Statement of Eric Orlando, Executive Director, Brewers Guild of New Jersey on 2023 State of the State Address

“The Guild is appreciative of the comments made today in the Governor’s State of the State Address which prioritizes in 2023 fixing the state’s long-outdated alcohol laws to reflect consumer demands and trends across the nation in the brewery, winery and distilling industries. We agree that these antiquated laws do need to change ASAP so that New Jersey breweries can remain competitive in the craft beverage marketplace and meet craft beer fans’ expectations in terms of the overall experience they seek out when visiting a local brewery with their families and friends. That’s why our organization has backed various bipartisan legislative proposals currently introduced in both houses of the Legislature since this past summer to clearly-define and update the rights and privileges of brewery licensees. We look forward to working with the Murphy Administration, legislators on both sides of the political aisle, and state regulators on a craft beverage modernization proposal which includes real, meaningful solutions to the priority needs of the industry now and for years to come.”

“In the meantime however, and in light of the fact that these proposals may take time to take shape and advance in the legislative process over the next several months, we would ask that the Governor immediately take action to the suspend license restrictions currently imposed on breweries by state regulators until a satisfactory statutory fix is finalized. Many of the license restrictions in place are not tied to any literal statutory language on the books today, only interpretations of legislative intent from more than 10 years ago. Each week that goes by with these license restrictions in place, irreparable harm occur and the craft beer industry in New Jersey draws closer to a permanent collapse. In our view, short-term action and a long-term solutions are both necessary and should be worked on simultaneously. The Brewers Guild of New Jersey stands at the ready to assist the Governor in these efforts.” – Eric Orlando, Executive Director, Brewers Guild of New Jersey