In a 4-3 vote, the Las Cruces city council has lent its support to a bill designed to boost economic development efforts in New Mexico.
Las Cruces area state Senator Bill Soules is proposing a special liquor license. The number of licenses is limited in New Mexico, driving prices for the licenses sky high…hundreds of thousands of dollars. Critics say it limits small businesses and reduces the number of restaurant choices.
Soules’ bill would allow communities to offer a special liquor license. Restaurants with a license to sell wine and beer could sell New Mexico-produced liquor. But only in an economic development zone. And only if the community where that zone exists gave the green light. To be clear: the special license would not allow the sale of liquor produced outside of New Mexico.
City councilor Gabe Vasquez voted for the resolution, saying it could boost opportunity and economic development.
Joe Hernandez spoke out against the measure. He’s the Vice President of Operations for Pic Quik Stores in Las Cruces. Hernandez expressed concern about the potential impact to holders of regular liquor licenses.
State Senator Bill Soules has introduced his proposal for a special liquor license in the legislature twice before, with little success. Soules says he understands the concerns of those who have full liquor licenses. But he notes this bill is a very limited expansion. And previous efforts to expand liquor sales, like allowing New Mexico distillers to serve their own liquor, have not resulted in a crash in liquor license prices. In fact, he says those prices have increased beyond regular measures of inflation.
Soules adds his proposed legislation wouldn’t just help restaurants and communities seeking to boost economic development. He also says the bill offers potential to help New Mexico distillers. He noted the recent opening of a Las Cruces area distillery. He says fledging businesses like that like one have a major challenge finding a market for their product. And allowing the limited sale of New Mexico-produced liquor at some restaurants could help.
City councilors Jack Eakman and Greg Smith, along with Mayor Ken Miyagishima, voted against the resolution backing Soules' bill. The resolution passed 4-3, with the support of the rest of the city council.