44TH LEGISLATURE - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - FIRST SESSION, 1999

RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE SALES; REQUIRING CERTAIN LICENSEES TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO THEIR LIQUOR DEPARTMENT THROUGH A SEPARATE EXTERIOR DOOR.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

Section 1. A new section of the Liquor Control Act is enacted to read:

"[NEW MATERIAL] RETAIL SALES--SEPARATE ENTRANCE--SEPARATION FROM GENERAL MERCHANDISE.--

A. Beginning July 1, 1999, a general merchandise store that also sells alcoholic beverages in unbroken packages, pursuant to a retailer's or dispenser's license issued pursuant to the Liquor Control Act, and that has general merchandise and alcoholic beverage display areas that when combined equal or exceed twenty thousand square feet, shall provide public access to its alcoholic beverage package sales area through doors that open to the exterior of the store. The alcoholic beverage sales area shall be separated from the area from which general merchandise is sold by floor to ceiling walls. Access may be available for the public to enter the alcoholic beverage sales area from the general merchandise sales area of the store. The entire transaction involved in the sale of alcoholic beverages in unbroken packages shall be made within the area where alcoholic beverages are sold.

B. For purposes of this section, "general merchandise" means any merchandise that is not an alcoholic beverage and includes groceries."