Special Event Permits must now be submitted online through the New Mexico Professional Licensing User System (NM-PLUS). To learn more about NM-PLUS of for instructions on registrations, please click here.
For assistance, please contact Alexandria Mares, by phone (505) 394-4699 or Email: Alexandria.Mares@rld.nm.gov
Special Dispenser Permits (SDP), sometimes called a picnic license are used for functions such as wedding receptions, gallery openings, or community fiestas that are taking place off of a liquor licensed premises. These permits are not issued to private individuals, only the holder of Dispenser type liquor licenses may apply for one. This permit creates a temporary licensed premise from which the licensee may sell or serve alcoholic beverages by the drink for a special event for a limited number of hours. Event must be held within the assigned Local Option District of the Dispenser License.
FEE:
Private Event: $25.00 per day and is only open to people with an invitation that are personally known to the sponsor
Public Event: $50.00 per day
⮚ The Event must be held within SAME Local Option District that the Dispenser’s License is issued in.
⮚ Event must not exceed a three (3) day maximum unless permission is granted by the Division Director prior to the event.
⮚ The Permit shall be valid for no more than 12 hours per day and the Director may reduce the number of hours allowed.
⮚ Only server certified employees of the Liquor License Holder seeking the SDP, may sell, dispense, or serve alcoholic beverages at the Event. Reminder: No Sales to Minors or Intoxicated Persons; No Sale, Service or Consumption before or after the times listed on Permit; Licensee and Employees are restricted from consuming alcoholic beverages at the Event; No more than 2 unconsumed drinks may be sold or served to one person at any given time.
⮚ Must Post Special Dispenser Permit at event: After the SDP is issued, the Licensee is required to post the Permit along with the required signage (i.e., pregnancy, firearms, minors, posters). The Permit must be prominently posted at the locations where the alcohol will be dispensed, as indicated by the Approved Floor Plan for the Event. Permits are subject to the same requirements and restrictions contained in the Liquor Control Act and are subject to citation for any violation.
Licensee Please Note: Merely submitting an application does not constitute approval. If the Licensee does not have an Approved Permit for the Event, then the sale, service and/or delivery of alcoholic beverages is prohibited. A complete application, with required attachments must be received by ABC at least 10 days prior to the event. All fees submitted are non-refundable, even when the Permit is issued and the Event is postponed and/or cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances.
Application Process: A complete Application must be received by ABC at least 10 days prior to the Event. Applications must be signed by the Licensee. Faxed Application not accepted and incomplete applications will be returned.
The following are also required with Application:
A) Online Fees: Private Event $25 per day, only open to those with an invitation or known to sponsor, or Public Event $50 per day, open to public.
B) Floor Plan: Detailed Floor Plan, include Pictures, MUST HIGHLIGHT AREA designating restricted and unrestricted areas
⮚ Detailed Floor Plan (on 8 ½ x 11 sheet) must be submitted showing exactly where the event is to be held
⮚ Total Square Footage for the proposed service area
⮚ Must show the location of Bars, Security, Serving Areas, Entrances, Exits
⮚ Enclosed or barricaded serving areas must also be clearly marked
⮚ If there are any patios or outside areas, indicate how they are enclosed to prevent alcohol from leaving the premises; Describe type and height of enclosure; Must be three (3) feet or higher
⮚ Placement and Location of Security Personnel; If Security is deemed insufficient, the Director may require additional Security Personnel or may deny permit. The average is 1 security personnel per 100 people, but may be increased depending upon the type of event requested.
C) List of Servers: Accurate List of Servers at the Event, including the Full Name of Employee, Server Permit Number and Expiration Date.
D) Signed Letter/Statement: Licensee must obtain the Building/Property Owner’s permission to allow an Event serving alcohol in their facility.
Note: Holders of Restaurant Licenses, Non-Profit Club Licenses (FOP, VFW), Retail Store Licenses and Governmental Licenses are not eligible for this permit.
PUBLIC EVENT: Anyone can attend by purchasing a ticket, event advertised to the public, pay a cover charge.
Public Celebration: means any state fair, county fair, community fiesta, cultural or artistic performance or event, professional athletic competition and events or activities held on an intermittent basis that are open or advertised to the general public.
______________________________________________________
PRIVATE EVENT: Birthday, Wedding etc. – Only people personally known or a Guest of the invited party who would be attending the event. Conference- Invited to attend, will be allow to the event.
Private Party: means an event open only to invited guests and not open or advertised to the general public in which there is no financial consideration in exchange for alcoholic beverages. “Private party” does not include alcohol industry promotional events or other events with a commercial purpose.
_____________________________________________________
Licensee: Merely submitting an application does not constitute approval. If Licensee does not have the Approved Permit for the Event, than the sale, service and/or delivery of alcoholic beverages is prohibited. A complete application, w/required attachments must be received by ABC at least 10 days prior to the event. All fees submitted are non-refundable, even when Permit is issued and the Event is postponed and/or cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances.
Eligibility: Only New Mexico Licensees that hold a Craft Distiller, Small Brewer or Winegrower License may apply for a Celebration Permit (PCP). The Master Liquor License must not be in suspension. If the license holder will be serving alcoholic beverages from any place other than the approved and designated liquor licensed premises, a Permit is required. The local governing body of the local option district must grant approval for the issuance of the permit. The local governing body includes city council, county clerk, mayor, etc., and must have issued a special concession, pursuant to §60-6A- 12(E) NMSA, 1978.
