You toss the word "tax" out in front of many Wyomingites, and they freak out. Consider the proposal by the Wyoming Prevention Framework Communities group to raise the tax on Alcohol in Wyoming to help fund anti-binge drinking and underage programs in the state.

Given the reaction of some Alcohol dealers and consumers, you'd think this group was going to open up everyone's wallets and rip out $100 bills.

Yet the tax on Alcohol in Wyoming is 2 cents per gallon, or about two-tenths of one cent on a 12-ounce bottle of beer. Based on that, raising the tax on Alcohol to a dime per gallon would hike the tax on a six-pack of beer by about a nickel.

That hardly is onerous - and it is not about to make a single state resident drink any less, despite the panic from Alcohol dealers and consumers when the report was announced recently.

Besides, this proposal makes a lot of sense. It is clear that Wyoming's cowboy culture encourages - indeed, even sanctions - the abuse of alcohol.

University of Wyoming criminal justice instructor Ernie Johnson, who led the review of Alcohol abuse for the group, said binge and underage drinking are two of the state's major health problems. As he said when the report was released, "We have minimized the concerns for far too long."

If a nickel or two on a six-pack of beer can slow that down even a little bit, then how could anyone really oppose it?

Mr. Johnson cites a survey that shows more than 90 percent of Wyoming residents want state officials to take action to prevent sales to minors, as well as sales to people who already are drunk. Based on that, the Wyoming Prevention Framework Communities proposed a "substantial increase" in the Alcohol tax.

Consider, too, that the state has not raised the Alcohol tax since 1935. Just based on the inflation rate of the Consumer Price Index, that would be worth 30 cents today. That is close to the national average for Alcohol taxes of 26 cents per gallon, and it would raise the cost of a six-pack of beer in Wyoming by about 15 cents.

It makes sense to us that the users of Alcohol would help fund programs to prevent its abuse, just as revenues from state- sanctioned gambling elsewhere are used to mitigate gambling addiction.

Mike Moser of the Wyoming State Liquor Association has argued that taxing Alcohol at a higher rate punishes responsible users to fund the irresponsible. But that argument would void other taxes as well. Sharing of responsibility is how government works.

Some might simply look to state revenues to fund such programs, but the Legislature has shown no inclination to do so. Besides, if they are ongoing, they deserve a recurring revenue stream.

We would like to see this tax hiked significantly - to 30 cents might be a good start. Then why not use that money not only for education campaigns but also for the treatment facilities for Alcohol - as well as drugs - that Wyoming so badly needs?