AUGUSTA – A Maine legislative committee is unanimously supporting a bill aimed at cutting the alcohol tax on kombucha.
Kombucha is fermented tea that typically has a much lower percentage of alcohol by volume than beer or wine.
Bill sponsor Justin Alfond says the change to the excise tax will “support the kombucha industry and keep Maine’s momentum in the craft beverage industry.”
The Taxation Committee unanimously supported the bill on Monday.
Regulators currently classify kombucha as a wine, which carries an excise tax of 60 cents per gallon. The amended bill would tax kombucha like beer and malt beverages at 35 cents per gallon.
State officials say Maine has only one kombucha manufacturer and it is located in a Portland warehouse space.
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