Dum Dum wine law

The City of Albuquerque drafted an ordinance designed to keep cheap, fortified wines and liquor out of the hands of problem drinkers. The ordinance had the unintended consequence of prohibiting the sale of expensive dessert wines, so a number of liquor outlets had to pull sherries and ports from their shelves. Now they're trying to fix it.

Translated from the Latin, Albuquerque's motto (and by extension, the state of New Mexico) is "If it's stupid, we'll do it."

The City of Albuquerque drafted an ordinance designed to keep cheap, fortified wines and liquor out of the hands of problem drinkers.

Larry,
What is/was the gist of the ordinance?
Thanks,
Bill

It probably reclassifies fortified wines and malt liquors as "hard liquor" only available from specially licensed stores, as opposed to supermarkets, convenience stores, and what have you, that are allowed to sell wine and beer.

That's the way things are here in New Hampshire. Beer and unfortified wine can be sold in supermarkets, drug stores, convenience stores, and the like. Fortified wine and malt liquor are classed along with hard liquor and can only be bought at the state-run liquor stores. This means no Port and Sherry at high-end specialist wine shops.

-Paul W.

No, it is aimed at winos who like to buy miniatures. Everything from beer to wine to hard liquor of any kind can be sold here in supermarkets, convenience stores and liquor stores.

The ordinance targets distilled spirits in bottles smaller than 750ml and fortified wines with an alcohol content great than 13.5%. It also prohibits selling single cans of beer. Prohibitions are enforceable within an area 500 feet from schools, religious institutions, hospitals, substance abuse treatment centers, residences, parks and open spaces.

That means no sherry or port.

Babies out with the bathwater, I think.

-Paul W.

Nobody from the fine wine community noticed this problem before the ordinance passed? Or is this still just a proposal?

-Paul W.

It's now in effect. Of course, nobody noticed it. It's New Mexico.

Can you still have it delivered by mail?

It probably reclassifies fortified wines and malt liquors as "hard liquor" only available from specially licensed stores, as opposed to supermarkets, convenience stores, and what have you, that are allowed to sell wine and beer.

That's the way things are here in New Hampshire. Beer and unfortified wine can be sold in supermarkets, drug stores, convenience stores, and the like. Fortified wine and malt liquor are classed along with hard liquor and can only be bought at the state-run liquor stores. This means no Port and Sherry at high-end specialist wine shops.

-Paul W.

Paul, it's worse in Oklahoma than in NH, in that only beer with less than 3.2% alc. can be sold in grocery or c-stores. All wine, liquor, and higher point beer can be sold only at liquor stores, or direct sales at the winery.