Anson Stevens-Bollen
News, Feb. 15: “Raise Per Glass”
Tax wipes away progress
Elected officials in Santa Fe are trying to raise alcohol taxes again. It’s one movie that doesn’t need a sequel. This year struggling bars and restaurants need a break.
It feels like we’re trapped in a remake of Groundhog Day where small New Mexico breweries aren’t sure what potentially business-ending news we can expect to wake up to next.
A sweeping increase in state excise taxes for all alcohol sellers at this time would effectively wipe out any incremental progress we have made throughout 2022 as our state has lessened regulations and patrons have felt safe to once again enter our establishments. This proposed tax increase could potentially destroy my business once and for all, which employs 335 individuals and has operated in New Mexico for the last 10 years.
We don’t want to pass all these costs on to consumers. However, if excise taxes go up we will be left with few options. With the looming threat of a full-blown recession, higher taxes could be the final straw for many restaurants and bars like mine. It’s time for lawmakers in the Roundhouse to wake up and realize that higher alcohol taxes are a nightmare for the hospitality sector.
Jess Greigo, COO, Bosque Brewing Co.
The Fork, Jan. 26: “To Complain or Not Complain”
True to an extent
Wow, best The Fork in a while pretty much beginning to end but especially the “Complain or Not Complain” section, which I agree with just about 100%. The idea of “don’t complain food service is tough” is true to an extent, and perhaps more true during the height of the pandemic, but time to put that to rest in my opinion. Especially considering the significant, and now apparently permanent, price increases across the board.
Bob McCabe, Santa Fe
CORRECTION
Last week’s paper spelled Jacob Brenner’s name wrong in our story about Bread Shop’s new location.
