Liquor license laws need to be changed, Murphy says

Won't sign breweries bill, plans to include it in other legislation

By: Katie Sobko
NorthJersey.com
USA Today Network - New Jersey

..... When Governor Phil Murphy addresses the Legislature for both his state of the state and budget addresses earlier this year, [2023] he vowed to reform the state's "antiquated" liquor licensing laws. Sources close to the administration confirmed Friday [07/07/2023] that he still intends to do that.
..... But Murphy is looking for "comprehensive" reform and doesn't intend to sign the bill currently on his desk that would allow breweries further opportunities to host events and participate in events off-site.
..... The governor instead plans to include it in a :larger liquor license reform initiative" that he is still "fully committees to working with the Legislature on."
..... "He agrees the restrictions are out-dated. That's the whole reason he proposed the reforms in the first place," a source close to the administration said. "At the end of the day the governor has made it clear that we need comprehensive reform, so that the entire industry will benefit from losing a lot of these archaic restraints."
..... The state's Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control already announced that they won't be enforcing restrictions through the end of the year. [2023]
..... State Senator Paul Sarlo, when voting in committee on the bill, said that it was an example of what "we should be doing when we're talking about liquor license expansions, not just opening the doors, butt very targeted."
..... "Blowing open the doors is not the right answer here. We should be focusing on specific targeted bills like this, getting the pocket licenses up and going. there are so many pocket licenses in the state," he said. "This is whore I stand on liquor licenses and where I think we all should stand on liquor licenses."
..... Those pocket licenses that Sarlo is referring to are something the New Jersey Restaurant and Hospitality Association would also like to see addressed.
..... The organization's president and CEO, Dana Lancellotti, said that focusing on these inactive licenses and :forcing these licenses back into the market within a certain time frame - which current law dictates but has not been pursued - and allowing some type of portability of these licenses between municipalities would expand opportunities to those seeking a license for their establishment.
..... Lancellotti also said that the association has worked with lawmakers and state agencies for years about reform and has "never wavered in our support of the hardworking business owners who purchased their liquor licenses under the parameters and system cerated by the state."
..... "Overhauling the current system to essentially permit an unlimited number of liquor licenses would immediately diminish the value of the current licenses," she said.
...... "We cannot turn away from those who followed the rules, did what they were required to do and made these investments."

..... Katie Sobko covers New Jersey Statehouse.

HOME