Can Liquor Licenses Sell Alcohol During Governor Murphy’ Executive Order?
Due to the pandemic sweeping across New Jersey and the rest of the United States, drastic measures have been taken to limit social interaction. Chief among them are restrictions on food and alcoholic beverage establishments. Mandatory closing times and denial of sit-down dining has caused panic within the food and beverage industry. If you are curious what you can and cannot do during this Order by Governing Murphy, you are not alone.
What Can a Restaurant or Liquor Store Sell During the Shutdown?
Based on my understanding, the current Order allows the following:
All restaurants, dining establishments, and food courts, with or without a liquor license, all bars, and all other holders of a liquor license with retail consumption privileges, are permitted to operate their normal business hours, but are limited to offering only food delivery and/or take-out services. If alcoholic beverages are to be sold from a restaurant, dining establishment or bar with a liquor license, such sales shall be limited to original containers sold from the principal public barroom. All retail sales of alcoholic beverages by limited brewery licensees, restricted brewery licensees, plenary and farm winery licensees (and associated salesrooms), craft distillery licensees and cidery and meadery licensees must be in original containers and must be delivered by licensed entities and/or by customer pick up.
Accordingly, you must close at 8:00 pm as of March 16, 2020 and thereafter you may only do takeout food delivery or pick up and you may deliver alcoholic beverages. However, you will need a transit insignia if you are delivering alcoholic beverages. At this time the ABC will accept a copy of the receipt of the Transit insignia permit, you receive from the ABC Posse system which should be kept in your vehicle. Information on how to apply for the permit can be found on our website as well.
New Jersey Attorneys for Liquor Licenses
If you have any questions or concerns regarding this Order, please feel free to contact my office.
