Revenue from state liquor stores
by | 14 December 2009

Liquor store revenue
Source: 2008 Annual Survey of State Government Finances, Census Bureau.

A new Census Bureau report on state government revenues serves up an oft’ overlooked stream of cash — liquor store sales by state and/or locally-run retailers. Curiously, Utah, with its long history of convoluted blue laws, is the big winner in the money haul with $218 million collected in sales. Beer, wine and spirit taxes are not included in the Census figures.

Neither Colorado or New Mexico operate state package stores.

So, booze it up Mountain Staters and give your cash-strapped governments a hand.

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Categories | Colorado, Culture, Daily digit, Economy, Idaho, Issues, Montana, New Mexico, Rocky Mountain West, States, Utah, Wyoming
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  • davebarnes

    Totally worthless statistic.
    Per capita might improve it.
    Looking at sales tax revenue on liquor sales might improve it.

  • http://www.westerncitizen.com Wendy Norris

    Hi Dave,

    I don't know that I would dismiss the figures as worthless. It's just one way to look at how the states are generating revenue.

    To your question about sales tax revenue, the Census just updated its 2008 numbers. I've listed them from highest to lowest.

    Colorado – $6,192,000
    Montana – $3,388,000
    Utah – $1,844,000
    Idaho – $1,662,000
    New Mexico – $878,000
    Wyoming – reported no revenue (FYI, only beer is taxed; wine and liquor are sold tax-free in state stores)

    The Center for Science in the Public Interest compiled a handy list of beer, wine and liquor sales tax rates by state [PDF].

    I'm not sure precisely what's going on in New Mexico other than its a bigger state of teetotalers than Utah. Like Colorado, NM doesn't operate state stores but its alcohol taxes are some of the highest in the nation.

  • http://www.westerncitizen.com Wendy Norris

    Hi Dave,

    I don't know that I would dismiss the figures as worthless. It's just one way to look at how the states are generating revenue.

    To your question about sales tax revenue, the Census just updated its 2008 numbers. I've listed them from highest to lowest.

    Colorado – $6,192,000
    Montana – $3,388,000
    Utah – $1,844,000
    Idaho – $1,662,000
    New Mexico – $878,000
    Wyoming – reported no revenue (FYI, only beer is taxed; wine and liquor are sold tax-free in state stores)

    The Center for Science in the Public Interest compiled a handy list of beer, wine and liquor sales tax rates by state [PDF].

    I'm not sure precisely what's going on in New Mexico other than its a bigger state of teetotalers than Utah. Like Colorado, NM doesn't operate state stores but its alcohol taxes are some of the highest in the nation.

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