New Jersey Senate Bill S1219

New Jersey 2024-2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/9/24
• Refer: 1/9/24

Caption

Revises certain licensee filing requirements for alcoholic beverage price lists; removes requirement that limited brewery and distillery licensees provide tour when selling certain alcoholic beverages to consumers.

Impact

This bill’s updates will significantly affect the operational procedures of limited breweries and distilleries, especially those that previously faced strict monthly filing mandates regardless of their sales volume. By permitting these establishments to retain their price list for an extended period—until any amendments are necessary—it could bolster their business operations by reducing paperwork and associated costs. Moreover, the bill requires that the Director of the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control facilitate electronic submissions for these filings within 18 months of enactment, aligning with modern administrative practices and technology trends.

Summary

Senate Bill S1219 introduces modifications to the licensee filing requirements related to alcoholic beverages in New Jersey. The primary focus of this bill is to revise the process by which licensees or registrants must file and update their price lists. Particularly, it allows certain small-scale sellers (those selling less than 60 stock-keeping units per month) to petition for a simplified annual price list submission instead of a monthly requirement. This change is expected to ease the administrative burden on small businesses in the alcoholic beverage sector, promoting better compliance and operational efficiency.

Contention

Some potential contention surrounding S1219 may arise from stakeholders who argue that the simplified reporting requirements could lead to less oversight and regulation of pricing in the alcoholic beverage market. As the legislation eases the regulatory load for smaller producers, critics might express concerns regarding the preservation of market fairness and consumer protections. Additionally, the removal of the requirement for limited brewery and distillery licensees to provide facility tours during product sales could spark debate over transparency and consumer engagement in the craft beverage sector.