The UnAmerican Way

Strange-But-True Tax Deduction
 No. 1 Free Beer

Businesses come up with all kinds of novel ways to attract customers, but perhaps no promotion was as inspired as that of the gas station owner who gave his customers free beer.

In the 1982 case of Sullivan v. Commissioner, the U.S. Tax Court allowed a service station operator to deduct the cost of beer he offered to his customers free of charge while their vehicles were being filled with gasoline or serviced.

The court stated that a small business owner "can offer free beer to beer lovers" to improve business. Such an offering was a legitimate business expense and, thus, tax deductible, according to the court.

Of course, the court didn't weigh in on the wisdom of letting your customers chug beer before driving away from the pumps.

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Comes a point though. Were you surprised when you heard several Las Vegas casino's who were supporting, Nevadapork Harry, by giving free beer to Reid supporters on election day last November? Did you know it was a tax deductible expense?

Shouldn't states shut off liquor sales and give aways on election day?

Is getting voters liquored up so they will vote for you, what we want as the American way?

Speaks volumes, n'est ce pas ?

Steve