Small Brewers, Winegrowers, Craft Distillers, and Dispensers (with package sales capabilities). As well as Restaurant A, Restaurant B, and Inter-Local Dispensers who have an Alcoholic Beverage Delivery Permit (only through delivery sales).

• Any ID card issued by a federal, state, or municipal government that contains a picture of the person and a birth date showing they are at least 21 years of age.
• Some examples are a driver’s license, non-driver ID, military ID, or a passport.
• State-issued mobile ID by use of an ISO 18013-5 compliant reader to verify the consumer’s age.
• Effective July 1, 2021, the New Mexico state law was revised, for the purposes of the Liquor Control Act an ID is valid even if it has expired.
• Except for deliveries of alcoholic beverages, it is unnecessary to ask for ID if the person clearly looks older than 35 years of age.

• Yes, as long as the old vertical ID is present with the temporary horizontal ID when the alcohol sale is completed.

• A person must be at least 21 years of age to buy, possess, or consume alcoholic beverages. It is illegal for anyone to sell, give, or procure alcohol to or for a minor.

Effective July 1, 2021, restrictions lifted for Christmas Day and Sunday sales. No longer require Sunday sales application, stamp, or fee.

Package sales, the hours of service are 7:00 a.m. until midnight.

On-Premises licensees, the hours of service are 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m.

For Restaurant license holders, hours are from 7:00 a.m. untill 11:00 p.m., or when food service stops, whichever is earlier.

This will apply to the entire state except for Local Option Districts in McKinley County which are allowed to enact ordinances restricting sales between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. for package sales.

No restrictions for holidays or election days; regular operating hours apply.

• Everyone who sells or serves alcohol in the state of New Mexico is required to obtain an Alcohol Server Permit and it must remain active/current. This includes all liquor license owners, lease holders, managers, the designated resident agent for the license, bartenders, bouncers, waiters, waitresses, and convenience or grocery store clerks.
• Anyone who serves and sells alcoholic beverages and packaged liquor.
• Only approved providers listed on our website are acceptable. View the provider listing.

• Persons 18 to 20 years of age may only work in a restaurant environment and cannot be bartenders or cocktail servers or manage the sale and/or service of alcoholic beverages.
  – A restaurant is an establishment whose primary activity is the sale of food and not the sale or consumption of alcohol.
• Only persons 21 years of age and older may sell or serve alcohol in package stores, bars, or lounges, or deliver alcoholic beverages with a valid server permit.
• Wholesalers may employ a minor 18–20 years old for warehouse operations or to transport sealed, unbroken packages to liquor license holders only.

• No, these types of liquor licenses cannot be sold, transferred, or leased from one individual to another, from one business to another, or from one location to another.
• If the ownership or location of the business changes, a new liquor license must be obtained with one exception:
  – RELOCATION of Restaurant B License: May transfer/change locations within the same local option district.

• No. Gambling is not permitted except as authorized under the Gaming Control Act – lottery tickets – and the Bingo & Raffle Act – certain nonprofit clubs have pull-tabs and gaming machines that may only be played by members of the club.

Yes, games of skill such as pool and bowling are permitted.

• Participants CANNOT be charged an entry fee and cash prizes or other prizes of value may not be awarded.
• Spectators or participants may not gamble or bet on the outcome.

• No. It is a violation of the Liquor Control Act to sell or serve alcoholic beverages to a person who is obviously intoxicated if the server knew or should have known that the person was intoxicated.

• Citations can be either criminal, administrative, or both for selling or serving alcoholic beverages to minors and intoxicated individuals.
• Criminal citations are issued by law enforcement agents with the State Police Special Investigations Unit.
• Selling or serving alcoholic beverages to a minor a second time is a fourth-degree felony.
• Administrative citations are processed by the division. Violations of the Liquor Control Act may result in fines of up to $10,000, and/or the suspension or revocation of the license.

• Yes, most violations of the Liquor Control Act are criminal offenses, addressed in state court AND considered an administrative violation of the Act.
  -For example, a sale to a minor is a crime by the individual making the sale, and an administrative violation of the Liquor Control Act by the server and their permit and against the liquor license held by the licensee and/or their lessee.
• The results of the criminal and the administrative processes may also be different – a licensee or a server may have charge(s) dismissed in a criminal proceeding and still be found guilty/in violation in the the administrative proceeding.

• Yes, licensees are responsible for the operation of the liquor license including the acts of their employees.
• Licensees should train, supervise, and monitor their employees’ activities and performance.