Submitted by Brudesandwich t3_108r4hd in jerseycity
Comments
Brudesandwich OP t1_j3u55k0 wrote
There is a proposed tax credit for people with "old" licenses to make it somewhat fair.
kevshea t1_j3v0spp wrote
Also, he's proposed relaxing the license cap over time, which will stop current ones from becoming worthless. You can imagine that if anyone paid a million for one today and tomorrow they said "lol actually anyone can sell booze", it'd immediately be worthless and they'd be out the full amount.
But its value is essentially in government-mandated lack of competition, driving up prices for all of us, and if competition is allowed to ramp up slowly then they'll still capture benefits of having the license, slowly decreasing each year. It'll be worth less than they anticipated, but not necessarily by a ton (if it were phased out over, say, 30 years). The tax credit could hopefully make up the difference relatively cheaply.
That said, yeah it's pretty terrible and causing a great deal more loss for the whole state to maintain this system than it would cause to the restaurateurs or whoever to tear it down. I'm for moving fast, breaking things, and maybe offering partial compensation to the current cartel beneficiaries.
SyndicalistCPA t1_j3w4kxq wrote
On top of that, they've enjoyed years of limited competition.
Jahooodie t1_j3wjbp1 wrote
In before this sub's capitalist fat cat apologists come to this thread with "well the market is the market"
Blecher_onthe_Hudson t1_j3xpciq wrote
Big difference between Capitalism and 'rent seeking', though the rent seekers spend a lot of effort trying to blur it.
My favorite podcast episode ever is 2 academic Libertarians arguing about whether Capitalism is inevitably corrupt and devolves into crony capitalism, and after an hour they basically gave up and conceded. They said any corporation that grows large enough reaches a point where the next dollar is better invested in "rent seeking", (e.g. buying influence, market protection and subsidies), rather than just growing their business. Any CEO who didn't do it would be replaced by the shareholders, or the company would be bought by investors recognizing it was "underperforming". Of course being Libertarians, their only solution is having a government so small that it can't hand out goodies. https://www.econtalk.org/michael-munger-on-crony-capitalism/
Blecher_onthe_Hudson t1_j3u305g wrote
Hell yeah! TJs & Costco could sell their private label booze, wine & beer in all their stores!
joeyirv t1_j3u4tif wrote
this needs to happen asap
Brudesandwich OP t1_j3u5b0u wrote
Then call your reps and bug then about supporting this. Given NJ politicians I'm sure there's a few already plotting to either stop this or make it as limiting as possible once passed.
keepseeing444 t1_j3ujryh wrote
I’ve been following this for years and there were one or two state reps/senators who tried to introduce the bill then it dies even before the vote. Existing liquor licensee lobby is strong af in NJ. The fact that governor is bringing this to attention I am cautiously optimistic. NJ needs low fee wine and beer license just like NYC to help small mom and pop restaurants survive.
Jahooodie t1_j3vx59m wrote
NY also has a class of license that is cheaper, but you can only serve NY state produced beer & wine. Would love to see that support of NJ businesses. (They also give tax credits to producers who use a certain percentage of ingredients produced by NY state farmers).
Meanwhile the license lobby in NJ is tossing fits because breweries are having events and maybe coordinate with a food truck, how dare they offer a nice experience! When they are pulling shit like that and talking about their license as ‘investment assets’ and can get loans based on their value (of a government controlled/restricted/manufactured ‘asset’), it’s gotta be time for change. As long as they don’t pull a taxi medallion too hard and let things cushion down, I’m all for the change
sutisuc t1_j3wpnq7 wrote
Oh wow I didn’t know NY state had that. Makes sense cause I’m always remarking at how much more local offerings bars and restaurants have there.
