Rep. Andrea Salinas Introduces Legislation to Level the Playing Field for the Cider Industry

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Andrea Salinas (OR-06), introduced the Bubble Tax Modernization Act, which would lower the tax rate for lower-alcohol wine, cider, and mead made with fruit.

Despite the popularity of bubbly beverages, the carbonation tax–colloquially called the ‘bubble tax’ on fruit wine, fruit cider, and fruit mead makes carbonating these agricultural products at sparkling levels cost prohibitive. Most craft beverage entrepreneurs can’t afford to carbonate these products at the level the market wants. The result is that an important American agricultural sector is falling flat.

“Oregon has some of the highest quality fruit in the country, but red tape in our tax code makes it nearly impossible to use these products to make the fruited wines, ciders, and meads that people want,” said Rep. Salinas. “My bill levels the playing field for the cider industry and makes it more affordable to produce the sparkling, fruited drinks consumers want.”

“Cidermakers should not be limited to just pears and apples in order to avoid a massive, unnecessary tax hike on their products,” said Rep. Van Orden. “This bill works for everyone – farmers, cidermakers, and consumers – by allowing any type of fruit to be added to cider and taxed at the standard rate.”

Currently, the tax code dictates that if a sparkling cider, wine, or mead is made with fruits other than apples and pears, then it can only be minimally carbonated, often to the point that it tastes flat to most consumers. If cidermakers want to carbonate their fruited drinks to the same level as other, non-fruited ciders, taxes on these fruited ciders triple. Rep. Salinas’ legislation allows cidermakers to create and carbonate fruited beverages without this higher tax burden, granting them more freedom to produce drinks to match public demand.

“The Bubble Tax Modernization Act is a critical, overdue fix that will finally bring fairness to how cider is taxed in the U.S.,” said Monica Cohen, CEO of the American Cider Association. “It eliminates outdated penalties on carbonated, fruit-forward ciders and gives small cidermakers the freedom to innovate without being punished. This bill supports American agriculture, strengthens rural economies, and helps keep cider accessible to consumers. It’s common-sense legislation and we applaud Representatives Salinas and Van Orden for moving this forward."

“The Pacific Northwest is home to some of the most innovative and orchard-driven cider producers in the country. Yet outdated federal tax rules have unfairly penalized craft cideries and restricted innovation and expansion into the fruited cider category,” said Emily Ritchie, Executive Director of the Northwest Cider Association. “The Bubble Tax Modernization Act is a common-sense update that will allow our producers to grow, hire more local workers, and invest back into our rural communities and vibrant apple and pear orchards. This is a crucial step toward fairness and opportunity for the Northwest cider industry.” 

“New York’s cider industry has become a national leader—thanks to the innovation, resilience, and agricultural roots of our cider producers. But outdated carbonation tax thresholds are holding us back,” said Scott Ramsey, Executive Director of the New York Cider Association. “The Bubble Tax Modernization Act represents a long-overdue step toward fairness for cider makers in New York and across the country. By leveling the playing field, this bill will empower our producers to expand their offerings, hire more local workers, and reinvest in the rural communities and orchards that fuel our economy. We’re proud to support this effort to strengthen one of New York’s most dynamic and agricultural industries.”

The Bubble Tax Modernization Act is endorsed by the American Cider Association, Northwest Cider Association, North Carolina Cider Association, New York Cider Association, and Pennsylvania Cider Guild.

To read the full text of this legislation, click here. 

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