And then there's the ban on gas station sales in McKinley County, where three out of four county residents are Native American. Sen. George Muñoz (D–Gallup), who introduced the gas-station amendment to the new law, says he did so because "people die in McKinley County because of alcoholism."
While I have no doubt that some people in McKinley County who abuse alcohol die from that abuse, compelling gas stations that sell alcohol to become alcohol stores that don't sell gas probably won't save many (or even any) lives, and may do just the opposite. The ban is also likely unconstitutional. That's why one chain of gas stations has sued the state to overturn it.
"Western Refining Retail has 115 stores and gas stations in New Mexico," KRQE reported this summer. "It's claiming it's unconstitutional for the state to keep it from selling liquor at 10 of its locations in McKinley County." The report notes that grocery stores, other liquor stores, restaurants, and bars are exempt from the ban.
The ban is also insulting and paternalistic and relies on shopworn, agency-robbing mythologies about Native Americans and alcohol. For example, a 1992 article in the Washington Post focused on "the long-held myth of 'The Drunken Indian,' a myth that portrays Native Americans as having an inborn weakness for alcohol." Recent articles, including this one, have made similar points. Yet vestiges of racist views about Native Americans and alcohol are slow to die in this country. Native Americans were subject to alcohol Prohibition until 1953. A ban on Native American distillery ownership, which dated back to the presidency of genocidal, anti-Native American lunatic Andrew Jackson, was lifted by Congress only in 2018.
But Muñoz stands by his ban.
"Just because it's legal, doesn't mean it should be readily available and convenient in every single location," Muñoz says.
reason.com
While I have no doubt that some people in McKinley County who abuse alcohol die from that abuse, compelling gas stations that sell alcohol to become alcohol stores that don't sell gas probably won't save many (or even any) lives, and may do just the opposite. The ban is also likely unconstitutional. That's why one chain of gas stations has sued the state to overturn it.
"Western Refining Retail has 115 stores and gas stations in New Mexico," KRQE reported this summer. "It's claiming it's unconstitutional for the state to keep it from selling liquor at 10 of its locations in McKinley County." The report notes that grocery stores, other liquor stores, restaurants, and bars are exempt from the ban.
The ban is also insulting and paternalistic and relies on shopworn, agency-robbing mythologies about Native Americans and alcohol. For example, a 1992 article in the Washington Post focused on "the long-held myth of 'The Drunken Indian,' a myth that portrays Native Americans as having an inborn weakness for alcohol." Recent articles, including this one, have made similar points. Yet vestiges of racist views about Native Americans and alcohol are slow to die in this country. Native Americans were subject to alcohol Prohibition until 1953. A ban on Native American distillery ownership, which dated back to the presidency of genocidal, anti-Native American lunatic Andrew Jackson, was lifted by Congress only in 2018.
But Muñoz stands by his ban.
"Just because it's legal, doesn't mean it should be readily available and convenient in every single location," Muñoz says.
When Forced To Choose, Some New Mexico Gas Station Liquor Stores Will Now Just Sell Liquor
A paternalistic new law is having unintended consequences.
reason.com
