Brewers Guild of NJ:  Stockton Poll Shows NJ Residents Overwhelmingly Support Eliminating Unfair Restrictions on Breweries

Responding to a recent Stockton University poll in which a large majority of New Jersey residents support removing the restrictions on Garden State breweries, Eric Orlando, Executive Director of the Brewers Guild of New Jersey, released the following statement:

“The numbers speak for themselves. New Jerseyans overwhelmingly oppose the unfair and non-sensical restrictions on Garden State breweries, which are strangling what should be a thriving industry.  This new Stockton University poll shows 61 percent oppose regulations limiting events breweries can hold. Moreover, 78 percent support allowing breweries to sell food. And finally, while the vast majority of those surveyed supported breweries, only 29 percent have actually visited such an establishment – clearly indicating that these onerous restrictions are holding back brewery success and growth.

“While overall liquor license reform may be controversial, it’s obvious that New Jersey residents support lifting these ridiculous restrictions on breweries. That’s why our state legislature must immediately consider S-3038/A-4630 — common-sense, bipartisan legislation to remove these limitations. The unfair constraints have already cost breweries numerous business opportunities, with some locations down as much as 40 percent in revenue since last July alone. Some breweries have already shuttered, and others are currently up for sale. Without the passage of legislation in the next two months, these restrictions will be reimposed by the state for another year. If that transpires, we will sadly witness permanent damage to an industry New Jersey residents support and want to see succeed for years to come.

“New Jerseyans have spoken loud and clear, and voters will be watching.  Supporting breweries is a winning issue for our economy, our workforce, our tourism industry, and all our communities.”

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