Gov. Martin O?Malley has joined the legislative chorus for doubling the $1 tax on cigarettes ? a tax that has jumped 600 percent after four increases since 1991. But barely a peep is mentioned about the taxes on alcohol, which are some of the lowest in the nation and haven?t been raised in more than 35 years.

“To me, it is puzzling, it is mystifying,” said Del. Bill Bronrott, lead sponsor of a bill to double the taxes and dedicating the $28 million it would raise for addiction and treatment services. Bronrott, D-Montgomery, estimates the increase would add 2 cents to the price of a drink.