Assemblyman John Burzichelli has introduced legislation that will create two new types of liquor licenses for restaurants according to a release by the Assemblyman. This is in line with a report from late December that the Burzichelli was working on such a bill — current laws force the combined total number of liquor licenses in a given municipality be less than one for each 3,000 people.

The heart of the legislation will allow towns to issue unlimited number of these licenses — a restricted restaurant-only license to sell any alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises only or a restricted beer and wine license to sell only beer and wine by the bottle or can. Restaurants would be required to be a maximum of 6000 sq ft and maintain a full-service kitchen with a minimum square footage of 500. This would encourage smaller “mom and pop” restaurants but not larger chains.

Other provisions include alcohol service must be sold with food at a table — not in a bar setting — at noon or one hour prior to the service of food (whichever is later) till 10 pm Sunday thru Thursday and until 11 pm Friday and Saturday.