Repeal of booze tax appealing to Gr. Lynners

The sales tax on alcoholic beverages is hurting North Shore businesses, according to several area business owners.George Shube, who owns Shubie’s Marketplace in Marblehead, said his family has been in business and held a liquor license for 60 years.?It’s hard to quantify, but I have absolutely lost business over the last year since the tax went into effect,” Shube said. “The tax is literally driving people to New Hampshire. A lot of people in town go to New Hampshire regularly so they are buying alcohol there. It is a burden on small businesses and the consumer.”Question 1 is a ballot question aimed at repealing the sales tax on alcoholic beverages at retail stores.Massachusetts Packages Stores Association Inc. Spokesman PJ Foster said packages stores close to the New Hampshire border have been hardest hit by the sales tax.But several local business owners said they have also seen sales drop since the sales tax on alcohol went into effect last year.Cliff Ansara, who owns Vinnin Square Liquors in Swampscott and Lynnway Liquors in Lynn, hung banners outside his package store in Lynn urging voters to repeal the sales tax on alcohol.?I noticed a drop in sales the last year because of the taxes,” Ansara said. “Sales in Lynn dropped between 6 and 8 percent. I see a lot of my large volume sales going to New Hampshire, that 6.5 percent (sales tax) hurts. It’s a double-dip tax. New Hampshire is becoming a destination for tax-free shopping for alcohol and other items.”Seaside Variety in Nahant, which sells beer and wine, is the only place in town to buy alcoholic beverages.Owner George Mastoras said he has lost business because of the sales tax.?It is double taxation,” he said. “There is already an excise tax on alcohol. I’m not in favor of targeting any specific group. I know money from the tax goes for alcohol treatment, but it’s like taxing the elderly to fund Alzheimer’s research.”Warren Peckham, who is the manager of C&L Liquors in Swampscott, said the volume of sales has dropped since the tax went into effect.?We still have the same number of people coming in,” he said. “But people don’t buy large quantities anymore. When people are buying a lot of volume, they skip over the border. It should be repealed. There’s enough tax on this stuff already.”Cliftondale Liquors in Saugus has seen a drastic cut in business since the sales tax on alcohol was put into effect, says owner Roy Celaine. He says this past Christmas; his business sales were cut in half.?They’re squeezing us slowly but surely with these taxes,” said Celaine.He added that business started to filter out when the tax on cigarettes was implemented.?Since the alcohol tax has gone into effect, sales have been off every month.”Celaine has started handing out flyers to customers asking them to vote Yes on Question 1.Phil Barbanti, owner of Guy’s Liquor in Saugus, has been in the business for 30 years and says he’s “frustrated and infuriated” by the state sales tax on alcohol.?If the state could manage their money better, our small businesses would be in better shape,” said Barbanti.He noted that although he’s had about the same amount of customers, they are buying less and buying cheaper.?The state takes a lot out of this industry and we never get anything back,” he said.Alisha Ke, Owner of the McHeald Liquor Store in Lynn, says she has loyal customers and although business has maintained for the most part since the sales tax passed she would like to see it get repealed.?Business is good, but it would be better if it (the sales tax) was gone,” said Ke. “I think people would spend a little more money and wouldn’t be afraid to buy the larger bottles.”Ned Barrett, manager of Lynn Liquor Mart, says his business has dropped about 5 percent in sales because of the tax.?We would get a lot of business back if this is repealed,” said Barrett.The Committee to Repeal the Sales Tax on Alcohol spearheaded the initiative to get Question 1 on the ballot.Alysha Santiago, who works at Dunkin D