PHOENIX - Arizona voters could get to decide if they want to tax drinkers to help keep kids from drinking and prevent alcohol abuse.

Initiative papers filed Tuesday with the state seek a new tax of 25 cents a gallon on liquor and a dollar a gallon on beer and wine. Proceeds would be earmarked for specific community programs.

Backers have until July 5 to gather the 172,809 valid signatures necessary to put the question on the November ballot.

Manuel Medina, chairman of the Pennies for Prevention Campaign, said the additional tax would add only about a dime to the cost of a typical drink. He estimated that could raise $100 million for needed programs.

Don Isaacson, who lobbies for the Arizona Licensed Beverage Association, panned the idea.

"It presupposes that alcohol causes the particular problem when, in fact, most people use alcohol responsibly and it doesn't cause a problem," said Isaacson, whose group represents retailers.

"Alcoholism is usually part of a bigger problem somebody has," Isaacson continued. "In the past, it's been viewed as a general societal cost, and that's the way we think these issues should be treated."

He said it would be like imposing a tax on the sale of cars and trucks to deal with aggressive drivers.

Medina, however, said the connection is clear, saying that the industry has been targeting teens for years with commercials depicting drinking as exciting despite the fact that the legal age to imbibe in Arizona is 21.

The new tax would be on top of the current levy of $3 a gallon on liquor and 16 cents a gallon on beer. The tax on wine is based on the alcohol content, ranging from 84 cents to $4 a gallon.

Those taxes, combined, brought in $63.4 million last budget year.

Medina said he believes voters would approve the measure if it gets on the ballot, claiming a survey shows two-thirds of those questioned would support a new tax if the proceeds go to preventing alcohol abuse.

As to getting the signatures, Medina acknowledged that organizers do not have a lot of money to hire paid circulators. But he said there are about 150 community groups from around the state that support the idea - and would have a chance of getting a share of the proceeds - that will produce the volunteers to circulate petitions.

One of those groups is Arizona Students Against Drunk Driving. Jessica Smith, the state coordinator, is signed on as vice chair of the campaign.