Bill > A3309

Introduced Session

This bill provides for a $0.25 fee to be included in the price of each alcoholic beverage sold in certain municipalities for the purpose of funding alcohol education, rehabilitation and enforcement. Under the bill, the holder of a retail liquor license authorizing the sale of alcoholic beverages in a restaurant or bar which is located in a municipality with 200 or more of these licenses currently active or inactive is required to charge a fee of $0.25 to be included in the price of each alcoholic beverage sold on the licensed premises. These fees are to be collected by the Director of the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control and deposited in the Alcohol Education, Rehabilitation and Enforcement Fund (AEREF). The AEREF supports programs aimed at alcohol and drug abusers. It is funded by an excise tax on licensed manufacturers, wholesalers, and State distributors of alcoholic beverages. The AEREF also receives moneys from a $100 fee paid by convicted drunk drivers. Proceeds from the AEREF are dedicated as follows: 75 percent to rehabilitation, 15 percent to enforcement, and 10 percent to education. The proceeds are distributed to the State's 21 counties according to a statutory formula based on population, income, and need. Under this bill, the AEREF also would receive the proceeds from the $0.25 per drink fee imposed by the bill on alcoholic beverages sold in restaurants and bars in municipalities with a large number of retail liquor licenses.

Committee Categories

Gabriel Rodriguez (D)*, 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Oversight, Reform and Federal Relations Committee (on 01/09/2024)

Official Document