Bill > S2075

Introduced Session

This bill permits certain New Jersey alcohol manufacturers to sell each other's products on-premises for off-premises consumption. The bill also permits the coordination of food service by third party restaurants, permits the hosting of on-premises special events and private parties, eliminates the tour requirement for certain New Jersey alcohol manufacturers, and expands the amount that a restricted brewery may manufacture annually. Under the bill, limited breweries, plenary wineries that produce less than 250,000 gallons per year, farm wineries, cideries, meaderies, and craft distilleries would be permitted to sell each other's products for consumption off the licensed premises. Under current law, each manufacturer is permitted to sell only its own products. Additionally, the bill provides that limited breweries, cideries, meaderies, and craft distilleries may enter into exclusive business arrangements or otherwise coordinate with third party restaurants to provide food directly to consumers on the licensed premises. Current law prevents these manufacturers from selling food or operating a restaurant on the licensed premises and the bill leaves this prohibition intact, but clarifies that the manufacturers may make arrangements for on-premises food service by a third party. The bill also permits limited breweries to host 52 on-premises special events and 52 private parties annually. The bill provides that a limited brewery would not need to obtain a permit from the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) to host an on-premises special event or private party and prior notice of an event or party need not be provided to either ABC or any local government officials, including law enforcement. The bill defines an on-premises special event to include, but not be limited to: (1) parties, birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, civic and political functions, professional and trade association events, class reunion and alumni events; (2) trivia and quiz games; (3) paint and sip; (4) craftmaking; (5) pop up shops; (6) DJs, live music, and open mic; (7) televised or streamed sporting events; (8) educational events and seminars; (9) movies and theatrical events; (10) animal adoption, to the extent permitted by local ordinance; and (11) yoga and exercise classes. A private party is defined by the bill as an event that is held on the licensed premises and closed to the general public, either by the establishment of a special area of the licensed premises that may be accessed only by the hosts or guests of the private party, or by closure of the licensed premises to the public for the duration of the private party. Private parties shall include, but not be limited to, events held for birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, civic and political functions, professional and trade association events, class reunion and alumni events. The bill also provides that if a limited brewery allows the host of a private party or the holder of a social affair permit to bring wine or malt alcoholic beverages onto the licensed premises for consumption by guests of the event, the brewery would be entitled to serve the wine or malt alcoholic beverages to the guests. Additionally, the bill increases the limit that restricted breweries may brew annually to 50,000 barrels. Current law sets this restriction at 10,000 barrels. Finally, the bill removes the tour requirement for limited breweries and craft distilleries. Under current law, these manufacturers are permitted to sell their products for onsite consumption, but only in connection with a tour of the facility. Under the bill, onsite consumption would be permitted without a tour.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Gordon Johnson (D)*,  Andrew Zwicker (D)*, 

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Law and Public Safety Committee (on 03/03/2022)

Official Document