Patty Murray, the senator from the state of Washington, is drawing criticism after suggesting that President Donald Trump’s tariffs are contributing to rising beer prices. While Murray argues that Trump’s trade policies are hurting small businesses, critics insist that Washington’s taxes, labor costs, and other operating expenses have made beer more expensive for years.
Murray shared a video on the social media platform X featuring brewery owner Laney, who described how tariffs on imported tap handles could increase while shipments were still in transit. However, the senator’s promise that a Democratic majority would fight to end Trump’s trade wars sparked a heated discussion over whether federal tariffs or state-level policies should bear more responsibility for rising prices.
According to the X post, the brewery owner explained that imported tap handles could become significantly more expensive before they even arrived at the business. In some cases, the senator claimed tariffs increased so dramatically during shipping that the added cost nearly matched the product’s price.
Murray used the example to argue that Trump’s trade policies are creating financial challenges for small businesses already struggling with operating expenses. She also suggested that electing a Democratic majority would help reverse those policies, promising that Democrats would fight to end the president’s ongoing trade disputes.
The senator’s concerns reflect a broader disagreement over the economic consequences of tariffs, particularly for businesses that depend on imported products and equipment. The beer industry has faced higher costs from trade restrictions on materials such as aluminum and steel, though those expenses are only part of the financial pressures affecting breweries.
However, critics in the comments section argued that Murray’s explanation overlooked several other expenses associated with operating a brewery or serving beer in Washington. They pointed to state alcohol taxes, minimum wage requirements, energy costs, and other business expenses, questioning whether imported tap handles could reasonably explain why customers pay more for a pint.
Comments and Reactions to Patty Murray’s Claims About Washington Beer Prices
Several commenters challenged Murray’s explanation by arguing that Washington’s existing taxes and operating expenses were more than responsible for expensive beer than Trump’s tariffs, with one writing, “Holy Smokes! This talking point is insane. Have you seen the taxes on alcohol in WA State, since liquor stores were privatized? Not even bulk pricing works.“
Others pointed out that beer prices had already increased considerably before Trump’s latest trade policies, suggesting that Murray was overlooking a longer-running affordability problem, with a different commenter writing, “This is a joke. The beer isn’t $5 anymore because the proprietor has to pay the server $22 to pour the beer. Look how this person has to reach and uses “tap handles” an example of tariffs being an issue. A beer in Seattle has been over $7 since 2015, well before tariffs.“
