Testa: Holding Breweries Hostage Over Liquor Reform Undermines Tourism

Senator Michael Testa (R-1) said Governor Murphy is undermining tourism by holding New Jersey breweries hostage in his push for broader liquor license reforms.

“Governor Murphy’s decision to hold our breweries hostage in a broader liquor license reform debate runs counter to the State’s push to grow our tourism industry. We’ve seen breweries starting to go out of business because of these oppressive rules overregulating their businesses and limiting their ability to serve food and hold certain events. The legislation that I sponsored would help breweries lift these unnecessary regulations. Governor Murphy’s liquor license reform is separate and apart from the business of breweries and they should not be used as a bargaining chip.”

In June, one brewery owner said that nine breweries had gone out of business in the last year due to the restrictions and warned that the number could double.

Earlier today it was reported that Governor Murphy would conditionally veto a bipartisan brewery bill to send it back to the Legislature. Senator Testa sponsored the legislation, S-3038, to remove restrictions on food and certain events that have hamstrung breweries in New Jersey and reduced their competitiveness with businesses in surrounding states. The bill passed both houses unanimously.