People with twisted senses of humor enjoy referring to our lovely Commonwealth of Massachusetts as Taxachusetts, for what one can only assume are generally higher taxes here than elsewhere. But newsflash, non-Bay Staters: Massachusetts has one of the smallest taxes in the nation for the one that matters most: alcohol excise tax.

According to the above map, which is comprised of data beer excise tax rate data pulled from the non-partisan research group Tax Foundation, Massachusetts’ excise tax on alcohol is tied with neighboring Rhode Island for the eighth lowest in the country.

The Bay State’s excise tax, per a 12 ounce bottle of beer and 750 ml bottle of wine is just 11 cents. Not too shabby, especially when considered that excise taxes on booze can run as high as $1.17 in Tennessee and $1.08 in Alaska.

Those with a cheaper built-in duty are Wyoming with 2 cents; Missouri and Wisconsin with 6 cents; and Oregon, Colorado and Pennsylvania with 8 cents.

I wonder if Boston’s affinity for heavy drinking, the likely reason behind City Council President Bill Linehan’s proposed 6.25 percent tax on hooch given that the state repealed its alcohol sales tax a few years back, has anything to do with its cheapness…