There's a bill going before an Assembly Committee that will affect you.

And apparently there are quite a number of you here in Jersey.

According to this:

a growing number of entrepreneurs are brewing up home-grown beers. Consumers, too, are embracing the idea of bringing locally brewed beer to barbecues or social functions over so-called “macro” beer produced en masse by big breweries — even if the former costs a few bucks more.

The rapid growth parallels the story nationwide: As big-label beers are seeing a sales slowdown, craft brewers saw a 15 percent increase in retail sales from 2010 to 2011, which is – almost 10 percent of all American beer sales.

Michael Short, president of Hunterdon Brewing Company says there’s just a strong movement to support local beer. “I think that any brewery in business now is going to do very, very well in their local market.”

Now here’s the deal on the bill….

On Thursday, June 7th, New Jersey’s Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee will meet to vote on A-1277.

The bill, developed by the Garden State Craft Brewers Guild, will give all craft brewers in the state more flexibility in how, when and where they sell and promote their beer.

By Wednesday, June 6th, you’re being asked to contact the members of the Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee to let them know that you support the legislation as a craft beer consumer and ask them to VOTE YES on the bill.


Current regulations highly restrict what New Jersey brewers can do—especially when compared to the surrounding states of New York, Pennsylvania and Delaware.
Specifically, this bill would allow:

one company to open more than two brewpubs
production breweries to sell beer for on and off premise consumption
breweries and brewpubs to conduct informational tastings off premise
and brewpubs to distribute beer through the wholesale network

This will lead to a healthier environment for small brewers and more choices for craft beer consumers.

If you are in support, then call or email these members by Wednesday, June 6th to make sure your voice is heard and your support for A-1277 is registered.

It’s especially important if you live in the district of one of the committee members. Not sure who your legislators are?

The following is a list of the members of the Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee:

Mainor, Charles – Chair
(201) 536-7851
asmmainor@njleg.org

Wilson, Gilbert – Vice Chair
(856) 547-4800
asmwilson@njleg.org

Albano, Nelson
(856) 696-7109
asmalbano@njleg.org

Benson, Daniel
(609) 631-0198
asmbenson@njleg.org

Connors, Sean
(201) 795-9190
asmconnors@njleg.org

Cryan, Joseph

(908) 624-0880
asmcryan@njleg.org

Kean, Sean
(732) 974-0400
asmkean@njleg.org

McGuckin, Gregory
(732) 840-9028
asmmcguckin@njleg.org

Peterson, Erik
(908) 238-0251
asmpeterson@njleg.org

Rible, David
(732) 974-0400
asmrible@njleg.org

Watson Coleman, Bonnie
(609) 292-0500
aswwatsoncoleman@njleg.org

More From New Jersey 101.5 FM