NJ’s bars breweries, wineries and distilleries can offer outdoor drinking

Special ruling takes effect June 15

Establishments licensed to sell alcohol can start serving outdoors on June 15, per a special ruling made by the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control Wednesday night.Towns have the final word on this.

COVID-19 Expansion Permits are aimed at offsetting the economic impact of reduced seating capacity and will expire on Nov. 30. This extension of licensed premises, o the area in which applicable businesses are permitted to serve alcohol, can now include decks, patios, parking lots, sidewalks and other open outdoor areas adjacent or close by their property, to correspond with increased seating capacity once they reopen.

Now.

Breweries, distilleries, and wineries can also open for outdoor service.

This special ruling comes after Gov. Phil Murphy’s issuance of Executive Order No. 150, allowing restaurants, bars and other food or beverage establishments to reopen for outdoor sit-down service on June 15; and in anticipation of municipalities seeking to allow bars and restaurants to expand onto private and shared property.

“We are committed to enabling New Jersey’s retail consumption segment of the alcoholic beverage industry to resume sit-down service with safeguards in place to protect public health,” said James Graziano, acting director of the ABC, in a prepared statement. “The special ruling we’re announcing today will help offset the economic impact to licensees caused by a reduced capacity of patrons allowed on-premises at any given time.”

COVID-19 Expansion Permits allow licensees to extend their premises onto areas adjacent to or contiguous to their licensed premises. The ABC director may also permit a licensee to expand onto non-contiguous property, in reasonable proximity to the licensed premise, so long as the licensee has safeguards in place to make sure the alcohol is served in a manner in accordance with public health and safety.

Licensees must either own the property or have permission from the owner to use it; and if they offer food service, they must offer that outside, too. For a $75 fee, licensees can begin applying for permits on June 5, but no permit that is issued shall be effective before June 15.

“We are thrilled to be able to welcome guests back to our member wineries starting June 15 where they can take their mind off the problems of the day and unwind with a glass of wine with friends and loved ones in a safe and beautiful environment,” said Tom Cosentino, executive director of the Garden State Wine Growers Association, in a prepared statement.