A proposal to impose new fees on beer, wine and spirits manufacturers and wholesale distributors to fund addiction prevention, treatment and recovery programs is to be introduced in the Colorado House this week.

The rate would be 26 cents per bottle of spirits, five cents per bottle of wine and three cents per six-pack of beer.

Advocates for the fees (they are taxes that are called fees because that way they don't have to go before the voters for approval) and planning to make deep cuts to balance an $850 million state budget deficit. The advocaes may not be aware that bev/al sales volumes have been declining lately, and industry officials fear any new taxes or fees could cause additional sales declines.