Buying Beer On Christmas Day In New Mexico

New Mexico has a complicated history with alcohol. While it is not a dry state, the state government used to restrict the sale of alcohol on Christmas Day. However, recent changes to the state's liquor laws have expanded service on days that were historically restricted. As of July 1, 2021, there are no longer any Christmas Day restrictions on the hours of operation for alcohol sales. This means that, unlike in some other states, you can now buy beer on Christmas Day in New Mexico.

New Mexico law prohibits the sale of takeaway liquor on Christmas Day

New Mexico State law prohibits the sale, offer of sale, or delivery of liquor on Christmas Day. This means that if you want to consume alcohol on Christmas Day, you will need to purchase it in advance. The law applies to all liquor retailers, including liquor stores, grocery stores, and bars. However, it is important to note that the law only applies to takeaway liquor and does not restrict the sale of alcohol for on-site consumption.

The law is a remnant of Prohibition-era laws, which banned the sale of liquor on Sundays and certain holidays. While Prohibition ended 85 years ago, many states, including New Mexico, still maintain some of these restrictions. In recent years, New Mexico has made strides towards expanding alcohol sales, lifting restrictions for Christmas Day and Sunday sales. For example, there are no longer any restrictions on the hours of operation for restaurants, which can serve alcohol from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m., seven days a week.

It is worth noting that the law only applies to liquor and does not include beer and wine. In New Mexico, off-premise retailers such as liquor stores can sell alcohol, including beer and wine, between 7 a.m. and 12 a.m. daily. On-premise retailers may sell alcohol from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m., while restaurants can sell from 7 a.m. until 11 p.m. or until they stop serving food. Additionally, New Mexico allows alcohol delivery and growler sales.

There are no longer any Christmas Day restrictions on alcohol sales in New Mexico

New Mexico has historically prohibited the sale of alcohol on Christmas Day. However, the state's liquor laws have recently undergone changes, and there are no longer any Christmas Day restrictions on alcohol sales. This means that in New Mexico, you can now buy beer, wine, or liquor on Christmas Day.

The latest updates to New Mexico's liquor laws have removed restrictions on alcohol sales during specific days, including Christmas, Election Day, and Sundays. These changes apply to the hours of operation for restaurants and package sales. Restaurants in New Mexico are now permitted to serve alcohol from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m., seven days a week. For package sales, alcohol can be sold from 7 a.m. until midnight. The only exception to these hours are for establishments with new A and B licenses, which must stop serving alcohol at 11 p.m. or when the kitchen closes, whichever comes first.

The removal of these restrictions brings New Mexico in line with other states that have moved away from Prohibition-era laws that banned alcohol sales on Sundays and certain holidays. While some states still uphold these bans, New Mexico has chosen to prioritise convenience and the needs of its residents and visitors by ensuring that alcohol is available for purchase on Christmas Day.

It is worth noting that while there are no longer any state-wide restrictions on Christmas Day alcohol sales in New Mexico, individual counties within the state may have their own regulations. For example, McKinley County has more restrictive laws for off-premise retailers. Therefore, it is always a good idea to check the local laws before purchasing alcohol in a particular area.

New Mexico is not a dry state, and the state government does not restrict or prohibit the sale of alcohol

New Mexico is not a dry state. The state government does not restrict or prohibit the sale of alcohol. However, it is important to note that New Mexico, like many other states, has specific laws regarding the sale of alcohol. While there are no dry counties in New Mexico, each county has the authority to vote on its dry or wet status.

In New Mexico, you can buy beer, wine, and liquor any day of the week. The hours for alcohol sales vary depending on the type of retailer and the license they hold. Off-premise retailers, such as liquor stores, can sell alcohol between 7 a.m. and 12 a.m. On-premise retailers may sell alcohol from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. Restaurants have a slightly different timeframe and can sell alcohol from 7 a.m. until 11 p.m. or until they stop serving food, whichever comes first. These hours apply throughout the state, except for McKinley County, which has more restrictive laws for off-premise retailers.

While New Mexico does not restrict the sale of alcohol based on the day of the week, there are some special considerations for holidays. Historically, Christmas Day was a day when alcohol sales were restricted in New Mexico. However, recent changes to the liquor laws have lifted these restrictions. Now, there are no specific restrictions on Christmas Day, Election Day, or Sunday in terms of hours of operation. This means that alcohol can be sold during the regular hours of operation allowed for each type of license.

It is worth noting that while New Mexico does not have statewide restrictions on holiday alcohol sales, individual businesses may choose to close or have limited hours on certain days, including holidays and Sundays. Additionally, there are other laws and regulations regarding alcohol in New Mexico, such as the minimum drinking age, which is set at 21 years old, and laws against selling or serving alcohol to intoxicated individuals.

New Mexico has no dry counties

The ability for counties to prohibit the sale of alcohol varies by state. Thirty-three states have laws that allow localities to prohibit the sale, consumption, and possession of alcohol. On the other hand, 17 states have laws that prevent any dry counties from existing. New Mexico is one of the states that allow localities to decide, and until 2019, Curry and Roosevelt counties were dry. However, with the change in law, New Mexico now has no dry counties, and alcohol can be purchased throughout the state.

The laws regarding alcohol sales vary widely across the United States, with some states and counties having more restrictive laws than others. While no state is completely dry, many states maintain Prohibition-era laws that ban the sale of liquor on Sundays and certain holidays, including Christmas. These laws can differ from county to county, even within the same state, making it important for individuals to be aware of the specific laws in their area.

New Mexico used to have Blue Laws that restricted Sunday alcohol sales, but these have been repealed

New Mexico's recent changes to its liquor laws have expanded service on days that were historically restricted from alcohol sales, including Sundays. There are currently no restrictions on the hours of operation for alcohol sales on Sundays in New Mexico. For restaurants, the law allows alcohol to be served and consumed from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m., seven days a week, and for package sales from 7 a.m. to midnight. The only hour restrictions are for the new A and B licenses, which must stop serving at 11 p.m. or when the kitchen stops serving, whichever is earlier.

While New Mexico has relaxed its restrictions on Sunday alcohol sales, it still prohibits the sale of takeaway liquor on Christmas Day. This means that liquor cannot be sold, offered for sale, or delivered on Christmas Day in New Mexico, and residents must purchase it in advance if they wish to consume it on that day.

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