What are the laws in New Mexico regarding underage drinking?
In New Mexico, it is a 4th degree felony to sell or provide alcohol to someone who is under 21, making it one of the nation’s toughest laws (Section 60-7B-1A and F, NMSA. Not only is it illegal to sell, it is illegal to provide/give alcohol to youth under the age of 21. Sources for the above answers are contained within the following resources: • Underage Drinking In New Mexico, The Facts, published by the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation (PIRE). • The NSDUH Report: Alcohol Dependence or Abuse and Age at First Use — SAMHSA’s National Survey on Drug Use & Health • New Mexico Youth Risk and Resiliency Survey (YRRS): 2005 Report of State Results. New Mexico Departments of Health & Public Education; Santa Fe, NM, Green, D., Peñaloza, L.J., Chrisp, E., Dillon, M., Cassell, C.M., Tsinajinnie, E. Rinehart, J. & Ortega, W. (2006) • Miller JW, Naimi TS, Brewer RD, Jones SE. Binge drinking and associated health risk behaviors among high school students. Pediatrics. 2007 Jan;119(1):