Liquor License Reform
Why reform?
New Jersey’s liquor license laws are among the most restrictive in the country. In fact, the cost of a license in many of our municipalities can easily soar into the six or seven figures – if they are even available. Liquor license restrictions impede the economic development of many of our communities, especially our downtowns.
NJ Spotlight OpEd:
NJ’s restaurants and downtowns need liquor license reform now!
Liquor License Reform White Paper
Liquor License Reform Town Hall
Join the Alliance
The Liquor License Reform Alliance was formed to show broad and diverse support for changing New Jersey’s archaic liquor license laws that are an impediment to many restaurant’s ability to survive and thrive. The alliance is calling for reform in order to help our small businesses, promote equity, and enable New Jersey to better compete in the regional market. The COVID-19 pandemic has illustrated how important a liquor license can be for a restaurant’s survival.
Currently, the alliance is not supporting a specific piece of legislation, as the pending liquor license reform bills are still in their early stages and will doubtless change over time. The Alliance supports general reform of New Jersey’s outdated liquor laws, and will work with the NJ Legislature to create reasonable and equitable legislation that recognizes the needs of NJ’s small business owners, as well as existing license holders.
We welcome you to join the Liquor License Reform Alliance to be listed on this webpage, receive call to action emails, and generally provide moral support to this reform initiative.
If your governing body wishes to codify their support,
check out the sample resolutions>
Alliance Members
Organizations
- American Planning Association – NJ Chapter
- Bernards Township Regional Chamber of Commerce
- Downtown New Jersey
- Englewood Chamber of Commerce
- Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce
- Jersey City Economic Development Corporation
- Mayors for Main Street
- NJ Builders Association
- NJ League of Municipalities
- Spring Lake Business Development Corporation
- Spring Lake Chamber of Commerce
- Trenton Makes Inc
- More to come…
Public Officials
- Mayor Marcia Asdal, Township of Chester
- Mayor James Baldassare, Township of Bernards
- Mayor Zachery Bray, Borough of Raritan
- Councilman Brandon Brenier, Borough of Roselle
- Mayor Shelley Brindle, Township of Westfield
- Borough Administrator David G. Brown II, Borough of Bradley Beach
- Mayor Mary Jane Canose, Borough of Bernardsville
- Mayor Jason Cilento, Borough of Dunellen
- Mayor Sheena Collum, Village of South Orange Township
- Mayor Bob Conley, Borough of Madison
- Councilman Erik DeLine, Borough of Pompton Lakes
- Committeewoman Amalia Duarte, Township of Mendham
- Mayor Christine Serrano Glassner, Borough of Mendham
- Mayor Jeff Herb, White Township
- Mayor Janet Hoven, Borough of Chester
- Mayor Larry Jacobs, Township of Bedminster
- Mayor Collette Kennedy, Borough of Keyport
- Councilwoman Michelle Pirone Lambros, Municipality of Princeton
- Mayor Michele Lee, Borough of High Bridge
- Mayor Michael Marion, Township of Warren
- Councilwoman Christine McGrath, Township of Verona
- Mayor Jim Mengucci, Township of Lopatcong
- Mayor Matthew Moench, Township of Bridgewater
- Mayor Al Morgan, Township of New Providence
- Mayor Matthew Murello, Washington Township, Morris County
- Mayor Sarah Neibart, Township of Mendham
- Mayor Richard Onderko, Borough of Manville
- Mayor Greg Skinner, Borough of Peapack and Gladstone
- Mayor Todd Tersigni, Town of Phillipsburg
- Mayor Brian Tipton, Township of Harmony
- Mayor Doug Tomson, Township of Hillsborough
- Mayor Paul Vallone, Borough of Far Hills
- More to come…
Businesses
- Bistro d’Azur (Township of South Orange)
- Common Lot Restaurant (Township of Millburn)
- Heirloom Kitchen (Township of Old Bridge)
- High End Cigars (Township of Scotch Plains)
- Jack’s Lobster Shack (Borough of Edgewater)
- Whole Hog Cafe (Township of Cherry Hill and Township of Medford)
- Snapdragon Coffee & Social (City of Jersey City)
- More to come…