Wine and Spirits Tax Increase Will Not Affect Millburn Drinkers Immediately

New Jersey’s sales tax on certain alcoholic beverages was increased on Saturday, August 1, but those drinking and shopping for alcohol in Millburn may not immediately feel the impact.

When asked if prices for drinks for his customers would increase, Marc Cooperman, owner of restaurant.mc at 57 Main Street, said “Not at all.” He added, “We can’t right now. Any increase is going to be looked at askew. It’s not fair to the customers.”

The new taxes will affect wine and liquor but not beer. The tax per gallon on wine and spirits will rise by 25 percent, increasing to $5.50 per gallon of liquor and 87.5 cents per gallon of wine.

Kishor Makvana of Dave’s Liquor Mart at 186 Essex St. was sanguine about the increase. “It’s minimal,” he told Patch. Makvana explained that since the tax is volume-based and not price-based, it will actually impact cheaper wines and liquors more adversely. “A gallon of Gallo may go up 50 cents, but your average bottle of wine will only go up 10 cents.”

So is this a backhanded way for the State to improve New Jerseyans taste in wine? Makvana was dubious.

He did note, however, that although prices for wine and liquor at Dave’s Liquor would ultimately reflect the tax increases, the impact would not be immediate. “It will appear as the inventory turns over,” said Makvana.

The managers at Martini Bistro and Bar, Charlie Brown’s Steakhouse and The Wine Library (yes, we know it’s in Springfield but we also know you shop there) were not immediately available for comment.