Patrons of the Española baseball field might have something else to look forward to, other than a new ball field. They might also be able to consume alcohol while watching America’s favorite pastime.
In its draft policy list for the new facility along Industrial Park Road, Española’s Community Services Department has proposed to allow some alcohol distributors to serve liquor during games. The department submitted the preliminary document to the city’s legal council for review on May 28, Community Services Director Mark Trujillo said.
The document states that “alcoholic beverages will not be sold, served or consumed at any city outdoor facility unless the sponsor has obtained a Gathering or Demonstration Permit from the City and such alcoholic beverages are served by a licensed local dispenser.”
If the policy is approved, the facility, which is set to open in three weeks, will be the first baseball field in the city to allow the sale and consumption of alcohol, Trujillo said.
Trujillo also said the proposed alcohol policy is similar to those of baseball fields in other cities in New Mexico, such as Albuquerque and Rio Rancho. He said the policy would prevent people — especially those who are underage — from consuming alcohol illegally during common sports traditions such as tailgating.
“Since we have such an incredible ball park opening soon, that’s almost going to be expected that we can serve alcoholic beverages, but again, we have to do it legally,” he said. “We’re preventing people from just sitting at the back of their pickup truck and having a cooler full of beer.”
Trujillo said only businesses with liquor licenses adhering to city and state standards would be allowed to serve alcoholic beverages in the facility. He said the city would prioritize local licensed distributors, but is open to bigger companies outside the area.
“We would like to keep the money home, but if there’s a game and Budweiser wants to sponsor it, we will certainly consider (it),” he said.
Obviously, no alcohol would be served in the facility during Little League games, Trujillo said.
He said his department is also considering enforcing a limit on the number of drinks patrons can have in the facility by requiring them to wear wristbands that would be marked for each serving of alcohol. He said although the draft policy list would allow alcohol in general, his department aims to only allow beer and wine and not hard liquor, such as whiskey.
But City Councilor Peggy Sue Martinez, who sits in the Community Services Committee, said she is against the proposed alcohol policy. She said Española already has 19 liquor distributors, the most per capita in any New Mexico city.
“The community is already infiltrated with this problem,” she said. “We have the highest per capita distribution of alcohol in the whole state. I would be completely opposed to it. We should be careful about allowing anybody with selling alcohol in this community.”
Martinez said that in the state, there is an average of one liquor store per 2,000 people in a city.
She said at that rate, Española should have 38,000 residents to compensate for its 19 liquor distributors, but the city only has about 10,000 residents.
More alcohol would bring more crime, such as drunk driving, domestic violence and underage drinking in the city, Martinez said.
She said she would be against additional alcohol distributors in Española, in general.
Trujillo said he admits allowing alcohol in the facility still risks resulting in disruptive commotions in the facility. But he insisted that if approved, the policy will be enforced strictly.
“When you serve alcohol, you always take the chance because people start losing their inhibitions,” he said. “To say there won’t be a fight, I hope not. If it’s abused, it will stop.”
According to the document, violation of the proposed policy would result in taking away of the distributor’s Gathering and Demonstration Permit.
The city can also stop an event “if they determine that a violation of this policy by the sponsor, the licensed dispenser, or any participants, or guests has occurred.”
The city would also impose fines for those who violate the alcohol policy, although there is no set price yet, Trujillo said.
“The policy that we created is pretty strict,” he said. “Alcohol can be very serious. You can go and you can have fun and you can watch the ball game and you can have a hot dog and you can have a beer and enjoy yourself, but those who abuse it, we will not tolerate.”
After review by the legal council has concluded, the draft policy list will proceed to the city’s Community Services Committee, Trujillo said.
If approved by the committee, it will seek final approval from the city council.
Trujillo said the department does not have a specific timeline for the policy yet.
Although he is optimistic that the alcohol policy would be approved in the future, he still does not know what to expect.
“That’s hard to tell right now because some of the city councilors have a pretty good poker face,” he said. “But I feel pretty comfortable that it will pass.”