Legislature Stirs Liquor Laws

February 12, 2021 – New Mexico’s Byzantine system of liquor licensing has long featured jaw-dropping costs for those looking to run a bar or serve spirits in their restaurant, with full dispenser licenses costing hundreds of thousands of dollars. Advocates for change may have found their moment with the pandemic. The Legislature is considering several measures to rework the state system, as restaurant owners who have been pummeled by the pandemic want state law to be changed to allow them to deliver beer or wine with a meal, opening the door to broader changes. The Line opinion panel discusses both the need for the law and the implications it brings with it. 

Host: Gene Grant 

The Line Opinion Panel: 
Laura Sanchez, attorney 
Merritt Allen, Vox Optima public relations 
Inez Russell Gomez, editorial page editor, Santa Fe New Mexican 

For More Information: 
Lawmakers Consider Changes to Alcohol Rules – Santa Fe New Mexican 
Home Delivery Bill Preview – Albuquerque Journal 
Fiscal Impact Report for SB6