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new mexico regulation and licensing department logo

Filing a Complaint or Protest

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To File a Complaint:

The primary responsibility of this division is to protect the health, safety, and welfare of all New Mexicans and those visiting our state, while regulating sale, service, and public consumption of alcohol and the sale and service of tobacco and tobacco products to adults over the age of 21.

The Regulation and Licensing Department Alcoholic Beverage Control Division takes seriously every complaint alleging potential violations of liquor laws and works closely with the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) of the State of New Mexico Department of Public Safety to enforce the provisions of the Liquor Control Act and the Tobacco Products Act. Violations of the Act by license holders can result in fines and/or suspension of the license. Three violations within a 12-month period can result in revocation of a liquor license.

We welcome public comments, either positive or negative, regarding liquor license holders and their employees. Protecting the people of New Mexico from the often tragic effects of underage drinking, DWI, and alcohol abuse or the sale of tobacco/tobacco products to underage customers requires the active support of all our citizens. Please help us by reporting when you observe a licensed establishment or its employees violating state law or failing in their obligations to the community.

In filing a complaint, it is important that you provide us with as much information as possible so that SIU investigators will be able to pursue your complaint.

The division will only disclose the identities and contact information received with a complaint to the Department of Public Safety’s law enforcement personnel. Otherwise, the identity and contact information of a person filing a complaint is confidential, and not subject to the Inspection of Public Records Act pursuant to NMSA 1978, Section 14-2-1(A)(4).

File a Complaint

To file a complaint against a professional licensed with the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division, click HERE.

In Protest or Support of a Liquor License Application:

We welcome public comments, either positive or negative, regarding liquor license applications. If you feel the approval of a specific liquor license would endanger or adversely affect your community, please provide all issues of concern. If you are in support of issuing the liquor license, feel free to comment as well.

We value your opinion, but submission of your comments must be timely. ABC has a 30-day timeframe to hold a public hearing for each application. The public is notified of the date, time and applicant information by legal advertisement in the local newspaper. The public is also provided another opportunity to be heard at the public hearing held at the Local Option District and that hearing is also published in the local newspaper of the date and time.

The public comment form can be found here. 

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