Princeton Shows Support For NJ's Liquor License Reform

PRINCETON, NJ — Council on Monday passed a resolution supporting New Jersey’s proposed liquor license reform.

Through the resolution, Princeton showed support for “meaningful liquor license reform legislation to create a more balanced liquor license market.”

Councilmembers said the reform was important for economic development in terms of being able to have full-service restaurants in town and it would also help staff at the establishments get more tips.

“The wait staff, the bus staff, they will get bigger tips if the tabs are larger. Lot of people on the BYOB establishment don’t tip on what they’ve brought in,” Councilwoman Michelle Pirone Lambros said.

“So from an equity standpoint for the employees and employers, this is really important.”

Councilwoman Eve Niedergang said the bill will have a “profound” impact on the Municipality as employers and employees stand to benefit.

“I think one of the things that has stymied this in the past is how to compensate people who have already bought the expensive liquor licenses, and this plan does seem to have some way to kind of cushion the blow,” Niedergang said.

Council President Mia Sacks thanked Pirone Lambros for working with state legislators and the Governor's office in pushing for the reform.

According to the resolution, small businesses and downtown economic development thrive best where there is a healthy full-service restaurant market.

It also noted that the state and Princeton should be leaders in reform initiatives that help employees of restaurants increase their earning potential and provide a more equitable work environment.

Earlier this year, Murphy proposed a plan that looks to overhaul the state’s liquor licensing system by easing prohibition-era restrictions and allowing more businesses to sell beer and wine. More: Naloxone, NJ Liquor Licenses: 4 Things Of Note In Gov. Murphy's Speech

Making the announcement during his State of the State address, Murphy said adding more liquor licenses would generate new revenue, statewide and locally, that could be “reinvested into new economic development efforts.”

Currently, New Jersey limits the number of licenses to one for every 3,000 residents in a town.

The proposed bill will also loosen the rules for wineries and breweries.

Just last month, Princeton University President Christopher Eisgruber supported New Jersey’s liquor license reform, saying it was pivotal to the economic development and the vibrancy of the Municipality. More: Princeton U. President Shows Support For NJ Liquor License Reform

“I think one of the advantages that New Jersey could get by this kind of reform is the opportunity to have more of a kind of entrepreneurial restauranteur, the young chefs, the chefs from underprivileged backgrounds or minority backgrounds, who may want to open up restaurants of the sort that I think will attract a younger population and encourage more students to stay to make their careers in the state of New Jersey,” Eisgruber said.

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