Cherry Hill Mulls Liquor Law Change To Allow Booze Sales In Supermarkets

By Michelle Durham

CHERRY HILL, N.J. (CBS) - Cherry Hill officials are considering changes to the ordinance requiring liquor to be sold in a "stand alone" store or in a strip center with its own entrance, opening up the possibility for supermarkets to sell booze in their town as other Jersey municipalities do, but there will be some restrictions.

Bridget Palmer, spokesperson for Cherry Hill Mayor Chuck Cahn, says they are looking at repealing those requirements but there will be other restrictions imposed.

"Designated cash registers to buy liquor. Liquor would have to be sold from a designated part of the store. There would have to be some separation and some square footage requirements. But basically what the mayor is looking at doing right now is repealing that stand alone provision so supermarkets could have liquor stores inside."

This measure was first introduced to council January 14th but Palmer says some changes needed to be made. No word on when it would be reintroduced and ultimately take effect.

As for whether this flexibility would increase the cost of those licenses, Palmer would only say this measure may make them more competitive.

Cherry Hill residents are welcome to contact the Mayor's office with comments at 856-488-7878 or mayorcahn@chtownship.com.