Politics & Government

'Bring Your Own Bottle' Ordinance Introduced

Township Committee to hold a public hearing in August

The Township Committee by a unanimous vote has introduced an ordinance that proposes to change the town's alcohol regulations.

The ordinance, scheduled for a public hearing Aug. 10, would change the township's "bring your own bottle'' regulations, allowing restaurant owners with outside seating to let customers bring their own alcoholic beverages.

The measure was introduced by a 3-0 vote at Wednesday's regular meeting. Committeemen Todd Luttman and George Newberry were absent.

Find out what's happening in Wallwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The new ordinance would eliminate a clause in the township’s current local law banning consumption of alcoholic beverages at establishments that provide outdoor seating, township Administrator Joseph Verruni has said.

Instead, the new ordinance would stipulate that outdoor alcoholic beverage consumption must be fully enclosed by a permanent structure, the entrance and exit to which must be made through the main facility, or must be at all times monitored by an employee who is at least 18 years old, Verruni has said.

Find out what's happening in Wallwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Township police have also asked that a stipulation be made requiring an emergency alarmed exit, Verruni has said.

, a Route 35 restaurant, had requested permission from the township to allow its customers to bring their own wine and beer, and the committee began mulling the new ordinance.

Township police had requested that any such restaurants with outside seating require their customers to enter outdoor areas through main entrances -- ensuring underage patrons could not sneak alcohol onto the premises.

But some members said that policy would be too harsh on businesses and, after some discussion, seemed to agree that the ordinance would require restaurants without enclosed outdoor seating to have a hostess stationed outside.

“We’re trying to help business,” Committeeman Jeff Foster has said. “Outside seating restaurants are concerned (about this).”


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here