Best Beer Buying Spots In New Jersey

New Jersey's alcohol laws are among the most complex in the US, with many peculiarities not found in other states' laws. The state grants individual municipalities substantial discretion in passing ordinances regulating the sale and consumption of alcoholic drinks within their limits.

New Jersey has no dry counties but it does have 30 dry municipalities where the retail sale of alcohol is illegal. These dry towns cannot forbid the consumption, transportation, or possession of alcohol.

The state laws provide for 29 distinct liquor licenses granted to manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, and for the public warehousing and transport of alcoholic drinks.

Retail licenses for consumption or distribution are allocated proportionally to a municipality's population. Licenses permitting on-premises retail sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages (i.e. bars and restaurants) are allocated at a ratio of one license for 3,000 residents.

Supermarkets, convenience stores, and gas stations in New Jersey rarely sell alcoholic beverages because state law prohibits any person or corporation from possessing more than two retail distribution licenses.

The hours of sale for on-premises consumption are regulated by local ordinance, and closing times vary by town. Atlantic City does not have closing hours, and alcohol can be purchased at its casinos and local bars 24 hours a day.

With the exception of Newark and Jersey City, the law forbids hard liquor packaged goods sales before 9 am and after 10 pm any day of the week. This can be restricted further by local ordinance.

Buying beer in NJ supermarkets and grocery stores

New Jersey has strict liquor laws that restrict the sale of beer, wine, and liquor to ABC or liquor stores. While it is technically legal to buy beer at a grocery store in New Jersey, the state's unique liquor laws make it challenging to find one that sells alcohol.

Supermarket and grocery store chains are limited to only two liquor licenses throughout the state, which means most stores you come across won't be selling beer or any other alcoholic beverages. This restriction also applies to gas stations, convenience stores, and pharmacies, making it uncommon to find beer at these locations.

However, some grocery stores in New Jersey do sell beer, but they are usually limited to specific locations within the state. For example, the Costco in Wayne, the Trader Joe's in Westfield, and the Wegmans in Bridgewater and Morris Plains are known to sell beer and wine. Some grocery stores, like ShopRite, have a liquor store attached to the supermarket, allowing customers to purchase alcohol separately from their groceries.

To find out if a grocery store near you sells beer, it is best to contact them directly or check their website for more information. Additionally, each municipality in New Jersey can determine its own hours for alcohol sales, so be sure to check the local laws before making a purchase.

Buying beer in NJ gas stations

New Jersey has some of the most complex state laws governing alcoholic beverages in the US, with many peculiarities not found in other states' laws. The state has a cap on liquor licenses, allowing only one license per 3,000 residents. This makes it difficult to buy beer at gas stations in New Jersey.

Gas stations face the same restrictions as grocery stores in New Jersey. You might be able to find a gas station/convenience store that sells beer, but it won't be common. Chains are limited to two liquor licenses for the entire state, so most places don't sell beer.

Your best bet for buying beer is to go to a state-run ABC store, where you will also find wine and liquor available for purchase. You might find an ABC store right next to a gas station, but they won't be in the same building.

If you do find a gas station that sells alcohol in New Jersey, it's probably because it is attached to a convenience store or grocery store that has a liquor license. However, this is very rare.

New Jersey's alcohol laws can be challenging to navigate, especially for those visiting from states with more relaxed liquor laws. It's always a good idea to check the local laws before heading out to purchase alcohol in the state.

Buying beer in NJ on a Sunday

New Jersey's alcohol laws are among the most complex in the US, with many peculiarities not found in other states. The state grants individual municipalities substantial discretion in passing ordinances regulating the sale and consumption of alcoholic drinks within their limits.

New Jersey does not have any dry counties, but it does have 30 dry municipalities where the retail sale of alcohol is illegal. These dry towns cannot forbid the consumption, transportation, or possession of alcohol. Some dry towns permit alcohol sales if it’s produced on-site.

On Sundays in New Jersey, beer can be purchased from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. if there are no municipal laws against Sunday sales during those times. Beer can be bought from retailers, bars, and restaurants on Sundays. Sunday sales times vary in some towns—some might not permit them at all and some may limit the hours.

New Jersey's alcohol market is a blend of influences from large nearby cities like New York and Philadelphia. The state embraces new trends while preserving traditional practices that have been in place for decades, including protecting independent bars, restaurants, and liquor stores from being overwhelmed by large chains. Despite its small size, New Jersey’s dense population makes it a lucrative market for alcohol companies.

The best way to find out if a location near you sells beer is by calling them directly or looking at their location online.

Buying beer in NJ: legal drinking age

New Jersey has strict liquor laws and odd beer laws, with some counties and towns in the state being dry. The state has about 6.9 million people within the legal drinking age bracket. The minimum drinking age in New Jersey is 21. There are exceptions to this rule for minors drinking at home with parents or during religious events.

Under New Jersey State Law (2C:33-15), it is illegal for a person under 21 to purchase, drink, or possess alcohol in a public place, motor vehicle, or school. Individuals over 18 but under 21 will face charges as an adult, while those under 18 will be charged with a juvenile offence.

The consequences of underage drinking in New Jersey can include hefty fines, jail time, suspension of driving privileges, and a criminal record. A conviction for underage drinking is a disorderly person's offence, which is the term used in New Jersey for what is commonly called a misdemeanour in other states. The conviction will show up in background checks for jobs, apartment leases, or mortgages.

In New Jersey, you can buy beer at bars and restaurants, package and liquor stores, and breweries and taprooms. The sale of beer is allowed from 9 am to 2 am any day of the week at bars and restaurants, and from 9 am to 10 pm at package and liquor stores. In Atlantic City, there are no closing times, and alcohol can be purchased in casinos and bars 24 hours a day.

Gas stations and grocery stores can sell beer, but only two locations per chain can have a license at once.

Buying beer in NJ: dry counties and towns

New Jersey has some of the most restrictive alcohol laws in the US. Beer, wine, and liquor can generally only be purchased at state-run ABC or liquor stores. There are a handful of supermarkets that sell beer, but these are few and far between. Supermarket and grocery store chains are limited to just two liquor licenses throughout the state, so most grocery stores don't sell beer. Gas stations are subject to the same restrictions.

Some towns in New Jersey are "dry", meaning no beer, wine, or liquor is sold in any local stores, bars, or restaurants. There are 30 such towns, most of which are in South Jersey. However, being a "dry" town does not impact whether there can be a winery or brewery, as issuing alcohol manufacturing licenses is a matter for the state. For example, Haddonfield has hosted a wine festival multiple times, and Far Hills, while "dry" by law, is the site of the annual Far Hills Race Meeting, which has been dubbed a "drunken bro fest".

New Jersey gives individual towns the power to determine their own hours for the sale of alcohol, as long as it falls within general statewide guidelines. For most of the state, you can purchase alcohol on Sundays during the same hours that you can during the rest of the week. Some towns don’t allow retailers, bars, or restaurants to sell alcohol before noon on Sunday, while others ban alcohol sales on Sundays altogether.

Alcohol can be purchased in New Jersey between the hours of 9 am and 10 pm in most counties. Each municipality can determine the hours that beer, wine, and malt beverages are allowed to be sold. In Jersey City, for example, retailers are allowed to sell beer and similar alcohol beverages between 6 am and 2 am Monday to Thursday, with extended hours until 3 am on Fridays and Saturdays. On Sundays, you can buy beer or wine between noon and 2 am.

Frequently asked questions