Retail Liquor License Renewals Now Due

All New Jersey retail liquor licenses for the 2015-2016 license term expire on June 30, 2016. All New Jersey retail liquor licensees should have received notification in April through the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control’s (ABC’s) web-based system, POSSE ABC, to renew their liquor licenses utilizing the ABC’s online portal. Subject to the specific renewal deadline fixed by each municipality, all state and municipal retail liquor license renewal fees for the 2016-2017 license term are currently due. Prior to renewal, all retail liquor licensees must also receive an Alcoholic Beverage Retail License Clearance Certificate for renewal from the Division of Taxation.

If your license became inactive on or before June 30, 2014, your local issuing authority lacks the jurisdiction to renew your inactive license for the 2016-2017 license term unless you first obtain a “Special Ruling” from the Director of the New Jersey Division of ABC. An inactive license is a license that is not currently open and operating a licensed premise. The Director has the authority to grant a Special Ruling pursuant to N.J.S.A. 33:1-12.39 for one or more terms, based on good cause shown. If you are in need of a Special Ruling, you still must timely file your renewal application and pay all necessary fees to the local issuing authority by its deadline. The municipality will accept the application and fees, but defer acting on the application until receipt of a Special Ruling and a Tax Clearance Certificate. Failure to file a renewal application and remit all applicable fees on or before July 30, 2016 may cause your liquor license to permanently lapse and cease to exist. Any petition for a Special Ruling should be filed now, and in no event later than July 30, 2016.

For more information, please contact a member of the Gibbons Liquor Licensing & Alcoholic Beverage Control Team.

You may also like...