ASSEMBLY OVERSIGHT, REFORM AND FEDERAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 3782

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  MAY 24, 2023

      The Assembly Oversight, Reform and Federal Relations Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 3782.

      This bill allows the sale of malt alcoholic beverages in cans or bottles marked for deposit of another state.

      Under current regulations, N.J.A.C.13:2-27.2, a manufacturer, supplier, importer, brand registrant, wholesale or retail licensee or permittee is prohibited from selling, distributing, or marketing for resale to a consumer in this State or purchasing for resale to a consumer in this State any malt alcoholic beverage product, except for malt coolers, packaged in a bottle or can marked for deposit of another State.

      This bill allows a manufacturer, supplier, importer, brand registrant, wholesale or retail licensee or permittee to sell, distribute, or market for resale to a consumer in this State or purchase for resale to a consumer in this State any malt alcoholic beverage product packaged in a bottle or can marked for deposit of another state.

      The bill also provides that the bill’s provisions are not to be deemed to establish a deposit system in this State.  A deposit system charges a deposit on a container at the time of purchase which is returned to the consumer when the empty container is returned.

      As reported by the committee, this bill is identical to Assembly Bill No. 5398, which is also reported by the committee on this date.