SOUTH JERSEY (KYW Newsradio) — New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy wants to modernize the state’s outdated liquor laws, and craft beer brewers say it can’t happen soon enough because restrictions are slowly killing their businesses.
In his state of the state address Tuesday, Murphy asked lawmakers to work with him on updating the prohibition-era liquor licensing legislation.
“I further ask you to join me in removing outdated licensing and operating restrictions on our craft breweries, distilleries, and wineries,” he said.
Murphy plans that the revamped liquor license laws will create enough overhaul to establish roughly 10,000 jobs annually and generate up to $10 billion in new economic activity over the next 10 years, he said.
Eric Orlando, executive director of the New Jersey Brewers Guild, says the governor can and should immediately remove some of these restrictions while lawmakers figure out a permanent solution.
“It continues to be a struggle and every single week that goes by without some action,” he said. “I’ve heard some breweries in the state have seen a 40-percent drop in revenue since July being that they can’t offer some of the entertainment experiences to their customers that they have gotten used to.”
New restrictions went into effect last July, limiting breweries to 25 special events per year, and just about anything entertaining: from an Eagles playoff game on TV to live music, counts as an event. They also cannot coordinate with local restaurants or food trucks to make sure brewery customers have something to eat.
Orlando says it’s great news that Murphy does plan to make changes, but he notes timing is important and these small businesses are sinking further and further each day without help.
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