In a shocking testimony yesterday to a Senate Finance Committee round table on how to fund the Obama administration's $1.2 trillion health care initiative for universal coverage, three of the thirteen academia experts who testified recommended dramatic increases in the federal excise tax on alcohol as part of their plans. While the mainstream press picked up on CSPI's recommendation of increasing taxes on sugary soft drinks, it was their push for a 50% increase in alcohol taxes (which was the most modest proposal of them all), with beer and wine equalized according to alcohol content, that caught our jaded eye and is making suppliers go berserk.