NJ Liquor Law Attorneys
Who Controls Liquor Licenses in New Jersey?
The Alcoholic Beverage Control Act provides for an issuing authority in each municipality to issue, renew and transfer retail licenses and provides for enforcing that law. The issuing authority is the governing body board or body of the municipality unless the municipality establishes a municipal board, which is commonly known as an “Alcoholic Beverage Control Board” or “ABC Board.” Thee boards may only be formed if the municipality has a population of at least 15,000 . The ABC Board consists of three members appointed on a bipartisan basis for 3 year terms. Currently, there are about 20 municipalities with A.B.C. Boards, including: Atlantic City, Camden, Clifton, East Orange, Elizabeth, Galloway, Garfield, Hillside, Hoboken, Jersey City, Linden, Newark, North Bergen, Orange, Passaic, Paterson, Rahway, West Orange and West New York. Once a municipal A.B.C. board has been created, it has all of the powers, duties and obligations that the governing body of the municipality would ordinarily have in issuing the retail licenses within the municipality and enforcing the law. (N.J.S.A. 33:1-5 and 33:1-24.)
For those towns or cities that do not create an ABC Board, these same powers and duties will reside with the local governing board (typically the town council). These individuals may constantly be changing based on which way the political winds are shifting. For this reason, they often lack an understanding of the complexities of ABC liquor laws. Your will need an experienced ABC attorney to bring legal clarity to a board that may be acting out of political motivations. For more information and to speak with an attorney call (732) 858-5857 today. Schedule your initial consultation.
For more information on Municipal Governing Authorities and ABC Boards please see:
- Transfer a Liquor License
- How Do I Get a Liquor License in New Jersey?
- Extension of Premises Applications
- Inactive Pocket Licenses
- Conflict Licenses
- How to File a Corporate Structure Change
- Municipal Charges Against a Liquor License
- Municipal Liquor License Hearing
- Municipal Liquor License Appeal
Liquor License Defense Attorneys in New Jersey
Contact our law firm today by calling (732) 858-5857.