Post #180532 by Rum Numb Davey on Thu, Aug 18, 2005 1:59 AM

Currently, the federal distilled-spirits tax is based on a product's alcohol content. A gallon of 100-proof liquor, for example, has an excise tax of $13.50. A 50-proof beverage is taxed $6.75 per gallon, because it contains half as much alcohol. Taxes are levied by proof, and consumers are not demanding higher proof Jack Daniels.
In spite of 11,413 signatures on Modern Drunkard’s boycott, Jack Daniels sold 7 Million cases last year globally, and 3.3 million cases in the USA.

They are demanding that the price remain at $17.98 - $ 18.90 (with $15.98 deep discount price).
About 40 percent of the cost of a bottle of spirits is due to taxes, and the Brown Forman executives are keen to maintain their dominance in brown spirits.
Jack Daniel's is the largest-selling brown spirit in the U.S., and the Fourth largest selling over-all. Brown-Forman grew their business 5% last year with ultra-premium offerings like Jack Daniel's Single Barrel, Gentleman Jack and Woodford Reserve. At the same time, the core brand, Jack Daniel's, continues to prosper! The Tennessee straight whiskey was up 4.6% last year.
The Spirits Industry domestically pays $3.7 billion in excise taxes each year. Blame the government and their sin tax mentality; don’t blame the distillers for having to make their products profitable.

The boycott is not going to move the hydrometer off that 40% alcohol by volume no matter how many signatures get raised or hate emails get sent. It is a dollars and sense decision by the Suits at Brown-Forman, and when they dropped it profits soared. You want 100 proof whiskey? Drink Wild Turkey 101, and they’ll add one degree extra for you.

God bless you for trying though!

Before the Revolution, the per capita consumption of RUM in the Colonies was 3.7 gallons PER person. We have become a Neo-temperant nation of wimps and quitters! We must rise, Tiki Nation, and raise our ceramic mugs in resistance to teatotaling!

[ Edited by: Rum Numb Davey 2005-08-18 02:00 ]