.9% below U.S. average; #45听among all states)
State excise tax in 2018: $0.35 per gallon (0% change from 2017)
State excise tax in 2017: $0.35 per gallon (#13听among all states)
Revenue from state excise tax in 2016 (most recent data): $12.1 million
Jobs directly supported by beer industry in 2016: 8,567 ($289.4 million total wages)
Beer consumption per capita: 1.36 gallons (25.9% above U.S. average; #7听among all states)
听
State excise tax in 2018: $0.39 per gallon (+143.8% change from 2017)
State excise tax in 2017: $0.16 per gallon (#31听among all states)
Revenue from state excise tax in 2016 (most recent data): $3.2 million
Jobs directly supported by beer industry in 2016: 3,945 ($106听million total wages)
Beer consumption per capita: 1.64 gallons (51.9% above U.S. average; #2听among all states)
听
State excise tax in 2018: $0.40 per gallon (0% change from 2017)
State excise tax in 2017: $0.40 per gallon (#11听among all states)
Revenue from state excise tax in 2016 (most recent data): $33.9 million
Jobs directly supported by beer industry in 2016: 18,287 ($614听million total wages)
Beer consumption per capita: 1.25 gallons (15.7% above U.S. average; #15听among all states)
听
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State excise tax in 2018: $0.40 per gallon (0% change from 2017)
State excise tax in 2017: $0.40 per gallon (#11听among all states)
Revenue from state excise tax in 2016 (most recent data): $26.5 million
Jobs directly supported by beer industry in 2016: 8,218 ($272.8 million total wages)
Beer consumption per capita: 1.05 gallons (2.8% below U.S. average; #33听among all states)
听
State excise tax in 2018: $0.41 per gallon (0% change from 2017)
State excise tax in 2017: $0.41 per gallon (#9听among all states)
Revenue from state excise tax in 2016 (most recent data): $16.9 million
Jobs directly supported by beer industry in 2016: 7,055 ($203.1 million total wages)
Beer consumption per capita: 1.11 gallons (2.8% above U.S. average; #29听among all states)
听
State excise tax in 2018: $0.41 per gallon (0% change from 2017)
State excise tax in 2017: $0.41 per gallon (#9听among all states)
Revenue from state excise tax in 2016 (most recent data): $16.1 million
Jobs directly supported by beer industry in 2016: 6,535 ($199.9 million total wages)
Beer consumption per capita: 0.63 gallons (41.7% below U.S. average; #51听among all states)
听
State excise tax in 2018: $0.43 per gallon (0% change from 2017)
State excise tax in 2017: $0.43 per gallon (#8听among all states)
Revenue from state excise tax in 2016 (most recent data): $29.5 million
Jobs directly supported by beer industry in 2016: 5,861 ($185.9 million total wages)
Beer consumption per capita: 1.28 gallons (18.5% above U.S. average; #14听among all states)
听
State excise tax in 2018: $0.48 per gallon (0% change from 2017)
State excise tax in 2017: $0.48 per gallon (#7听among all states)
Revenue from state excise tax in 2016 (most recent data): $203.4 million
Jobs directly supported by beer industry in 2016: 81,047 ($2.6 billion total wages)
Beer consumption per capita: 1.09 gallons (0.9% above U.S. average; #31听among all states)
听
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State excise tax in 2018: $0.49 per gallon (+226.7% change from 2017)
State excise tax in 2017: $0.15 per gallon (#35听among all states)
Revenue from state excise tax in 2016 (most recent data): $16.8 million
Jobs directly supported by beer industry in 2016: 27,356 ($848.1 million total wages)
Beer consumption per capita: 1.15 gallons (6.5% above U.S. average; #22听among all states)
听
State excise tax in 2018: $0.53 per gallon (+488.9% change from 2017)
State excise tax in 2017: $0.09 per gallon (#43听among all states)
Revenue from state excise tax in 2016 (most recent data): $8.3 million
