Fans Revolt When Milwaukee Brewers Advertise “Free Hot Dog Club,” Only To Charge Tax On Every One

You can’t call it a free hot dog if you have to pay the tax on it.

I don’t mean to start this story off with a history lesson, but this great country has long pushed back against unnecessary taxes. You might remember learning about a little something called the Boston Tea Party? Does the Tea Act of 1773 ring a bell? When future Americans rebelled and dumped 342 chests of East India Company tea into the Boston Harbor in an act of protest against Britain’s taxation of the colonies?

Just put a pin in that for a minute. We’ll tie that back in here in just a bit, but first, we have to talk about one of the Milwaukee Brewers’ latest promotions. The Brewers are currently just above .500 in the NL Central, so it’s not like they are a bad team struggling to get fans to the ball park.

That being said, it never hurts to provide a little incentive to baseball game goers, and the Milwaukee team came up with one hell of an idea. It’s called the Brewers Hot Dog Club, and for the low price of $59.99, you can join the exclusive club and get one free hot dog at every home game. You also get an official Hot Dog Club ha.

Considering each MLB team plays 81 game at home during the 162-game season, those who plan on frequenting the American Family Field, (also known as Wrigley North based on the amount of Cubs fans who make the trip every series), could really get some bang for their buck if they make it to most of the games and joined the club. And who goes to a baseball game without getting a hot dog? You almost feel obligated to grab a glizzy, am I right?

That’s where the Hot Dog Club comes in:

Alright… being a “Hot Dog VIP” actually sounds like a dream come true. And a member of the hot dog club? If there was a little membership card (like the one you need to get inside the heavenly gates of Costco), that might be worth the price of admission for me.

But with all great things, and opportunities that seem too good to be true, there appears to be a catch. As I alluded to earlier, this is very much a scenario where the world famous phrase of “No taxation without representation” comes into play. Fans that have signed up for the Hot Dog Club have come to find out that the hot dog isn’t really free. According to some Brewers fans online, every time they go to get their “free dog,” they have to pay taxes on it:

Hey @Brewers why do i have to pay almost a dollar in tax ON MY FREE HOT DOG? https://t.co/LMnsU6uquw

— Jake Starck (@starckie24) May 2, 2025

But have to pay tax on the hot dog when you get it?!?!!??

— Casey Ward (@cWard_Too_7) May 2, 2025

And I have to pay damn tax on my FREE Hot Dog https://t.co/Y4utuCV3r6

— Charlie Furman (@THEMANHLRUCME) May 2, 2025

The proof:

Just absurd and deplorable.

You can’t take $60 bucks from fans (also seems more like pre-paying than free), telling them they’ll get a free hot dog, and then turn around and charge them tax on the the aforementioned glizzy. Brewers fans (or at least those who are “Hot Dog VIPs”) must rebel like those who felt wronged in the colonies all the way back in the late 1700s.

Take the dogs and dump them into the nearest harbor or body of water you can find! Make a change! Stand up to the tyranny that is telling you your hot dogs are free, yet charging a tax on top of it! No Taxation with free-hot-dog-ization! It’s an absolute travesty.

And the Milwaukee Brewers heard the revolt, and they listened. It appears that much like those who dumped tea into the Boston Harbor sparked change, those in the Hot Dog Club who were outraged and spoke out led to the Hot Dog Tax being dropped:

We were made aware of the sales tax issue during Friday’s Hot Dog Club launch. We have since implemented a fix to ensure sales tax is not charged to Hot Dog Club members upon redemption

— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) May 6, 2025