John Block, a representative for New Mexico's House District 51, expressed skepticism regarding the effectiveness of increasing alcohol taxes and enforcing prohibition as methods to address alcohol-related issues. He cited the Navajo Nation's alcohol ban as an example in a post on the social media platform X on March 26.
"Example A on why hiking alcohol taxes and prohibition in general DO NOT WORK," said Block, State Representative. "There's prohibition on the Navajo Nation, by the way: "Consumption and/or possession of alcoholic beverages or illegal drugs are strictly prohibited on the Navajo Nation" - NN Parks. And it's not working out so well. Thanks to Senator Bill Sharer (R-Farmington), New Mexicans will now be forced to pay a 20% extra tax hike on alcohol (or) result to hard drugs or chugging hand sanitizer."
Block's comments were made in response to a report by KRQE about a 32-year-old New Mexico man who will spend three years on probation after allegedly stabbing another person while intoxicated. The man, Leighton Spencer, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter this month. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Spencer had reportedly been consuming Gatorade mixed with hand sanitizer and beer at his home with two others. One of the men left the property and upon returning found a deceased individual in the doorway.
Screenshot of State Representative John Block's March 26 post on X
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According to Block, Senate Bill 378, sponsored by Senator Bill Sharer, imposes a liquor excise tax at varying rates depending on the type of alcoholic beverage. The bill outlines specific tax rates: beer is taxed at 49 cents per gallon; wine (with exceptions) at 54 cents per liter; fortified wine at $1.80 per liter; microbrewery beer between 8 and 41 cents per gallon; wine from small wineries between 10 and 30 cents per liter; cider at 49 cents per liter; and spirits are taxed between 8 and 65 cents per liter.
Senate Bill 379 is currently under consideration in the Senate Tax, Business, and Transportation Committee, where it was sent on February 13, according to its webpage. Sharer is noted as the sole sponsor of this bill.
State Representative John Block has been a lifelong resident of New Mexico. His professional background includes serving as a staffer at the New Mexico Legislature, coordinating government affairs at Chevron, and working with the Pro-life legal group Americans United For Life. According to his campaign website biography, he holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Rutgers University and a Master of Business Administration from Eastern New Mexico University. Block resides in Alamogordo with his boyfriend.
