SJM 324 Impact — Liquor License Reform - FINAL_Dept 3 / 25 / 24 4 : 46 PM Page 1 the game . ” Reforming how the state controls its liquor licenses is just one change con - C O M M U N I T Y tained with the bill . It also permanently relaxed a number of recent restrictions placed on breweries , distilleries , cideries I and meaderies , now allowing them to offer snacks and non - alcoholic beverages , collaborate with outside vendors , and host unlimited onsite events and up to 25 off - site special events per year . The bill also goes after inactive and pocket licenses — licenses associated with a spe - cific location but not in use , and pur - chased licenses not yet designated for a specific location , respectively — that the bill’s supporters cite as the primary reason licenses have become such a pre - cious commodity . The New Jersey Restaurant & Hospi - tality Association ( NJRHA ) brings together and advocates for a wide range of members hailing from the industry like restaurants , hotels , casinos , brewers , venues and more . With its diverse mem - bership , President and CEO Dana Lancel - lotti notes that the association “ represents Drinking all stakeholders in this issue , which means we have had a critical responsi - bility in guiding and articulating the facts it All In andpotential consequences of changes in the NJ liquor license system . ” That obligation had the NJRHA cham - EARLY - YEAR REFORM IN THE STATE’S LONGSTANDING pioningthe needs of a richly varied LIQUOR - LICENSING LAWS HAS BEEN MET WITH MIXED memberbase through the likes of helping FEEDBACK AND CONFLICTING EMOTIONS . membersmeet directly with legislators , testify in state House committees , and By Madeleine Maccar engage in numerous meetings , in addi - tion to hosting a Town Hall with legisla - arely two weeks into 2024 , New Jersey’s liquor - licensing laws got their tors , a stakeholder panel discussion and first significant overhaul since Prohibition ended when Gov . Phil Murphy an attendance of more than 100 . Bsigned S - 4265 / A - 5912 into law Jan . 16 . With the flourish of a pen , new legislation “ The food and beverage landscape in revised , among other things , some nearly century - old guidelines mandating a distribu - NJ is robust , diverse and ever - evolving , ” tion of liquor licenses based on metrics that reform advocates say have become every - Lancellotti continues . “ We were diligent thingfrom outdated to constrictive . in our communication and proactive “ Forthe first time in nearly a century , New Jersey has shown the fortitude to tackle an conversations , examining a variety of per - age - oldproblem that has stifled economic growth and hampered the dreams of count - spectives from license holders and non - lesssmall business owners , ” the governor said during the mid - January signing . “ We knew license holders across the state . Ulti - thiswasn’t going to be an easy lift — nothing that has been entrenched for nearly a cen - mately , we shared this feedback directly turyever is . ” with our legislators and the governor’s DespiteProhibition being struck down in 1933 , The Garden State has held tight to office throughout the past two years . ” liquor - licenselaws considered among the nation’s most restrictive . They are additionally NJRHA representatives were among guidedby a 1947 law most recently amended in the late ’ 60s , wherein it’s laid out that the many voices contributing to and municipalitiescan issue one consumption license for every 3,000 residents and one retail guiding the conversation as the proposed licensefor every 7,500 residents . legislation made its way to becoming a Giventhat any changes in towns ’ liquor licenses have been hinged upon the once - a - law that , as the association and many decadeU.S . Census indicating a significant spike in population , the few available conse - others discovered , benefited some indi - quentlysoared in value . viduals and left others feeling defeated . “ We’re talking upwards of half a million to $ 1 million for a liquor license . That’s not sustainable , and it’s not equitable , ” says Courtenay Mercer , PP , AICP , the executive T H E C E L E B R A N T S directorfor Downtown New Jersey , which oversees the NJ Liquor License Reform Gov . Murphy immediately lauded the Alliance.As a collective of organizations , municipalities , public officials and businesses , bill’s passage as a win for reforming what thealliance was formed around members ’ shared mindset that New Jersey’s “ quite anti - he had previously called “ antiquated and quatedlaws ” present a concerning economic development issue , as Mercer adds that “ it’s confusing ” parameters in his Jan . 10 , reallyhard for a small business , for that first - time restaurant or entrepreneur to get into SOUTH JERSEY MAGAZINE volume 20 issue 12 SouthJerseyMagazine.com 14 |