The New Law Creates the “New Jersey Brewery, Cidery, Meadery, and Distillery Industry Advisory Council”
To strengthen New Jersey’s growing brewery and distillery industry, legislation sponsored by Assemblymen Louis D. Greenwald (D-Camden, Burlington), and Raj Mukherji (D-Hudson) to establish the “New Jersey Brewery, Cidery, Meadery, and Distillery Industry Advisory Council”, and provide for funding through certain alcoholic beverage tax receipts was signed into law on Tuesday.
The advisory council would be directed to assess the condition of the state’s brewery, cidery, meadery, and distillery industry. Under the new law (formerly bill A-1293), the council would be comprised of seven members, including the Executive Director of the Division of Travel and Tourism in the Department of State and Chief Executive Officer of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, or their designees, and five public members to be appointed by the Secretary of State for terms of three years. The advisory council would be required to meet twice annually and at other times as determined by the advisory council.
The new law also establishes a “New Jersey Brewery, Cidery, Meadery, and Distillery Industry Promotion Account.” All monies received in this account are to be expended by the executive director for research and development concerning the brewery, cidery, meadery, and distillery industries in the State and for the promotion of those industries consistent with the recommendations of the advisory council. It provides that the account be credited annually with an amount equal to 50 percent of the receipts from the per-gallon tax imposed on all sales of beer, cider, mead, and liquors sold by breweries, cideries, meaderies, and distilleries in this State, and any other monies made available to it. It further requires the Director of the Division of Taxation to certify by March 1 annually to the advisory council the taxable volume of beer, cider, mead, and liquors sold by qualifying licensees during the preceding taxable year.
The sponsors issued the following statement upon the bill’s signing:
“New Jersey’s breweries and distilleries are producing award-winning beverages, creating employment opportunities, and collaborating with other local businesses to help local economies thrive. To continue to be supportive as a state of this burgeoning industry, an advisory council would focus on more ways to grow and promote these industries in the state. As we move out of this pandemic, we want these businesses to expand and continue to brand New Jersey as a competitor throughout the country in this industry.”