by Lawrence Baker | Jul 20, 2026 | Legal and Regulatory Alerts, Manage My Restaurant
UPDATE: In a new development, the Senate’s Continuing Resolution includes a short delay to the upcoming federal hemp restrictions — pushing the effective date from November 12 to December 11, 2026. Senators rejected an amendment to remove the delay, keeping today’s...
by Lawrence Baker | Jun 23, 2026 | Alerts, Manage My Restaurant, Restaurant Regulations
The New Mexico Environment Department has updated parts of the food establishment rules that affect permits, renewals, plan review, and reinspections. You will remember that NMRA fought this change. We testified and sent more than 80 letters in opposition to the...
by Lawrence Baker | Apr 17, 2026 | BLOG, Manage My Restaurant
Why Alcohol Sales Are Down Alcohol has long been a profit engine for restaurants, but operators across New Mexico and the U.S. are seeing meaningful declines in on‑premise drink sales. Several forces are converging: More guests are choosing not to drink at all,...
by Carol Wight | Mar 23, 2026 | Manage My Restaurant
Restaurant owners across New Mexico—and the U.S.—are saying the same thing: “My alcohol sales just aren’t what they used to be.” In many markets, operators are seeing double‑digit drops in alcohol mix, even when traffic looks steady. New Mexico is feeling this shift...
by Lawrence Baker | Jan 19, 2026 | Industry Voice, Legislative Alerts, Manage My Restaurant
At noon on Tuesday, January 20, the New Mexico Legislature convened its 30-day “budget” session — a short, fast-paced period largely focused on the state’s financial priorities. However, many expect the agenda to extend far beyond the budget. Because this is Governor...
by Lawrence Baker | Oct 14, 2025 | Manage My Restaurant
New Mexico’s food scene is bold, diverse, and deeply rooted in tradition. But when it comes to health inspections, even the most celebrated kitchens can get tripped up by the basics. The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) just released its Q1 inspection data,...
