3-06-2025 5:21am

New Mexico State Police Alcohol Crackdown Yields 27 Citations

Chris Edwards Editor

New Mexico State Police Special Investigations Unit holds 2-day operation targeting illegal alcohol activity statewide. From February 20 to February 22, 2025, the New Mexico State Police Special Investigations Unit (SIU) conducted a two-day operation to ensure business establishments are complying with alcohol laws.

SIU enforces the Liquor Control Act in New Mexico through various operations, including Minor Compliance checks to ensure clerks verify IDs, Shoulder Tap stings to catch adults buying alcohol for minors, and Sales to Intoxicated operations to prevent overserving in bars.

Over the course of the two-day operation, 82 locations were checked, and 27 administrative citations were issued. One location was found to have served alcohol to a minor while one individual was found to have bought alcohol for a minor. The operation resulted in one arrest.

The New Mexico Regulation & Licensing Division (NMRLD) and the Alcohol Beverage Control Division (ABC) oversee any administrative citations issued by SIU agents. Punishment can range from fines to suspensions, revocation of liquor/server licenses, or mandatory educational training.

The New Mexico State Police will continue to conduct operations like this throughout the year. Follow the New Mexico State Police on Twitter and Facebook @NMStatePolice for updates on operations and active scenes across the state.