Attention, dutiful drinking citizens of Illinois: As of Sept. 1, a tax hike on booze is set to kick in to fund the state’s latest public works program. Before you panic, this doesn’t mean you’ll pay more in sales tax on booze at the register. It means bar owners will pay more in beverage tax to their wholesalers—an estimated 13 cents more on a bottle of wine, 80 cents more on an average bottle of liquor and 5 cents on a 12-pack of beer.
With those extra costs adding up fast behind the bar, we asked local bar owners if the extra cost would trickle down to our bar tabs in the form of upped prices. The answer? It certainly could.
“There is nothing subtle or easy about this tax; it is simply a massive punch in the face,” says David Azizinamini, general manager of Blue Line in Wicker Park, who figures the additional tax will add up to thousands over the next year. “The bottom line is that we will be forced to pass the costs on to our guests, which we do not want to do.” Greg Mohr, co-owner of the Fifty/50, is taking the wait-and-see-approach, intending to hold onto the bar’s daily specials as long as possible. “We’re going to … just weather it and hope we can do more business to make up for the extra cost.”
Other spots might dock their offerings in an attempt to recoup. “One option we are seriously considering is scaling back our options in alcohol and beer,” says Steven Milford, co-owner of Wild Pug and Crew in Uptown, the latter of which stocks 68 kinds of beer. “With fewer options, we would go through more products quickly, earning us money back sooner.”
Ready to cry into your beer already? At least you can still get drinks for a dollar at these spots … for now.
$1 COCKTAILS
Tuesdays
Sangria at Ole Lounge
Bonus: Deal applies to white and red wine—and the glass isn’t miniscule. Go between 5 and 7 p.m. for half-price select tapas, too.
Wednesdays
House cocktails at The Full Shilling
Catch: The deal’s null and void on Cubs home game days.
Thursdays
House cocktails at Crossroads Public House
$1 BOTTLES & CANS
Mondays
Domestic bottles at The Fifty/50
Tuesdays
Hamm’s cans at Driftwood
Tuesdays
PBR cans at The Long Room
Thursdays
Domestic bottles at Faith & Whiskey
Bonus: There’s also live band karaoke—and no cover.
$1 DRAFTS
Tuesdays
Blue Moon, Heineken, Miller Light drafts at Cactus
Wednesdays
Miller Light and Coors Light drafts at Union Park
Fridays
Dos Equis drafts at McFadden’s
Bonus: Half-price quesadillas and nachos all night.
$1 SHOTS
Mondays
Kamikazes at Town Hall Pub
Wednesdays
Select shots at Red Line Tap
Wednesdays
Bartender’s choice shot at Excalibur
Bonus: Free Nintendo Wii and bags games are the club’s way of luring locals on a weeknight.
Fridays
Jell-O shots at Big City Tap
Lisa Arnett is the Metromix nightlife and shopping producer. lmarnett@tribune.com
