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Now that the City of Toronto act gives councillors the power to tax, just thinking about the hit coming to your wallet could be enough to drive you to drink. And you may want to do just that if they decide to impose a levy on liquor and beer. Some advocates are worried about the effects that move would have not only on local bar owners but on liquor outlets and the T.O. economy in general.

The fear - if you're going out to buy booze, you'll head to the 905, where it will be cheaper to get what you want. That prospect has led the city's restaurant industry to declare Enough is Enough - the name of their new campaign to fight the ten percent tax before it's even approved at City Hall. "When does it stop? When does it end? When do we stop getting taxed to death?" demands bar owner Dino Magnatta.

The tax would add about three bucks to the cost of buying a case of beer. Not surprisingly, imbibers aren't happy at the prospect. "That's absolutely ridiculous," fumes Anthony Dykstra, about the taxing possibility. "If it's spent wisely I don't mind but I keep seeing wasted money and waiting a half hour for buses and I'm aggravated."

But Mayor David Miller doesn't believe you'll flee to the 905 when you want a home brew. "That's silly," he declares. "Somebody wants a beer is not going to go from downtown Toronto to Mississauga." But if they did, guess who would welcome you with open arms? "I would think liquor stores in the surrounding area will have increasing business in my neck of the woods and also Markham," smiles Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion.

The city claims it's broke and has no choice but to implement what it facetiously terms "revenue tools". Other possible taxes being considered include sports and entertainment tickets, parking, cigarettes, even road tolls. But would a surcharge of beer be enough to get you to head out of town for a few? "[Only] if they have cheaper gas prices," laughs James Hirsch.

The city's executive committee will meet next month to determine what possible levies could become reality. The earliest we might see it happen is this fall.

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