North Carolina’s Republican legislative leadership never met a tax they didn’t want to cut. Since taking control of state government in 2011, they have cut corporate tax rates from 6.9% to the current 2.0%. Personal income tax rates have declined from 7.75% (for incomes over $50,000) to today’s rate of 3.99%. But there is one tax that lawmakers have studiously avoided touching — taxes on alcohol.

The Tax Foundation reports that North Carolina has the fifth-highest tax on alcohol of any state — $18.23 per gallon. Only Virginia ($23.47) has a higher tax in the Southeast. Other Bible Belt states are significantly lower. South Carolina’s are $5.42, Tennessee charges $4.46, Georgia, $3.79, and Florida, $6.50.

You and I are paying too much for alcohol, but our lawmakers consistently refuse to

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