The Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) regulates the manufacture, distribution, sale, and transportation of all alcoholic beverages in New Jersey. ABC’s statutory mission is to regulate and control the alcoholic beverage industry in order to foster moderation and responsibility in consumption of alcoholic beverages, to protect the citizens of New Jersey by assuring lawful, proper, and fair trade practices to maintain the stability of the industry, and protect the collection of state taxes imposed on alcoholic beverages.
Online Licenses & Permits
POSSE Online License, Permit and Brand Registration Applications
Notices
Advisories, Notices, Orders and Special Rulings
ABC Handbooks
For Retail Licensees and Municipal Clerks
No in person visits to ABC offices are permitted without an appointment. ABC staff will be available for telephone or video conferences. Applicants and licensees are encouraged to make payments due to ABC by E-check or credit card.
ABC Alerts
Covid-19 Expansion of Premise Permits (Update October 28, 2022):
On August 3, 2022, Governor Murphy signed P.L. 2022, c. 85, which automatically extends the expiration date of any Covid-19 Expansion of Premise Permit issued by the Division to November 30, 2024. If a licensee possesses a Covid-19 Expansion of Premise Permit, no renewal application is required. A copy of the Covid-19 Expansion of Premise Permit certificate (with the November 30, 2024 expiration date) has been emailed to each permit-holding licensee. In accordance with the new law, municipalities may file an objection to the continued operation of the permit with the Division.
New Covid-19 Expansion of Premise Permits require municipal zoning pre-approval pursuant to P.L. 2021, c. 15 before an application for a Covid-19 Expansion of Premise permit can be considered by ABC.
See Administrative Order 2022-04 for more information on the Covid-19 Expansion of Premise Permit and the Open Container Area Law, P.L. 2021, c. 395
Communications Update
ATTENTION – E-Mail is the preferred method to communicate with ABC. In-person visits to ABC offices are discouraged and none are permitted without an appointment. ABC staff are available by email and telephone. Applicants and licensees are encouraged to communicate by email. Payments due to ABC should be made by E-check or credit card. If you have a question or need information, send an email to ABCpublic@njoag.gov for a prompt reply.
ABC subscribes to a telephone translation service. If English is not your first language, please tell the ABC representative that you would like a translator. You will be asked to provide the language and/or dialect of your choice. You will be placed on hold for a short time in order to allow ABC to contact the translation service.
Many ABC services are available through POSSE, the ABC on-line licensing system. Applications available on POSSE must be submitted on line. If you need assistance with passwords, online access codes, or any technical POSSE issue, please send an email to posseadmin@njoag.gov with your license number and POSSE user ID and a brief description of the problem. If you call by phone, it may take longer to resolve your issue.
Seasonal Farm Market Permits
Applications for the Daily and Seasonal Farm Market permits are now available for certain manufacturing licensees (limited brewery, restricted brewery, farm winery, plenary winery, craft distillery, cidery and meadery) and must be filed on-line through POSSE. No paper applications will be accepted. The clerk and the police chief will be notified through POSSE when the application is filed, however, no action by municipal officials is required. Details are available at SR 2021-01 or contact the Counsel to the Director’s Office at (609) 984-2830.
Recent News
Acting AG Platkin: ABC Issues Special Ruling to Allow Third-Party Delivery Services to Deliver Package Goods and Cocktails to NJ Customers’ Doorsteps
“Third-Party Delivery Permit” Promotes E-Commerce to Benefit Businesses and Customers For Immediate Release: August 26, 2022 Office of The Attorney General- Matthew J. Platkin, Acting Attorney GeneralDivision of Alcoholic Beverage Control- James Graziano, DirectorFor...
50 Years Later, New Jersey Rights a Historical Wrong: AG Grewal Formally Apologizes for Office’s Role in Shutting Down the State’s Gay Bars
AG Grewal, ABC Director Graziano Vacate 126 Enforcement Actions Brought Against ABC License Holders that Served LGBTQ+ Patrons from 1933 to 1967For Immediate Release: June 29, 2021 Office of The Attorney General- Gurbir S. Grewal, Attorney GeneralDivision of Alcoholic...
AG: Wildwood Shore Bar Liquor License Suspended for the Summer in Settlement Resolving ABC Charges for Repeated Violations of Covid-19 Executive Orders
For Immediate Release: April 26, 2021 Office of The Attorney General- Gurbir S. Grewal, Attorney GeneralDivision of Alcoholic Beverage Control- James Graziano, DirectorFor Further Information: Media Inquiries-Lisa Coryell609-292-4791Citizen...