The hell with the rising price of gasoline; here's the real news: beer prices are steadily climbing.
With the cost of everything else rising as well, some of us have been able to just grin and bear it, taking solace in our beer. But (sigh) with beer prices going up too, we may be in some real trouble.
Where are our leaders on this issue? Come on, Mr. Bush, how about an alcoholic stimulus package?
The US Labor Department is reporting retail beer prices are up 3 percent over May 2007 prices and are outpacing overall inflation. Beer producers cite an increase in costs for the price hike. Grain costs are up because of a bad barley crop in Europe and the competition of bio-fuels. Shipping costs are up, as are packaging costs.
This all means a slowdown at the liquor store and the local bar. An alcoholic stimulus package, either checks mailed out to drinkers of legal age or as a break from alcohol taxes, would simultaneously help this industry and the rest of us.
If beer prices rise much more we will all have to drink less, putting the entire beer industry in trouble. And if we cannot stop the eventual price hike, an alcoholic stimulus package will help us during our transitional drying-out period.
If we cannot get this beer price issue under control, we will have to cut costs somewhere. Cancel the movie packages from our cable provider. Eat bologna instead of smoked turkey. Wash dishes and clothes with the same soap. Ride the bike to work more often. Anything to make sure the beer budget is unaffected.
You gotta do what you gotta do. When times get tough, the beer must keep flowin'. An alcoholic stimulus check would ensure that it does.
(photo by Eric Ward)
This article appears in May 14-20, 2008.