Beer and booze for movie theaters bill advances in new jersey assembly

Legislation advancing in the Assembly would permit qualifying movie theaters to sell alcoholic beverages during first-run film showings under a new liquor license framework.

TRENTON, N.J. — A New Jersey Assembly committee has advanced legislation that would allow for-profit movie theaters to obtain plenary retail consumption licenses, paving the way for expanded alcohol sales at cinemas across the state.

Assembly Bill 4666, released Thursday by the Assembly Commerce and Economic Development Committee, would create a pathway for movie theater operators to acquire liquor licenses under certain conditions.

Key Points

• Bill would allow qualifying movie theaters to obtain liquor licenses

• Alcohol sales would be permitted before and during first-run movie screenings

• Initial license fee would be capped at $210,000

Under the legislation, municipalities would be authorized to issue a plenary retail consumption license to a for-profit motion picture exhibition facility, subject to approval by the Director of the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control.

The license would permit theaters to sell alcoholic beverages beginning two hours before a first-run movie and throughout scheduled film exhibitions at the licensed premises.

New licensing structure proposed

Applications for both initial licenses and annual renewals would be submitted to municipal governing bodies.

The bill sets the initial license fee at $210,000, although municipalities and theater operators could negotiate a lower fee if at least 10 percent of alcoholic beverages sold at the facility are produced by New Jersey breweries, wineries, cideries, meaderies, or distilleries.

The legislation would allow the fee to be paid in three installments over an 18-month period following issuance of the license.

Exemption from population limits

Current New Jersey law generally limits municipalities to one plenary retail consumption license for every 3,000 residents.

The legislation would exempt qualifying movie theater licenses from those population-based restrictions, allowing municipalities to issue licenses to theaters regardless of existing license caps.

Supporters argue the measure would modernize the movie-going experience and help theaters compete with entertainment venues that already offer food and alcohol service.

Committee vote advances bill

The Assembly Commerce and Economic Development Committee approved the legislation on a 5-2 vote Thursday after previously advancing it through another committee in May.

Committee amendments removed a previously proposed fixed discounted license fee for theaters selling locally produced alcoholic beverages and instead allow municipalities and theater operators to negotiate a reduced fee, provided it does not exceed the $210,000 cap.

The bill now advances for further consideration by the Legislature.

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