SENATE BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 4384

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JUNE 28, 2026

      The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 4384.

As amended and reported by the committee, this bill makes permanent provisions of P.L.2020, c.33, which temporarily granted retail licensees and craft distillery licensees certain privileges in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Specifically, the bill allows the holders of plenary retail consumption licenses, hotel or motel licenses, or seasonal retail consumption licenses, generally issued to bars and restaurants, to sell alcoholic beverages in original containers or in closed and sealed containers, and mixed cocktails in closed and sealed containers for consumption off the licensed premises.

     These licensees also would be entitled to deliver, by the licensee or a licensed third party delivery service, directly to the residence of a consumer within this State who is 21 years of age or older for consumption off the licensed or permitted premises any distilled alcoholic beverages mixed or blended with other alcoholic or nonalcoholic beverages in closed and sealed containers or malted beverages.  However, the bill specifies that no alcoholic beverages are to be delivered in original containers except for malt alcoholic beverages. 

     In addition, the bill allows craft distillery licensees to sell for consumption, on or off the licensed premises, distilled alcoholic beverages manufactured on the licensed premises and mixed or blended with other alcoholic or nonalcoholic beverages and sold in closed and sealed containers.  The bill also allows craft distilleries to sell distilled alcoholic beverages in original containers accompanied by one or more nonalcoholic beverages or foodstuffs that the consumer may combine to prepare a mixed drink. 

     Under the bill, mixed drinks are to be sold in closed and sealed containers that are affixed with a tamper-evident seal and hold not more than 16 fluid ounces.  Any other alcoholic beverages may be sold and delivered in original containers of any size. 

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

The committee amendments:

     1) specify that alcoholic beverages are not to be delivered in original containers except for malt alcoholic beverages;

     2) remove privilege for a concessionaire permit holder to sell alcoholic beverages for off-premises consumption;   

     3) remove the home delivery privilege for the holder of a limited brewery license, plenary winery license, farm winery license, cidery and meadery license, and craft distillery license; and

      4) makes other clarifying and technical changes.

FISCAL IMPACT:

      Fiscal information for this bill is currently unavailable.