Massachusetts voters agreed to repeal the state sales tax on alcohol Tuesday in a vote that was so close the final results were not known until after midnight.



The Question 1 referendum question that will end the 6.25 percent alcohol tax instituted a year ago, passed with 52 percent of voters casting ballots to end the tax while 48 percent voted to keep the tax.



In the first 10 months, the tax raised $97 million which was earmarked to be spent on substance abuse treatment and prevention programs. But, liquor store owners have been protesting the tax saying it is costing them business because people are buying in bulk were heading to New Hampshire where there is no tax on liquor.



"It is a little disappointing ... we knew it would be close," said Jared M. Hamre, of West Springfield.



Watching the results come in, Hamre said he felt positive at times when results showed the "no" votes to repeal the tax were ahead. There were also times when the difference in votes was just a few thousand.



Hamre, a recovered heroin addict, campaigned for months after his own experience. He had tried to check into a treatment program five years ago only to be turned away until there was enough room.



He said he was concerned there were a lot of people who did not realize where the money from the tax was going.



"If it doesn't pass we will do what we can to keep funding for programs," he said.



Jackie Kleszczynski, of Chicopee, said she voted to lower the sales tax but supported keeping the alcohol tax.



But as a health care worker, Kleszczynski said she would be happy to see the alcohol tax continue, even though she does drink occasionally.



"I think it should stay. If they wanted to raise it to 20 percent and it would stop some people from drinking too much I would be OK with it," she said.



John Stadnicki disagreed saying he believed the alcohol tax was wrong since there is already an excise tax on beer, wine and other liquor.



"They already have the excise tax. We are getting a tax on our tax," Stadnicki said.



Robert J. Wilczynski, of Palmer, voted to get rid of the sales tax on alcohol and to roll back the sales tax. Wilczynski said he thinks residents are already paying enough taxes.



George A. Backus, also of Palmer, voted to get rid of the alcohol tax, and blamed "the teetotalers" for creating the tax in the first place.



Rebecca Boissonneault, of Chicopee, said she also opposed the alcohol tax.



"There is already a tax on alcohol," she said.



Robert S. Dupuis, of Palmer, voted to keep the alcohol sales tax and the 6.25 percent sales tax.



"Someone's got to pay the bill. I think a lot of good things happen from the sales tax revenue," Dupuis said.



Staff writer Lori Stabile contributed to this story.

