Proposed regulations would reduce alcohol-related crimes by preventing bartenders from overserving alcohol to customers, the Albuquerque Journal reported on July 6.

At public hearings in Albuquerque, N.M., business owners claimed the proposed laws are too vague, place too much responsibility on young servers and leave no room for license holders to defend themselves against a citation.

Over 60 people gave testimony for and against the regulations.

The laws would make it easier to revoke a liquor license by lowering the required number of citations for serving minors or overserving adults.

New Mexico already requires server training, which teaches servers how to detect intoxication in customers. State law describes overserving as serving alcohol to an adult with a blood-alcohol content of .14 percent or higher.

The new regulations would also make license holders responsible for a customer's blood-alcohol level for two hours after he or she leaves the establishment, instead of one.

Business owners object that they would be made 'guilty automatically' by one proposed rule that would remove their ability to contest a breath test that detected a blood-alcohol level of .14 percent or higher.