[Ord. No. 5-19-41; New]
This chapter is enacted to regulate the sale and transportation of alcoholic beverages in the Township of Chatham in accordance with the provisions of an act of Legislature of the State of New Jersey entitled An Act Concerning Alcoholic Beverages, comprising Chapter 436 of the Laws of 1933, its supplements and amendments, and also comprising N.J.S. 33:1-1 et seq., and in accordance with the rules and regulations of the State Director of Alcoholic Beverage Control.
[New]
For the purpose of this chapter, words and phrases herein shall have the same meaning as in N.J.S. 33:1-1 et seq., and the rules and regulations of the Director of the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control.
[New]
All applications for licenses, all licenses issued and all proceedings under this chapter shall be in accordance with the act, rules and regulations referred to in § 6-1, and all other applicable laws of the State of New Jersey or the United States.
[Ord. No. 5-19-41 § 2; New]
All licenses required by this chapter shall be issued by the Mayor and Township Committee which shall also administer the provisions of this chapter.
[Ord. No. 5-19-41 § 3]
All applications for an alcoholic beverage license must be made in writing, addressed to the Township Committee, and in all other respects comply with the laws of the State of New Jersey and the rules and regulations of the State Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.
[New]
No person shall sell or distribute alcoholic beverages within the Township without obtaining a license in accordance with the Act referred to in § 6-1 and the provisions of this chapter.
[Ord. No. 5-19-41 § 4-6; Ord. No. 4-66 § 1, 2; Ord. No. 7-72 § 1, 2; Ord. No. 35-72 § 1, 2; Ord. No. 2-73 § 1, 2; Ord. No. 9-74 § 1, 2; Ord. No. 7-66 § 1; Ord. No. 10-75 § 1; Ord. No. 4-77 § 1, 2; Ord. No. 4-81 § 1, 2; Ord. No. 11-83 § 1, 2; Ord. No. 3-85 § 1; Ord. No. 2012-08; Ord. No. 2013-02; Ord. No. 2014-01; Ord. No. 2015-01; Ord. No. 2016-01; Ord. No. 2017-02; Ord. No. 2018-01; amended 2-14-2019 by Ord. No. 2019-02; 2-13-2020 by Ord. No. 2020-01]
The annual fees of licenses for the sale or distribution of alcoholic beverages in the Township shall be as follows:
Class of License
Annual Fee
Number
Plenary Retail Consumption License
$2,500
3
Plenary Retail Distribution License
$2,500
2
Club License
$150
1
The provisions of this subsection with respect to the limitation on the number of licenses shall not apply to the renewal or transfer of licenses presently issued. The license fee shall be payable in accordance with the Revised Statutes of New Jersey and rules and regulations promulgated by the Commissioner of Alcoholic Beverage Control.
[Ord. No. 5-19-41 § 7; amended 12-17-2020 by Ord. No. 2020-24]
a. 
Consumption of alcoholic beverages on licensed premises. Plenary retail consumption licensees may only sell, serve, deliver, or allow, permit or suffer consumption of any alcoholic beverages upon the licensed premises between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 a.m. of the following day, Sunday through Saturday, except on December 24, December 31 and January 1.
b. 
Sales of alcoholic beverages in its original container. Plenary retail distribution licensees may only sell or deliver, or allow, permit or suffer the sale or delivery of any alcoholic beverage in its original container for consumption off the licensed premises, or allow, permit or suffer the removal from licensed premises any alcoholic beverage in its original or opened container on a Sunday between 11:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. and between 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
c. 
Sale of wine or malt alcoholic beverages in original container for off-premises consumption. Licensees may only sell wine or malt alcoholic beverages in its original container for consumption off the licensed premises between the hours set forth in Subsection a of this subsection and at no other time.
[Ord. No. 5-19-41 §§ 7, 9; amended 12-17-2020 by Ord. No. 2020-24]
On Sundays, no licensee shall sell, serve, deliver, or allow, permit or suffer the sale, service or delivery of any alcoholic beverages or permit the consumption of any alcoholic beverages on licensed premises between the hours of 2:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.
[Ord. No. 5-19-41 §§ 7, 9; amended 12-17-2020 by Ord. No. 2020-24]
a. 
Whenever December 24 or December 31 falls on a Sunday, no licensee shall sell, serve, deliver, or allow, permit or suffer the sale, service or delivery of any alcoholic beverages or permit the consumption of any alcoholic beverages on licensed premises between the hours of 2:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m.
b. 
On January 1, alcoholic beverages may not be sold, served, delivered to or consumed in the licensed premises between the hours of 2:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m.
[New]
No licensee or employee of a licensee shall sell, serve or deliver, directly or indirectly, any alcoholic beverages to any intoxicated person or person under the legal age, or permit the consumption of alcoholic beverages on any licensed premises by any of the above-named persons.
[New]
During the hours that the sale of alcoholic beverages are prohibited, the entire licensed premises shall be closed and no person shall be admitted or permitted to remain thereon except the licensee or bona fide employees of the licensee.
[New]
Any license issued under this chapter may be suspended or revoked for violation of any of the provisions of this chapter or any provision of any applicable statute or any of the rules or regulations of the State Director of Alcoholic Beverage Control.
Proceedings for suspension or revocation shall be in accordance with the provisions of N.J.S. 33:1-31 by service of a five-day notice of charges preferred against the licensee and affording a reasonable opportunity for hearing. Suspension or revocation of a license shall be in addition to any other penalty which may be imposed for a violation of this chapter.
[New]
No licensee shall sell, serve, deliver or allow, permit or suffer the service or delivery of any alcoholic beverage, directly or indirectly, to any person under the legal age.
[New]
It shall be unlawful for a person under the legal age to enter any premises licensed for the retail sale of alcoholic beverages for the purpose of purchasing, or having served or delivered to him or her, any alcoholic beverage.
[New]
It shall be unlawful for a person under the legal age to consume any alcoholic beverage on premises licensed for the retail sale of alcoholic beverages, or to purchase, attempt to purchase or have another purchase for him or her any alcoholic beverage.
[New]
It shall be unlawful for a person to misrepresent or misstate his or her age or the age of any other person for the purpose of inducing any retail license to sell, serve or deliver any alcoholic beverage to a person under the legal age.
[Ord. No. 5-19-41 § 10; New]
Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of this section shall be deemed and adjudged to be a disorderly person, and upon conviction thereof and in accordance with N.J.S. 33:1-81, P.L. 1985, c. 113, shall be punished by a fine of not less than $100. In addition, the Court shall suspend the person's license to operate a motor vehicle for six months or prohibit the person from obtaining a license to operate a motor vehicle in this State for six months beginning on the date he becomes eligible to obtain a license or on the date of conviction, whichever is later. In addition to the general penalty prescribed for an offense, the Court may require any person under the legal age to purchase alcoholic beverages who violate this act to participate in an alcohol education or treatment program authorized by the Department of Health for a period not to exceed the maximum period of confinement prescribed by law for the offense for which the individual has been convicted.