Prohibition Alive and Well in the Green Mountain State
The following is an opinion piece by VTLP member Travis Spencer:
When you hear the words “illegal liquor transportation” do you have visions of prohibition and Al Capone, Elliot Ness and his gang breaking open barrels of booze? Well for one New York man in December his vision was a Vermont State Trooper telling him the alcohol he just bought legally in New Hampshire was getting him a date in court.
Welcome to the Green Mountain State. You see, Vermont doesn’t take kindly to individuals passing through in an attempt to save money. It isn’t enough you have to pay our high gas tax and our meals tax on your journey back home; we want a piece of the action when it comes to your alcohol purchase. Thanks for promoting tourism and Interstate Commerce Vermont. How excited would we be if New Hampshire put a tax on all Vermont Maple Syrup transported through the Granite State or how about a surcharge to bring that Heady Topper over state lines? A man made a transaction that is legal in all 50 states, and his only offense was his geographical location. At a time when many politicians talk about open borders, Vermont wants to build a wall around foreign hooch. I have read countless articles about how wonderful it is when folks from Quebec come down and spend their Loonies at our shops and hotels and how it boosts the economy. Why shouldn’t Americans have the same competitive advantage? Prohibition ended in 1933 with the 21st Amendment. It is time Vermont catches up.