The Event may be held in any Local Option District, and:
▪ MAY not exceed 3 Days: three (3) day maximum, unless permission is granted by Division Director prior to the event.
▪ 12 Hours per day, Maximum: Service of alcohol must not occur for more than 12 hours per day.
▪ Service by licensed Server/Employees: Only Employees of the Holder of the NM Craft Distiller, Small Brewer or Winegrower Liquor License with the PCP, that are currently Licensed Servers, may sell, dispense, or serve the alcoholic beverages for the Event. Reminder: No Sale to Minors or Intoxicated Persons; No Sale, Service or Consumption before or after the times listed on Permit; Licensee and Employees restricted from consuming alcoholic beverages at the Special Event; No more than 2 Unconsumed drinks may be in the possession of one person. Servers are not permitted to provide more than the legal amount.
▪ Must not Remove beer, wine or spirits from area of the celebration: A wine grower, small brewer and/or craft distiller is authorized to dispense New Mexico produced alcohol as allowed by their license type, by the drink for consumption at the celebration. By- the-drink dispensed New Mexico produced products cannot be removed from the area of the event. The Licensee is authorized to dispense the alcohol allowed by that license type in unbroken packages. The unbroken packages may be removed from the area of the celebration.
▪ PERMIT MUST BE POSTED at Event: After PCP is issued, Licensee is legally required to Post Permit along with Signage (i.e., pregnancy, firearms, minors, etc.) and it must be prominently posted at the locations where the alcohol will be dispensed, as indicated by the Approved Floor Plan for the Event. Permits are subject to the same requirements and restrictions contained in the Liquor Control Act and are subject to citation for any violation.
* Voluntary Suspension at Event Site: If Event is held at an Establishment with an existing liquor license, the Establishment or the portion of the premises where the Event is held must be placed in voluntary suspension for the Event.
Application Process: A complete Application must be received by ABC at least 10 days prior to the Event. Paper or Faxed Applications not accepted and incomplete applications will be returned. Please note that paper applications are no longer accepted. You will need to complete the application process online and when you’ve completed entry, PRINT a copy of the Permit Application so that you can obtain the required signatures, and once LOD approval has been received, this same document will be uploaded to through the PORTAL for review by ABC.
The Following are also required at time of application and will need to be uploaded online:
A) Fees: $10 per day, Applicable daily fees must be submitted online
B) Detailed Floor Plan: MUST HIGHLIGHT AREA where alcoholic beverages will remain, and upload when applying online, it must contain:
• A Detailed Floor Plan (on 8 ½ x 11 sheet) must be submitted showing exactly where the event is to be held
• Total Square Footage for the proposed service area
• Must show the location of Bars, Security, Serving Areas, Entrances, Exits
• Enclosed or barricaded serving areas must also be clearly marked
• If there are any patios or outside areas, indicate how they are enclosed to prevent alcohol from leaving the premises; Describe type and height of Enclosure; Must be four (4) feet or higher
• Placement and Location of Security Personnel; If Security is deemed insufficient, the Director may require additional Security Personnel or may deny permit. The average is 1 security personnel per 100 people, but may be increased depending upon the type of event requested. Security Service may be provided by a Security Company, Law Enforcement or a Server/Employee holding a valid Server Permit who must work security EXCLUSIVELY and may not serve at the Event.
C) List of Servers: Accurate List of Servers at the Event, including the Full Name of Employee, Server Permit Number and Expiration Date
D) Licensee must obtain the Building/Property Owner’s permission, allowing the Event serving Alcohol in their facility, submitting proof with a signed letter/document.
Annual Fee: $100.00
Note: Holders of Restaurant Licenses, Non-Profit Club Licenses (FOP, VFW) and Governmental Licenses are not eligible for this permit.
To Apply for an Annual Tasting Permit, you must be the holder of a valid New Mexico Dispenser, Retailer, Resident Manufacturer, Non-Resident Manufacturer, Wholesaler, or Winegrower Master Liquor License.
SERVICE: All tastes must be poured by the permit holder, or an employee, agent or contractor of the licensee, with a valid server certification. Any such employee, agent or contractor must be directly paid by the licensee holding the tasting permit, not through a third party.
SALE of alcoholic beverages is prohibited while operating Tasting Permit.
Tasting Permits, only authorizes the sampling of alcoholic beverages in accordance with ABC Rules and NM law. Samples or tastes of alcoholic beverages are defined in 15.10.51.11 D(4) NMAC as follows: “1.5 ounces or less of beer or wine and 0.5 ounces or less of undiluted spirituous liquors.”
Timely Notice by E-mail: Required to notify ABC via e-mail no less than 48 hours in advance of an event and include the date, time, and location of the tasting event; the products to be sampled, including the name and type of alcoholic beverage; and Server List with the name of server and permit number of those serving at the tasting event. E-mail notice to ABC shall be to: Tasting.Event@rld.nm.gov and ABC will process and then forward to SIU. Failure to comply may result in a citation.
For Questions on Tasting Permits, contact Beverly Kennedy | (505) 795-4680 | beverly.kennedy@rld.nm.gov