ASSEMBLY LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 2151

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: DECEMBER 11, 1997

      The Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 2151.

      Assembly Bill No. 2151, as received by the committee, would have increased the number of barrels of malt alcoholic beverages the holder of a restricted brewery (brew pub) license may produce in one year from 3,000 to 8,000.

      The bill also would have allowed restricted brewery (brew pub) licensees to sell and distribute their products to licensed wholesalers and retailers in this State and in other states.

      Additionally, the bill would have increased the number of restricted brewery (brew pub) licenses which may be issued to the holder of a plenary retail consumption license from two to eight.

      Finally, the bill would have added a "Small brewery license" to the existing categories of Class A (manufacturing) licenses.

      As amended by the committee, brew pub licensees would be permitted to brew 6,000 barrels of malt alcoholic beverage and to sell and distribute their product to licensed wholesalers, but not retailers, in and out of the State. The holder of a plenary retail consumption license would be permitted to hold up to four restricted brewery (brew pub) licenses. The provisions of the bill pertaining to the establishment of a small brewery license were deleted by the committee.

      The committee also added a provision to the bill providing that a restricted brewery license shall not be issued, renewed or transferred unless the licensee has been issued a tax clearance certificate.

      As amended and released by the committee, this bill is identical to Senate Bill No. 817 as amended and released by the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee on this same date.