Highlands Bar Fined For Employees Drinking On Site, AG Says

HIGHLANDS, NJ — New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal and the state Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) continue to monitor bars and restaurants during the COVID shutdown, and last week announced charges against six new bars, restaurants and liquor stores for violations.

And one of them is Driftwood Liquor and Bar in Highlands.

Driftwood Liquor and Bar in Highlands was fined $750 for allowing employees to drink on site, according to the AG.

Last week, Keyport bar and restaurant Old Glory was cited by the ABC for serving homemade sangria in containers that were not properly sealed; they were not fined, but issued a warning from the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control.

Similar to Drifwood, most of the bars were issued fines. But the state is now seeking to permanently revoke the liquor license for one business: Mt. Royal Inn in East Greenwich was charged with twice violating COVID-19 executive orders by allowing patrons to drink on site, said the AG.

The first incident, which occurred on March 21, resulted in a warning from the local police. Despite the warning, the charges allege that Mt. Royal Inn again allowed patrons to drink on premises on April 4, said the ABC. The Division seeks revocation of Mt. Royal Inn’s liquor license.

Under executive orders issued by Governor Murphy, New Jersey businesses that are licensed to sell alcohol are permitted to remain open, but only for take-out or delivery services of food and alcohol. No table or bar service is permitted, and on-premise alcohol consumption is prohibited.

These bars are facing minimum 10-day suspensions for allowing patrons to consume alcoholic beverages on licensed premises are:

• Shakey Jake’s Café in Stanhope
• Tequila Club in Plainfield City

The establishments were issued fines for violations of COVID-19 orders are:

• Driftwood Liquor and Bar in Highlands
• Madd Hatter in Hoboken ($500) for allowing employees to be on licensed premises without face masks.
• Tomar’s Discount Liquor in Buena Vista ($500) for allowing patrons on the licensed premises without face masks.