Legislation helping businesses continue to recover from the impact of the pandemic, sponsored by Assembly Democrats Yvonne Lopez, Joseph Danielsen, and Roy Freiman, was approved by the full Assembly, 49-21-0, on Thursday.
The bill (A-4589) would temporarily increase the period in which a holder of a summer seasonal retail consumption license can sell alcoholic beverages. It would be extended to January 14, 2022.
Under current law, a seasonal consumption license holder is allowed to sell alcoholic beverages for consumption on licensed premises. However, they can only sell beverages during the summer or winter season from May 1 through November 14.
The sponsors, Assembly members Lopez (D-Middlesex), Danielsen (D-Middlesex, Somerset) and Freiman (D- Mercer, Middlesex, Hunterdon, Somerset) issued the following statement on the bill:
“COVID-19 has restricted bars and restaurants from serving the amount of clientele they are used to on the premises due to social distancing protocols. Extending summer seasonal retail consumption licenses for business owners can enable them to recover any income lost during the pandemic. Businesses, small and large, have seen a substantial loss of revenue due to the pandemic. We must continue to do all we can to support the business community.”