(Camden) March 30, 2005 - A new proposal inside the State House that would hit you harder in the wallet, depending on where you go for drinks.

At Traders of Camden, owner Ralph Cantey knows his customers by name and their favorite drink, and he faces raising prices on them if a Senate plan becomes law, "The taxes are going to go up on this eventually now. I think it's a fair tax. I think they'll get over it."

Cantey supports the proposal that would charge wholesalers an extra 56 cents per liter.

It's a cost that would be passed along to customers, like C.C. Canada, who's not upset about the possibility of paying a little more, "We absorb these taxes as they go along, and once we get use to paying them we hardly notice it there."

The Senate plan would cost customers more at liquor stores, but at restaurants it could actually save them money.

Tommy Price owns the Crescent Grill in Camden, "Bottom line is it saves us money." He's required by law to serve the higher-taxed minibottles. The per-liter tax would mean he could serve free-pour drinks for less, by about 15 cents.

Some liquor costs will come down and he might be able to lower some of his less expensive liquor, but it all depends on the market. Price says, "Competition drives prices down. So if some of the other people lower their prices I'm sure we'll have to lower ours."

Back at the liquor store, C.C. Canada, who's also a regular at the grill, likes that possibility, "I don't think that would offend anyone I know."

Reported by Catherine Reynolds

Posted 10:30pm by Chantelle Janelle