DEAR SUN SPOTS: I’m curious about this new tax on water. I bought a gallon of distilled water for $1.25 and was charged 5 cents for deposit. My total at the register was $1.37. No explanation on the screen.

When I asked the clerk, he stated it was a tax but could not tell me what kind of tax or who was collecting it. Does anyone know what kind of tax it is, who’s collecting it and what it’s for and why it does not show up on the register other than the total? — Norm Laplante, Sabattus

ANSWER: The tax on bottled water isn’t exactly new, just complicated. As some readers might recall, Maine used to have a “snack tax.” The Maine Legislature eliminated that tax in 2000, but in its place was put a complicated formula for taxing some food and beverages some of the time.

On June 10, 2012, the Sun Journal’s Lindsay Tice wrote about sales taxes on food and beverages, including water. Readers who want to brush up on the tax can read Lindsay’s story at http://tinyurl.com/7n2f29k; Sun Spots will only address the water portion. 

According to Lindsay’s story: “Bottled water is taxed at 5 percent unless sold by a store that falls under the 75 percent rule, in which case it’s taxed at 7 percent. Bottled water is not taxed at all if delivered to your home.”

Lindsay also explained the 75 percent rule: “There were also new rules for businesses, including one that required stores for whom prepared food comprised 75 percent or more of their gross sales — think sandwich shops, pizza joints and bakeries — to charge 7 percent tax on some items rather than the 5 percent tax grocery and convenience stores were allowed to charge.”

So Norm paid a 5 percent sales tax on his water.

Sun Spots does not know why the tax did not show up on his receipt. He will need to query the store. 

For additional questions, call Maine Revenue Services at 624-9693.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: I would like to know who makes beeswax hand cream? I have lost the phone numbers I had before. I have eczema, and it really helps. Thanks. — Aline Girardin, agirardin@roadrunner.com

ANSWER: Sun Spots found three possible sources for that hand cream from previous columns:

* Lynn, Maine Honey Bee, 778-5196, mainehoneybee@yahoo.com

* Laurie Taylor, Dixfield, trickyfish@yahoo.com, 357-2220

* Rick Cooper, 1075 Post Road, Bowdoinham, ME 04008, 666-5643, rick@bees-n-me.com

If readers know of others, please let Sun Spots know.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: I’ve been watching  the first 25 episodes (from 1987) of “The Bold and the Beautiful” on CBS.com. However, the episodes on CBS end there.

I contacted CBS, and they suggested iTunes. I did, but it picks up with episodes from 1995 and up. I’ve browsed the Internet, checked YouTube with no luck.

I know Amazon sells episode packages, but they’re expensive, and by the time I’ve even reached episode 175 I’d have spent $400.

Do you or any reader out there know how to continue watching these episode 26 and beyond from a website? Thanks so much for your time. —cgoudreau@wmxinc.com

ANSWER: Sun Spots checked her ideas, Netflix and the Maine library system, to no avail. Perhaps a reader has recorded them and will share?

This column is for you, our readers. It is for your questions and comments. There are only two rules: You must write to the column and sign your name (we won’t use it if you ask us not to). Please include your phone number. Letters will not be returned or answered by mail, and telephone calls will not be accepted. Your letters will appear as quickly as space allows. Address them to Sun Spots, P.O. Box 4400, Lewiston, ME 04243-4400. Inquiries can also be emailed to sunspots@sunjournal.com.

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