If you own a business that sells, distributes, or serves alcohol to customers or patrons, you should have a basic understanding of the types of New Jersey liquor license. A liquor license is a state-issue license that allows a business to lawfully sell or distribute any alcohol. A business that sells alcohol without a liquor license can face penalties and sanctions for serving alcohol without legal authorization. New Jersey has some of the most restrictive laws surrounding liquor licenses in the country. Consider contacting a restaurant law attorney at Yates Law, LLC, to understand the complex issues surrounding liquor licenses in New Jersey and assist you in obtaining an alcoholic beverage license. Call today to scheule a consultation.
Liquor licenses in New Jersey can be broken down into three categories:
In New Jersey, liquor licenses that allow alcohol-serving establishments and other businesses to manufacture, wholesale, and retail alcoholic beverages are issued by the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) and local municipalities.
New Jersey’s Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control oversees all liquor license applications and renewals in the state. These include liquor licenses issued to restaurants, diners, bars, pubs, nightclubs, wineries, breweries, and other establishments and facilities that manufacture, distribute, wholesale, sell, and serve alcoholic beverages.
There are three different classes of liquor licenses in New Jersey:
Retail liquor licenses account for the vast majority of all alcoholic beverage licenses issued in the state. This class of liquor licenses includes the following types of licenses:
Facilities and businesses that manufacture alcohol in the State of New Jersey must apply for a manufacturing liquor license (Class A). These licenses can be broken down into the following subtypes:
Distributors of alcohol that sell exclusively to retail licensees must apply for a wholesale liquor license (Class B) in the State of New Jersey. Types of New Jersey liquor license under the Class B category include:
In New Jersey, those who want to own a liquor license and purchase alcohol products to resell them to others under a liquor license privilege must be at least 18 years of age.
Under New Jersey law, you must obtain a liquor license if you manufacture, sell, wholesale, or serve alcoholic beverages. But what constitutes an “alcoholic beverage” under the liquor license law? The Alcoholic Beverage Control Handbook issued by the New Jersey Department of Law & Public Safety defines an alcoholic beverage as fluids or solids that can be turned into a fluid for consumption if its alcohol content is at least 1/2 of 1% by volume. Alcoholic beverages that fall under this definition include:
You do not require a liquor license if you manufacture, sell, or serve alcohol-containing foods that cannot be turned into a liquid for consumption or any beverages that contain less than 1/2 of 1% of alcohol by volume. Consider consulting with an experienced attorney at Yates Law, LLC, if you are in doubt about whether or not you need a liquor license in your specific case.
There are specific types of documents that a licensee must keep on the licensed premises in New Jersey to present them to persons empowered to enforce the state’s alcoholic beverage control laws. Under New Jersey Administrative Code § 13:2-23.13, the documents that any holder of the retail liquor license must maintain and present to authorized persons include:
A liquor licensee must be able to show these records and documents to a person who has the authority to enforce alcoholic beverage control laws.
New Jersey liquor law can be both complicated and complex, which is why you might want to consider consulting with a restaurant law attorney in New Jersey. Restaurant law attorneys are trained to expedite the process of obtaining and renewing liquor licenses so that their clients can get their business up and running as soon as possible. Delays or complications that may arise when issuing a liquor license can result in substantial financial losses.
At Yates Law, LLC, our experienced legal team can help you understand the different types of New Jersey liquor licenses and assist in the preparation of the necessary documents and records to apply for and renew liquor licenses to manufacture, sell, wholesale, distribute, and serve alcoholic beverages in the State of New Jersey. We help clients navigate the complicated process of obtaining a liquor license and making sure that they comply with all requirements and licensing procedures. We also defend clients facing a citation for violation of liquor license regulations in New Jersey. Schedule a consultation with our attorney at Yates Law, LLC today.