Jobs directly supported by beer industry in 2016: 17,295 ($597.4 million total wages)
Beer consumption per capita: 0.83 gallons (23.1% below U.S. average; #49听among all states)
听
State excise tax in 2018: $0.62 per gallon (0% change from 2017)
State excise tax in 2017: $0.62 per gallon (#5听among all states)
Revenue from state excise tax in 2016 (most recent data): $118.1 million
Jobs directly supported by beer industry in 2016: 29,853 ($992.1 million total wages)
Beer consumption per capita: 1.05 gallons (2.8% below U.S. average; #32听among all states)
听
State excise tax in 2018: $0.70 per gallon (+677.8% change from 2017)
State excise tax in 2017: $0.09 per gallon (#43听among all states)
Revenue from state excise tax in 2016 (most recent data): $1.2 million
Jobs directly supported by beer industry in 2016: 6,265 ($257.2 million total wages)
Beer consumption per capita: 1.13 gallons (4.6% above U.S. average; #27听among all states)
听
State excise tax in 2018: $0.77 per gallon (0% change from 2017)
State excise tax in 2017: $0.77 per gallon (#4听among all states)
Revenue from state excise tax in 2016 (most recent data): $89.1 million
Jobs directly supported by beer industry in 2016: 15,320 ($443.6 million total wages)
Beer consumption per capita: 1.18 gallons (9.3% above U.S. average; #19听among all states)
听
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State excise tax in 2018: $0.85 per gallon (+962.5% change from 2017)
State excise tax in 2017: $0.08 per gallon (#45听among all states)
Revenue from state excise tax in 2016 (most recent data): $6.3 million
Jobs directly supported by beer industry in 2016: 8,921 ($269.2 million total wages)
Beer consumption per capita: 0.96 gallons (11.1% below U.S. average; #41听among all states)
听
State excise tax in 2018: $0.93 per gallon (0% change from 2017)
State excise tax in 2017: $0.93 per gallon (#3听among all states)
Revenue from state excise tax in 2016 (most recent data): $27.9 million
Jobs directly supported by beer industry in 2016: 7,237 ($268.4 million total wages)
Beer consumption per capita: 1.29 gallons (19.4% above U.S. average; #13听among all states)
听
State excise tax in 2018: $1.01 per gallon (+215.6% change from 2017)
State excise tax in 2017: $0.32 per gallon (#14听among all states)
Revenue from state excise tax in 2016 (most recent data): $86.5 million
Jobs directly supported by beer industry in 2016: 25,685 ($909.6 million total wages)
Beer consumption per capita: 0.99 gallons (8.3% below U.S. average; #38听among all states)
听
State excise tax in 2018: $1.05 per gallon (+98.1% change from 2017)
State excise tax in 2017: $0.53 per gallon (#6听among all states)
Revenue from state excise tax in 2016 (most recent data): $115.4 million
Jobs directly supported by beer industry in 2016: 11,723 ($376.1 million total wages)
Beer consumption per capita: 1.09 gallons (0.9% above U.S. average; #30听among all states)
听
State excise tax in 2018: $1.07 per gallon (0% change from 2017)
State excise tax in 2017: $1.07 per gallon (#2听among all states)
Revenue from state excise tax in 2016 (most recent data): $12.2 million
Jobs directly supported by beer industry in 2016: 3,149 ($118.4 million total wages)
Beer consumption per capita: 1.15 gallons (6.5% above U.S. average; #21听among all states)
听
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State excise tax in 2018: $1.29 per gallon (0% change from 2017)
State excise tax in 2017: $1.29 per gallon (#1听among all states)
Revenue from state excise tax in 2016 (most recent data): $159.5 million
Jobs directly supported by beer industry in 2016: 14,761 ($498.6 million total wages)
Beer consumption per capita: 1.02 gallons (5.6% below U.S. average; #36听among all states)
听
