There has been some work on the end of the NM Brewers’ Guild, lately. In fact, they’ve been pushing very hard as we approach the upcoming legislative session. We got a window into the discussions that they’ve had recently, and got some info by way of Berkeley T. Merchant from Abbey Brewing, and the NM Brewer’s Guild, and now, we have that information for you. The following blog post is a run down of info from the most recent NM Brewer’s Guild Meeting.

One of the current topics of discussion at the most recent Guild meeting was a bill that the current abilities of Small Brewer’s License holders, and Restaurant License holders, and their limitations as New Mexico Businesses.

Currently, in New Mexico, holders of a Small Brewers License are permitted to manufacture craft beer, and, among other allowed activities, can: serve and sell for both on-premise and off-premise consumption beers produced in-house under their Small Brewers License, serve and sell for on-premise consumption only beers purchased directly from other holders of NM Small Brewers Licenses at both their brewery and two remote locations, obtain a Wholesaler License to sell their own beers to retail outlets such as restaurants, grocery stores, bars and taverns, clubs, convenience stores, hotels, and Hold a Restaurant License that enables the licensee to sell both beer not produced under a NM Small Brewers License and wine for on-premise consumption only.

Again, Currently – if you hold BOTH a Restaurant and Small Brewer’s License in New Mexico, the rules are a bit different, and are as follows: Holders of both a Small Brewers License and a Restaurant License are permitted to: serve and sell for both on-premise and off-premise consumption beers produced in-house under their Small Brewers License, serve and sell for on-premise consumption only beers purchased directly from other holders of NM Small Brewers Licenses, serve and sell for on-premise consumption only wine purchased from a holder of a Wine Wholesalers License and, serve and sell beer and wine within the boundaries of the licensed premises specified in the License Application, but not after 11:00 PM or when the restaurant kitchen closes, whichever occurs first.

Holders of both a Small Brewers License and a Restaurant License are not permitted to obtain a Wholesalers License to sell their own beers to retail outlets, unlike the holders of a Small Brewers License who do not also have a Restaurant License.

The discussion that was most recently had, addresses some of the issues, with the current state of things, and offers up a solution. That solution is as follows: A bill that corrects the previously described situation by allowing the holder of both a Small Brewers License and a Restaurant License to also hold a Wholesalers License so they can sell their own beer to retail outlets, like every other holder of a Small Brewers License who does not also hold a Restaurant License. This bill will enable the following: Give holders of both a Small Brewers License and Restaurant License the same rights and privileges as all the other holders of a Small Brewers License who do not also hold a Restaurant License, satisfy consumer demand and create more healthy competition by allowing for the direct sale of more types craft beer from a larger number of breweries to retail outlets, provide holders of both a Small Brewers License and Restaurant License to engage in brand-building and marketing within their localized markets and, allow breweries in the position of holding both licenses to better utilize their production capacity or to expand their production capacity with the attendant increase in employment and tax revenues collected.

In summary, the proposed bill is a “legislative house-keeping” bill that: provides equity by creating a “level playing field” for those craft brewers holding both a New Mexico Small Brewers License and Restaurant License versus craft brewers holding only a New Mexico Small Brewers License; It creates a stronger economic base for the craft brewing industry in New Mexico; and, it will result in slightly higher tax revenues from increased excise taxes and gross receipts taxes on incremental amounts of beer manufactured and sold within New Mexico. Have questions or want to know how you can help? Email Berkeley: BMerchant@AbbeyBrewing.biz

What do you think about those decisions, and that progress? We think that good things are happening for New Mexico business and businesses, and have only one thing to say to the NM Brewers’ Guild, Cheers!