Collins looks to change definition of hard cider to benefit business

BARKER, N.Y. — Rep. Chris Collins wants to change the definition of hard cider to benefit local businesses.

 

Congressman Chris Collins is sponsoring the "Cider Industry Deserves Equal Regulation Act." The legislation would change the way hard cider is taxed at the federal level.

 

Right now, hard cider is taxed at different rates based on its alcohol content and carbonation level.

 

"If we increase that alcohol content from seven to eight-and-a-half percent and if we increase the carbonation level ever so slightly, then Scott and the folks at BlackBird and the other cider manufacurers can sell that product as the equivalent of a beer product. It would be taxed at a consistent level," said Rep. Collins, R-27th District.



 

"I don't do any sparkling ciders right now because of that tax, but if I did it would be a 15-fold increase in the tax, so instead of paying $12 a barrel – these are 60 gallons roughly – it would be $300 a barrel," said Scott Donovan, BlackBird Cider Works.

 

There are 22 licensed cideries in New York State, and the NY Apple Growers Association says its confident that this legislation will garner broad-based support in Congress.