OPINION: NM should invest in public health by raising taxes on alcohol

We are committed to working with our legislative colleagues in the upcoming session to pass laws that reduce alcohol consumption and provide stable funding to address the problems caused by alcohol in our state. Our state’s future depends on it.

In the 260 days since the last attempted alcohol tax increase during the 2024 legislative session, about 1,400 people in New Mexico have died from alcohol-related causes — more than twice as many as those who have died from opioid overdose. Drinking too much alcohol is linked to serious issues in our communities, like gun violence, crime, domestic violence, and car accidents, as well as health problems like breast cancer, stroke, and hypertension.