The Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) regulates the manufacture, distribution, sale, and transportation of all alcoholic beverages in New Jersey. ABC’s statutory mission is to regulate and control the alcoholic beverage industry in order to foster moderation and responsibility in consumption of alcoholic beverages, to protect the citizens of New Jersey by assuring lawful, proper, and fair trade practices to maintain the stability of the industry, and protect the collection of state taxes imposed on alcoholic beverages.
POSSE Online License, Permit and Brand Registration Applications
Advisories, Notices, Orders and Special Rulings
For Retail Licensees and Municipal Clerks
Gun Free Zone
State law prohibits the carrying or possession of firearms on premises where alcohol is served for on premise consumption. For the purpose of informing the general public that firearms are not permitted, licensees are encouraged to post signs stating that under New Jersey law firearms are not permitted on the premises. To assist in this effort, the Office of the Attorney General has created “Gun Free Zone” stickers that may be used to effectuate the notice described above. These stickers and posters are available free of charge; information on how to obtain them can be found here. Signs and/or stickers should be conspicuously posted at the primary entrance(s) of the establishment.
NOTICE TO ALL LIMITED BREWERY LICENSEES AND LIMITED BREWERY TAP HOLDERS CONCERNING LICENSE RENEWALS FOR 2023-2024 TERM
The hearing date for the licensing renewal included in ABC’s June 28, 2024 letter for the liquor licenses associated with former President Donald Trump’s golf courses contemplated sentencing for the New York State conviction as scheduled for July 11, 2024. With the sentencing date moved to September, the hearing originally scheduled for July 19, 2024 has been postponed.
ABC will evaluate the impact on its hearing schedule and act accordingly. Nothing else about ABC’s process has changed.
ABC will announce the new date for the hearing.
Important Notice from ABC Concerning Ad Interim Permits for 2024-2025 License Term
If a licensee is unable to complete the renewal process or municipality is unable to act on a renewal by June 30, 2024, the licensee must apply for an Ad Interim Permit. The application will be available beginning June 10, 2024 only at POSSE online. Failure to submit a complete application online and pay all required fees will result in rejection of the application. Under no circumstances will the Division accept a paper application for an Ad Interim Permit. If you have any questions about the Ad Interim procedure, please contact Johnette Rainier at (609) 376-9817. For information on tax clearance contact the New Jersey Division of Taxation at (609) 322-6323 or abcclearance.public@treas.nj.gov
NOTICE OF HEARING ON OBJECTION TO APPLICATION FOR FARM WINERY LICENSE
TAKE NOTICE that, the New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control received an application from West View Vines, LLC for a farm winery license to be sited at 7 West View Drive, Flemington, New Jersey. The Division received a timely written objection to the issuance of the license.
The underlying property at 7 West View Drive is owned by the license Applicant. The Township has objected to issuance of the license stating the operation of a winery at the residential property is in violation of the Township’s zoning regulations.
Based on the facts of this matter, and pursuant to N.J.A.C. 13:2-1.6, the Division will afford a hearing to all interested parties.
LICENSE APPLICANT: West View Vines, LLC
MUNICIPALITY: Raritan Township
COUNTY: Hunterdon
SITE ADDRESS: 7 West View Drive
HEARING DATE: Thursday, May 16, 2024
HEARING TIME: 10:00 AM
HEARING ADDRESS: 140 E. Front St., Trenton, NJ
(seventh floor conference room)
Members of the public who object to the license application may testify at the hearing, provided they RSVP to the Division (via email to DAG Jillian Mahoney at jillian.mahoney@njoag.gov) by close of business on Friday, May 10, 2024. Interested parties who RSVP but are unable to attend the hearing in-person will be provided a link to participate remotely.
The Interim Director or her delegate will preside over the hearing. Cross-examination of witnesses will not be permitted. At the Director’s discretion, post-hearing submissions may be permitted.
Attention all Brand Registrants
The Product/Brand renewal process will begin on or about November 16, 2023, at which time Brand Registrants may initiate the renewal of their product(s) in POSSE.
The data on your renewal application reflects the products that were registered before November 15, 2023. If an existing product does not include the variety, UPC, TTB/COLA, and unit information, the registrant will need to complete an amendment to the product(s) before the renewal application can be submitted. This product amendment will be free of charge until December 31, 2023, which is the expiration of the renewal period. Brand Amendment Instructions
All products that are registered on or after November 16, 2023 will expire December 31, 2024, and therefore, do not have to be renewed at this time. The renewal fee is $23 per product and all fees related to product renewals are non-refundable by the Division.
Notice Requesting Comment on ABC’s Proposed Prescribed Template for Current Price List Filings.
The Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control is requesting your comments on ABC’s proposed prescribed template for the Current Price Listing (CPL) pursuant to N.J.A.C. 13:2-26.4(a)(4). Comments, if any, are due by July 5, 2023. If you have any questions, please contact DAG Andrew Sapolnick at andrew.sapolnick@njoag.gov. The Notice can be viewed here.
Covid-19 Expansion of Premise Permits (Update October 28, 2022):
On August 3, 2022, Governor Murphy signed P.L. 2022, c. 85, which automatically extends the expiration date of any Covid-19 Expansion of Premise Permit issued by the Division to November 30, 2024. If a licensee possesses a Covid-19 Expansion of Premise Permit, no renewal application is required. A copy of the Covid-19 Expansion of Premise Permit certificate (with the November 30, 2024 expiration date) has been emailed to each permit-holding licensee. In accordance with the new law, municipalities may file an objection to the continued operation of the permit with the Division.
New Covid-19 Expansion of Premise Permits require municipal zoning pre-approval pursuant to P.L. 2021, c. 15 before an application for a Covid-19 Expansion of Premise permit can be considered by ABC.
See Administrative Order 2022-04 for more information on the Covid-19 Expansion of Premise Permit and the Open Container Area Law, P.L. 2021, c. 395
Communications Update
ATTENTION – E-Mail is the preferred method to communicate with ABC. In-person visits to ABC offices are discouraged and none are permitted without an appointment. ABC staff are available by email and telephone. Applicants and licensees are encouraged to communicate by email. Payments due to ABC should be made by E-check or credit card. If you have a question or need information, send an email to ABCpublic@njoag.gov for a prompt reply.
ABC subscribes to a telephone translation service. If English is not your first language, please tell the ABC representative that you would like a translator. You will be asked to provide the language and/or dialect of your choice. You will be placed on hold for a short time in order to allow ABC to contact the translation service.
Many ABC services are available through POSSE, the ABC on-line licensing system. Applications available on POSSE must be submitted on line. If you need assistance with passwords, online access codes, or any technical POSSE issue, please send an email to posseadmin@njoag.gov with your license number and POSSE user ID and a brief description of the problem. If you call by phone, it may take longer to resolve your issue.
Seasonal Farm Market Permits
Applications for the Daily and Seasonal Farm Market permits are now available for certain manufacturing licensees (limited brewery, restricted brewery, farm winery, plenary winery, craft distillery, cidery and meadery) and must be filed on-line through POSSE. No paper applications will be accepted. The clerk and the police chief will be notified through POSSE when the application is filed, however, no action by municipal officials is required. Details are available at SR 2021-01 or contact the Counsel to the Director’s Office at (609) 984-2830.