Jahooodie t1_j3wrcty wrote
NY State does so much more to support local producers & farmers, it's kinda wild we don't just copy most of it.
sutisuc t1_j3wrl2c wrote
Yup it’s always an exercise in frustration when I go to places in NY and see how well integrated they are with offering local products and then come back to NJ and feel like I could be anywhere in the country with the generic junk we offer
Jahooodie t1_j3x86bq wrote
Most of the rest stops have an "I heart NY State" shop where you can buy maple syrup, wine, ect. They also schedule local farmers to table and offer stuff like apples and pies. It's just such a surround of support & promotion.
mbastor24 t1_j4aj5vk wrote
No. Fuck that. I don’t want no New Jersey-branded Whiskey.
thebruns t1_j3wdp7g wrote
Revamp the whole system. End out-dated drinking laws like no outside containers. Let every food establishment sell drinks. But also, increase penalties on drunk driving and anti-social behavior when drinking.
EasyGibson t1_j3wycca wrote
For JC especially, there needs to be quality of life arrests far more often than there are. Last call behavior made it an easy decision to leave Erie St. Fuck Talde forever.
thebruns t1_j3x455k wrote
Louder than 60db after 10pm? Straight to jail
EasyGibson t1_j3xhdx1 wrote
The pinnacle for me was when Talde's bouncer dragged a patron into my vestibule to punish him on premises. While I didn't appreciate having my mailbox destroyed, I appreciated his vigorous handling of the situation.
mouse6502 t1_j3wpxdc wrote
How about ending the cap on 10pm sales? What the hell is that all about?
murphydcat t1_j3xwu2r wrote
Hours are actually set by the municipality, not the state. If you want the sales time extended, speak with your Mayor and Council.
PsychologicalAd1153 t1_j3whim6 wrote
How much is a liquor license anyway? I'm sure there are different tiers.
Brudesandwich OP t1_j3x5p3a wrote
A liquor license in NJ can run into $100,000's, even millions.
sinbushar t1_j42c3xu wrote
I've seen billboards advertising licenses for sale. I really don't know the ins and outs of the current restrictions, but the number I keep seeing as the norm is $400k.
If this actually happens, I think we could see an awesome expansion of NJ restaurants
murphydcat t1_j3xx2lu wrote
In my town they have been selling for $50k because it is an older, urban municipality and at one time there was a bar on every corner. There are quite a few pocket licenses that owners have unsuccessfully tried to sell. In rural municipalities, licenses are more scarce and can command six or seven figures.
Blecher_onthe_Hudson t1_j3xpz1p wrote
After reading the NYT article it doesn't look like they're contemplating removing the law that restricts the number of licenses a business can hold, which is what keeps TJs and Costco from selling their booze in more than 2 stores in the state. Bah Humbug!
Empty_Smoke_6249 t1_j3yywxu wrote
I want this to happen, but I doubt it due to folks benefiting from the current system blocking any change. I hope the folks holding onto their liquor licenses and locking potential new restauranteurs out of the industry in NJ realize if and when a work around is figured out that makes your licenses worthless, there will be no sympathy from most of us. These Gen Zs seem to be very opposed with the Dumbo House, social club model, and I’m pretty sure that doesn’t require regular licensing. But keep being short sighted and greedy. Worked out for medallion taxi cab holders.
Brudesandwich OP t1_j3z3vla wrote
>but I doubt it due to folks benefiting from the current system blocking any change
As is the case with almost everything in NJ. Whats crazy to me is that those same people would stand to benefit way more than the current system.
Empty_Smoke_6249 t1_j3z5a06 wrote
The ones who are real restaurateurs will definitely benefit. The ones who have relied on artificial scarcity and have put zero effort into creating a restaurant/bar people actually want to go to will likely have to find something useful to do with themselves.
awesomeyo9876 t1_j42hliw wrote
Jersey BYO is great! Keep liquor licenses scarce!
pixel_of_moral_decay t1_j3ugcm6 wrote
Just get rid of licenses and make it like selling soft drinks.
The whole concept is stupid. Kids have no problem finding someone who will sell to underage. So that argument is bullshit. They even know which clubs will turn a blind eye to the most basic of fake id’s. It’s been that way for generations and isn’t going to change.
murphydcat t1_j3xx8d9 wrote
New licensees are vetted by the local police department to ensure no one shady like the mob is buying a liquor license.
Blakkaman t1_j3u3j1r wrote
This is needed! I wonder how to make ppl who paid so much for theirs whole, but it makes no sense to limit liquor licenses, man.