opinion

Opinion: Soda tax threat to business

About two decades ago, my brother and I were sharing a spring tradition, sugaring in our back yard. As we tended to the taps the idea hit us. The cold Maple sap we had been drinking for years during the sugaring process might just be a delicious drink with a little bit of work. Once we decided that some carbonation would put our creation over the top, we began bottling our Vermont Maple Seltzer and Vermont Maple Soda.

In the 20 years, and nine flavors of which seven are sweetened exclusively with all natural evaporated cane juice, we are proud to say that we are still a local company, developing, bottling and shipping our products from where we started in Rutland County.

But now, one of the worst threats to our business currently sits on the horizon. If we don't do something about it, our dream will be over and another local operation will shut its doors.

Lawmakers and advocates in Montpelier think a tax on soda will change the obesity issues that we are facing as a state. We are not a major employer like Ben & Jerry's or Magic Hat. We aren't promoted by the Department of Tourism like one of the cheese companies or chocolatiers, and we don't specialize in apple cider donuts. Maybe that is why soda looks like an easy target. Something can be said about all of the Vermont products listed above, like ours they are unhealthy when not consumed in moderation. It is a mystery to me why legislators in this state would take action against soda without considering what Vermont openly promotes as its famous products.

When I heard that lawmakers might be discussing a soda tax in January, I had to say something. This tax isn't going to get Vermonters to be more active. It won't keep people from eating ice cream or drinking beer. It probably won't even keep people from drinking sodas. The tax money won't be devoted to fitness programs or to educating people on making good choices. It's going to go toward funding our state's spending problem. If this tax becomes reality, this will be just another reason why a small business in this state will have to consider closing down or moving to New York or New Hampshire.

Richard Munch is owner of Vermont Sweetwater Bottling Co. in Poultney.