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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 42nd 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.
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.
Resources
NJ Spotlight OpEd:
NJ’s restaurants and downtowns need liquor license reform now!
Liquor License Reform White Paper
Liquor License Reform Town Hall
What can you do?
1) Contact Your Legislators
Call and email the message to your legislators that you support reform of NJ’s antiquated liquor license laws. Let them know early and often to keep this critical initiative top of mind. Be sure to check out the resources above to help you craft your message. Find your legislator>
2) Pass a Resolution
Show your support for reform by passing a resolution and sending it to your legislators, the Governor, and the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control. Don’t forget to let the press know what you’ve done too!
3) Join the Alliance
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.
Alliance Members
Organizations
- American Planning Association – NJ Chapter
- Bernards Township Regional Chamber of Commerce
- Downtown New Jersey
- Greater Spring Lake Chamber of Commerce
- Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce
- Jersey City Economic Development Corporation
- Mayors for Main Street
- NJ Builders Association
- NJ League of Municipalities
- North New Jersey Chamber of Commerce
- South Ward Special Improvement District
- Spring Lake Business Development Corporation
- Spring Lake Chamber of Commerce
- Trenton Makes Inc.
Municipalities
- Borough of Pompton Lakes
- City of Hackensack
- Township of Scotch Plains
Public Officials
- Councilman Matt Adams, Township of Scotch Plains
- Committeeman James Baldassare, Township of Bernards
- Mayor Zachery Bray, Borough of Raritan
- Council President Brandon Brenier, Borough of Roselle
- Mayor Shelley Brindle, Township of Westfield
- Borough Administrator David G. Brown II, Borough of Bradley Beach
- Assemblyman Clinton Calabrese, 36th Legislative District
- Mayor Mary Jane Canose, Borough of Bernardsville
- Mayor Jason Cilento, Borough of Dunellen
- Brittany D. Claybrooks, City of East Orange
- President Sheena Collum, Village of South Orange Township
- Mayor Bob Conley, Borough of Madison
- Councilman Erik DeLine, Borough of Pompton Lakes
- Committeewoman Amelia Duarte, Township of Mendham
- Mayor Larry Fox, Borough of Bradley Beach
- Mayor Christine Serrano Glassner, Borough of Mendham
- Mayor Jeff Herb, White Township
- Mayor Janet Hoven, Borough of Chester
- Mayor Larry Jacobs, Township of Bedminster
- Councilmember Michelle Pirone Lambros, Municipality of Princeton
- Mayor Michele Lee, Borough of High Bridge
- Mayor Josh Losardo, Township of Scotch Plains
- Deputy Mayor 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)
- Deputy Mayor Sarah Neibart, Township of Mendham
- Mayor Richard Onderko, Borough of Manville
- Council President Tracy Schoenberg, Borough of Oradell
- Councilmember Elizabeth Stamler, Township of Scotch Plains
- Mayor Todd Tersigni, Town of Phillipsburg
- Mayor Brian Tipton, Township of Harmony
- Committeeman Doug Tomson, Township of Hillsborough
- Councilwoman Syd Whalley, Borough of Spring Lake
- Councilman Roc White, Township of Scotch Plains
- Deputy Mayor Ellen Zimmerman, Township of Scotch Plains
Businesses
- Abdou Law Offices, LLC (Clark Township)
- Bistro d’Azur (Township of South Orange)
- Cafe Alyce (Jersey City)
- Cassie’s Restaurant (City of Englewood)
- Common Lot Restaurant (Township of Millburn)
- East End Bar & Grill (NYC)
- Gaia and Loki Vegan Restaurant (City of Jersey City)
- Heirloom Kitchen (Township of Old Bridge)
- High End Cigars (Township of Scotch Plains)
- Hoboken Tax, LLC (City of Hoboken)
- Jack’s Lobster Shack (Borough of Edgewater)
- KAM Management, LLC
- Kaper Design, LLC
- Madhuram, LLC (City of Englewood)
- MIX Lounge & Food Bar (City of Long Branch)
- Paizzano Brothers LLC
- River Cafe and Grill (City of Garfield)
- Snapdragon Coffee & Social (City of Jersey City)
- S&S Mgmt. LLC
- Sunday Motor Co Cafe (Borough of Madison)
- Tom Bailey’s Market (Spring Lake Borough)
- Towards the Moon (Jersey City)
- Trattoria Carpaccio (City of Englewood)
- Whole Hog Cafe (Township of Cherry Hill and Township of Medford)
Other Supporters
- Nicholas Bravante, Bravante & Associates
- Bruce Carnegie, New Brunswick City Center
- Steven Grillo, Explore Millburn Shirt Hills
- Steven Neale, Verona Chamber of Commerce
- John Paulus, Larimar Hospitality