NJ New Liquor Tax Starts Today - Buy in Delaware instead!

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that another tax goes into effect today in New Jersey:

New Jersey's tax hike on wholesale wine and hard liquor goes into effect today, and those in the business say customers will most surely pay more than the fraction of a cent per drink that the extra 25 percent levy on spirits amounts to for distributors.

Gov. Corzine proposed the 25 percent increase and the Legislature approved it on wine and liquor - but not beer - as one of many measures to help balance the budget in a recession year. The extra tax is expected to raise about $22 million a year.

When you really think about it, purchasing liquor and wine are not exactly last minute impulse items and can be planned. Given that a significant portion of our state border other state, my suggestion is to go to PA, Delaware or NY to buy. I know that this suggestion is bad for business in New Jersey but until businesses in this state stop just accepting asinine policies from or dysfunctional state government.

Due to pricing policies in our surrounding state, Delaware is the place to go if you want to save money. And for those of you concerned about the legality of transporting liquor into our state, here are the rules from the Attorney General's office where they will make sure you go to jail for buying fireworks in NJ but not if you are a public official and accept bribes for your vote:


8 Are New Jersey consumers permitted to order alcohol from a catalog or via the internet and have it delivered to their homes?

New Jersey residents are not permitted to purchase beverage alcohol via telephone, mail order or the Internet from producers and retailers in other states. These sales, commonly known as “mail order sales,” are illegal because they bypass the State’s regulatory system for controlling liquor. Some of the problems caused by mail order sales involve the delivery of alcoholic beverages to underage persons, loss of tax revenue and the fact that entities, not licensed in New Jersey, are delivering and selling alcohol in this State. Most states in the country prohibit mail order sales for these and other reasons, and in some states, violations are treated as a criminal offense.

A person may personally purchase alcoholic beverages in another state and transport them into New Jersey only if (1) the alcoholic beverages are intended to be used solely for personal use and (2) the alcohol is personally transported in a vehicle into New Jersey. The amount of alcoholic beverages transported into New Jersey for personal use cannot exceed l/4 barrel or one case containing not in excess of 12 quarts of beer and one gallon of wine and two quarts of other alcoholic beverages within any consecutive period of 24 hours. If a person wishes to transport alcohol for personal use in excess of the above amounts, an application must be made to the Director, who if satisfied of the good faith of the applicant, and upon payment of a $50 fee, may issue a special permit permitting the transportation of alcohol into New Jersey in excess of the amounts listed above.

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