Boston Beer Co Inc (SAM): These Six States Have the Lowest Beer Taxes

2. Missouri
The traditional home of Anheuser-Busch InBev NV (ADR) (NYSE:BUD), Missouri charges just $0.06 per gallon in beer excise taxes. Again, the key presence of a major brewer is probably behind the state’s decision to minimize taxes on beer. Somewhat surprisingly, beer consumption isn’t all that high, with the 31.1 gallons per year of beer that the average person drinks barely enough to put Missouri into the top 20.

1. Wyoming
Why Wyoming would have the lowest beer taxes in the nation isn’t immediately obvious, but at $0.02 per gallon, no other state even comes close. What’s particularly surprising is that with no state income tax, Wyoming might typically try to use beer taxes as a way to collect revenue. Beer consumption is fairly high, with 32.4 gallons per person annually putting the state almost into the top third.

Protecting their own
As many of these figures show, states often take steps to protect important industries within their borders, and so many of the states with the lowest beer taxes have major beer companies that do business there. The net result, though, is a big benefit for beer-drinkers who live or purchase beer in those states.

The article These 6 States Have the Lowest Beer Taxes originally appeared on Fool.com and is written by Dan Caplinger.

Fool contributor Dan Caplinger has no position in any stocks mentioned. You can follow him on Twitter @DanCaplinger. The Motley Fool recommends Boston Beer and Molson Coors Brewing (NYSE:TAP) and owns shares of Boston Beer.

Copyright © 1995 – 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.