The Examiner covers a proposal by Maryland state legislators to institute a 10-cent tax on every alcoholic beverage sold in the state, in an effort to help stop the budgetary bleeding that has led to a projected $2 billion shortfall. Much of the estimated $200 million the tax would raise would go toward expanding Medicaid and funding services for the mentally disabled.

As you can imagine, liquor retailers are none too pleased with the idea. Well, liquor retailers in Maryland, anyway. Store owners inside the D.C. border have to be giddy over the concept.

The bill’s sponsors said they hope the tax will curb alcohol consumption in the state. But Milani said people won’t stop buying booze because of the tax — they will just take their business elsewhere.

“The biggest concern is for businesses that border D.C.,” he said. “Customers will just cross the border to get liquor.”

Truer words. The tax would theoretically add 60 cents to every six-pack of beer sold in Maryland, no matter the cost of the brew.