HOUSE MEMORIAL 38

52nd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2015

INTRODUCED BY

Matthew McQueen

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING A STUDY OF THE POSSIBLE PUBLIC SAFETY, ECONOMIC AND HEALTH IMPACTS OF ESTABLISHING A MINIMUM RETAIL UNIT PRICE FOR ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES BASED ON ALCOHOL CONTENT.

     WHEREAS, New Mexico has the highest alcohol-related death rate in the nation; and

     WHEREAS, excessive alcohol consumption costs New Mexicans over two billion dollars ($2,000,000,000) each year, according to department of health statistics; and

     WHEREAS, according to department of health statistics, for the last several years, more than one hundred New Mexicans have died each year in vehicle crashes involving alcohol; and

     WHEREAS, the department of transportation statistics show that, in 2011, a person was killed or injured in an alcohol-involved crash every five hours; and

     WHEREAS, alcohol intoxication is a factor in many New Mexico domestic violence incidents; and

     WHEREAS, a report issued by the department of health states that, for the past fifteen years, New Mexico's death rate from alcohol-related chronic disease has consistently been first or second in the nation and is one and one-half to two times the national rate; and

     WHEREAS, in Canada, the establishment of a minimum retail unit price for alcoholic beverages, which increased the price of only the cheapest alcohol, has been demonstrated to reduce harmful incidences associated with alcohol consumption in that country by half; and

     WHEREAS, while a minimum retail unit price for alcoholic beverages is not currently established in New Mexico, the state would benefit from a study of the possible impact of establishing this minimum price, which would provide the information necessary to determine whether a similar initiative could reduce the adverse effects of alcohol in New Mexico;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the department of health, in cooperation with the alcohol and gaming division of the regulation and licensing department, the New Mexico state police division of the department of public safety and the economic development department, be requested to study the possible public safety, economic and health impacts of establishing a minimum retail price for alcoholic beverages based on the alcohol content; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the findings of the study be presented to the legislative health and human services committee and the legislative finance committee before December 31, 2015; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of health and the chairs of the legislative health and human services committee and the legislative finance committee.

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