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January 27, 2023 – Downtown New Jersey, the state’s premier advocacy organization for downtowns, was excited to hear about Governor Murphy’s plan to reform our antiquated liquor license laws in his State of the State Address on January 10, 2023. After decades of advocacy from Downtown New Jersey and others, New Jersey is now on the precipice of real liquor license reform.  Now with the end goal in sight, we need your help once again to push reform forward!

Here’s how you can help:

Since the Governor’s SOTS address, legislators have been bombarded with anti-reform calls. It is critical that downtowns, municipalities, small businesses, and other supporters call and email their state legislators to tell them now is the time to bring NJ’s liquor license policy out of the 1950s to put us on par with surrounding states, and give emerging small businesses a fighting chance.

Contact your state legislators and tell them to support liquor license reform! Pass a resolution demonstrating your support. And join our Liquor License Reform Alliance to show your support for changing our archaic liquor licenses laws.

Here’s what we know:

• Liquor License Population Caps will raise gradually each year so as not to flood the market.
• New licenses will be created & issued at a set price. There will be equity considerations in pricing.
• New licenses will give full spirit/wine/beer privileges.
• New licenses will be non-transferable.
• Towns will retain control over the issuance of licenses in their communities.
• BYOB is still an option for restaurants not seeking this new license.
• Legislation will also address current restrictions on brewery, distillery, and winery licenses holders.
• Legislation will include compensation for existing plenary liquor license holders.

How will this help our downtowns?

The current cost of liquor licenses averages around $300,000, but there have been instances of the cost exceeding $1million. This is an obvious financial hinderance to small business owners. A capped price on a non-transferable license makes liquor licenses attainable to a larger group of business owners – something that can benefit any neighborhood, not just the wealthiest ones. Small business tends to cluster around flagships like full-service restaurants; and thus, expanding licenses to allow more full-service restaurants will in turn expand the economic growth opportunities in our downtowns.

Brewery, Winery & Distillery License Reform:

Promised legislation will expand on the privileges of brewery, winery, and distillery license holders. Existing rules limit the number of events, promotion of events on social media, size of televisions, require customers to receive a tour prior before purchase, and other onerous regulations that desperately need overhaul. These rules have been a hinderance to businesses – stifling the growth and sustained survival of these industries in our state. NJ is home to an estimated 130 licensed breweries, approximately 1 per 70,000 residents, many of whom occupy downtown spaces & have built a destination space that draws in a variety of ages to their area, revitalizing once sleepy downtown spaces. Despite the popularity of craft beer in our nation, NJ is 42^nd in the US for breweries per capita, largely due to the egregious and onerous regulations placed upon the industry, preventing them from thriving as they should.

What about existing licenses & their value?

There are currently approximately 7500 liquor licenses issued in NJ, with an estimated 20% of those licenses being inactive. The creation of new licenses will stop future inactive license holders from “sitting” on licenses waiting for the highest bidder to come along.

A planned tax credit will focus on current active license holders to help alleviate any potential dilution of value. New Jersey has a population of over 9 million, there is more than enough market demand to expand in a fair & equitable manner.