Senate Takes Action to Free NJ Breweries from Harmful Restrictions

Brewers Guild of NJ Calls on Both Houses & Governor Murphy to Immediately Pass Legislation Before Restrictions are Reinstated on July 1

(TRENTON, NJ) — Today, the Brewers Guild of NJ applauded the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee for moving S-3038, bipartisan legislation that would repeal the harmful license restrictions imposed on New Jersey’s craft breweries. This bill now moves to a full vote in the Senate and Assembly.

“We applaud the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee for taking much-needed action on this important bill, which frees New Jersey breweries from unfair and onerous licensing restrictions,” said Eric Orlando, Executive Director of the Brewers Guild of New Jersey. 

Since July of last year, New Jersey breweries have been unfairly struggling with cumbersome conditions on their licenses – ranging from limiting the number of events they can hold, to banning them from providing food options or even a simple cup of coffee. As a result, every single brewery in the state has lost numerous sales and marketing opportunities. In fact, some businesses already sadly closed their doors, while several more are up-for-sale. If these restrictions continue, New Jersey craft beer will be in serious jeopardy and communities will suffer.

“Consumers deserve a first-class craft beer experience when visiting a brewery here in the Garden State, and this legislation will ensure that happens,” continued Orlando, who testified alongside Guild members at today’s Senate Committee hearing.“With the summer tourism season already upon us, there is a pressing urgency for this measure to pass the Legislature and for Governor Murphy to sign it before these regulations are automatically renewed on July 1st. We are particularly grateful to Senators Gopal and Greenstein for serving as prime sponsors of this bill, along with the many bipartisan co-sponsors in both houses.”

Orlando added that New Jersey residents overwhelmingly oppose the restrictions on New Jersey breweries. A recent Rutgers-Eagleton poll shows 92% of New Jersey adults support allowing breweries to sell food.

An Assembly version of the bill recently passed the Assembly Oversight, Reform and Federal Relations Committee on May 23^rd, 2023.

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