Members of the Portland League of Young Voters don’t care if the cost of booze goes up a few pennies.

League leaders sent out an e-mail Thursday urging their members not to sign the people’s veto petitions that will be circulated by the Fed Up with Taxes coalition.

The coalition is headed by Chamber of Commerce members and is supported by out of state beer and soda corporations. Members include the Maine Restaurant Association, the Maine Grocers Association and the Maine Beer and Wine Wholesalers Association.

A new PAC, “Health Coverage for Maine,” has formed in response. It is headed by health care advocates and professionals. Thursday morning they will hold a press conference in Portland. Watch PolitickerME.com later in the day for details.

The new taxes on beer, wine and soda were passed to fund Dirigo, the state’s health insurance program. They will not be applied to local breweries and wineries.

The League supports the new taxes because they help 18,000 people get health insurance.

“These large scale corporations are meddling into local Maine business to keep their own prices low with no consideration for our state,” states the League’s e-mail.

The e-mail continues: “Plus, the Beverage Tax is aimed at helping folks under the age of 40 have access to cheaper health insurance in the future with a special pilot program! With 40% of uninsured Mainers under the age of 30, we can't afford to cut this tax!”