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Nearly eight months after a wave of repression that has forced the state to implement a series of restrictions to regulate what craft brewers can and can not do, it is again trying.
The Alcoholic Beverage Control Division, a department of the Attorney General's Office, issued a new special decision on Tuesday outlining a number of specific rules that must be followed by breweries. The regulation provides limits to the number of events that can be organized by the breweries and that they can serve. In the new decision, the text says that the concerns of the 100 small-scale brewers in New Jersey and the more than 6,000 institutions in the state with full liquor permits must be taken into account.
"We believe that the activities permitted by this special decision serve to create a fair and appropriate balance between the interests of retail license holders, such as restaurants and bars, and the brewing industry," he said. James Graziano, acting director of ABC.
"Will everyone be happy with them? Probably not. But in the end, the division's job is to set limits on what licensees are allowed to do under existing legislation and to level the playing field so that all limited breweries compete fairly. "
Some of the rules set out in the decision include:
- As proposed in the original by-law, the breweries will be limited to organizing 25 special events on-site. However, the new rules have refined the definition of "special events" based on those promoted by the media or including entertainment such as live music, DJs or live televised sports championship events. More modest events, such as anecdotes, painting, animal adoption events or yoga, will not generally be considered "special events".
- Breweries are still limited to 52 private events per year, but party organizers can now bring their wine and beer to these events.
- The current law requires breweries to have customers visit their facilities before serving them However, under the new regulations, repeat brewery customers will only have to go once a year, provided that the brewery retains a recording of their previous participation in touring. The new rules also aim to make touring more "substantial and meaningful".
- Artisanal breweries will not be allowed to sell food, have a restaurant, or work with food trucks or vendors to provide food on site. However, restaurant menus can be left out as long as there is no exclusive partnership between the two companies. Food can be delivered to customers inside breweries.
- Breweries would be allowed to apply for a new permit that would allow 12 out-of-house events per year, during which they could sell four or six packs of beer, as well as beer in open containers.
Some previous rules will also remain in place. For example, breweries are not allowed to have more than two TVs larger than 65 inches. If a brewery has more than two, the additional TVs will only be able to display information about the brewery, not television programs.
The new decision, said Graziano, is the result of consultations with various organizations, including the New Jersey Beer Guild, the New Jersey Brewers Association, the New Jersey Licensed Beverage Association, the New Jersey Restaurant Association, the New Jersey Liquor Store Alliance and legislators. in all the state.
Some brewers seemed happy.
Megan Myers, one of the co-owners of Pitman's Human Village Brewing Company and one of the co-founders of New Jersey's Independent Brewers, said Tuesday's decision was a good compromise.
"The ABC came to the table with many different interests and listened to the breweries," said Myers.
Graziano said the new rules of the division are consistent with the original 2012 interpretation of the Restricted Breweries Act passed by the state legislature. And if there are problems with this directive, he said, lawmakers will have to deal with it.
"If it is necessary or interested to adjust or further expand the privileges granted to limited brewery license holders, this should be considered by the legislator," Graziano said.
Myers agreed, noting that breweries are now considering moving to "phase two" – by addressing legislators to change the laws that govern breweries.
"Legislators need to make changes," she said. "We need people who support the breweries to support their lawmakers.The legislation will only come from the people who will express and show clearly that it is what they want in their communities. and for their local businesses. "
Starting June 3, breweries will be required to give 10 days' notice to the CBA of a special event on site.
Chris Franklin can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @cfranklinnews Or on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us.nj.com/tips
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