Could Raising New Mexico’s Alcohol Tax Save Lives?

Would higher taxes on alcohol reduce alcohol-related deaths in New Mexico? University of New Mexico researchers say yes. But the state hasn’t changed the way it taxes alcohol for decades. This week, Brady Horn, UNM Economics Professor and one of the researchers behind the study, along with Democratic Senator Antonio 'Moe' Maestas, join Chris and Gabby to explain the goal of the alcohol tax research, the state funding behind it, and why it's such a controversial issue in the legislature. What's the best way to tax alcohol in the first place? Could higher taxes impact the local economy in a good or bad way?

Thanks for listening. If you’ve got an idea, send it over to us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. On social media, you can find as at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. You can watch or listen to our prior podcasts online at KRQE.com/podcast and our KRQE YouTube channel, or on broadcast TV every Wednesdays at 10:35 p.m. MST on Fox New Mexico.