New Jersey Lawmakers Are Sticking Up for Microbreweries

(Bloomberg) -- New Jersey lawmakers are sticking up for the beer brewers.

State legislators are coming to the support of microbreweries after New Jersey regulators put a limit on operators’ trivia nights, live performances, televised sports broadcasts and other on-site events.

Bipartisan calls to overturn the ruling with legislation came Tuesday from Senate President Steve Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, both Democrats and the highest-ranking lawmakers in their houses, and from Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean.

The state division of Alcoholic Beverage Control last week said craft breweries could host just 25 special events annually, citing distinctions among licensing for bars, restaurants and breweries.

“Our efforts to modernize the state’s brewery laws have been successful beyond belief, leading to an economic success story that few could have imagined when we started,” Kean, from Westfield, said in a statement. “We shouldn’t allow a state regulatory body to turn back the clock after everything we’ve accomplished.”

The state has issued 88 limited brewery licenses, according to the control division.

To contact the reporter on this story: Elise Young in Trenton at eyoung30@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Flynn McRoberts at fmcroberts1@bloomberg.net, William Selway

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