Openly drinking alcoholic beverages on the Atlantic City Boardwalk this summer is a temporary experiment, made legal by a city order in an effort to give bars and restaurants an economic boost during the coronavirus pandemic.
On Wednesday, Atlantic City got one step closer to having a permanent law permitting open containers in the Tourism District after unanimous approval by the Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism and Historic Preservation Committee. The bill, A299/S1591, cleared the Senate committee without any debate.
The state Assembly passed the bill 78-0 in June.
The legislation now moves to the full Senate for a vote, where it is expected to pass. The state Senate voted 37-0 in favor of similar legislation in 2019, but the bill stalled in an Assembly committee.
Gov. Phil Murphy announced Wednesday that parents or legal guardians will be allowed to visit pediatric, developmentally disabled and intellectually disabled residents at long-term care facilities.
Mayor Marty Small Sr. signed an executive order in early June permitting open containers of alcoholic beverages on the Boardwalk, nonresidential areas of Gardner’s Basin and the Orange Loop commercial district (St. James Place, New York Avenue and Tennessee Avenue). State guidelines in response to the COVID-19 pandemic allowed the city to temporarily permit open containers. The order expires in November or when coronavirus-related restrictions are lifted, whichever comes first.
“Every business owner I’ve spoken to has said it’s been wildly successful,” Small said Wednesday of the response to the executive order. “I’ve heard nothing but good things about it.”
The state legislation tasks the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority with defining the parameters of an open container zone, where alcoholic beverages can be sold, consumed and transported by people of legal drinking age. It requires the CRDA to hold a public hearing on the merits of establishing the open container zone.
Local leaders and state representatives have been trying to get an open container law passed for select areas of Atlantic City’s Tourism District for several years. The current session’s companion bills are sponsored by Atlantic County’s three representatives, Republican state Sen. Chris Brown and Democratic Assemblymen Vince Mazzeo and John Armato.
“Now, more than ever, with so many of our families struggling to make ends meet, we need to work together to make our guest experience while on vacation more enjoyable to grow our tourism industry. I am pleased today, working in a bipartisan manner, we were able to take a step in the right direction,” Brown said Wednesday, following the Senate committee vote.
Lawmakers have said permitting adults to responsibly consume alcoholic beverages on the Atlantic City Boardwalk and in other designated areas will put the resort on par with other U.S. tourist destinations, such as New Orleans, Nashville, Las Vegas and Key West.
PHOTOS of the Atlantic City Boardwalk bar crawl
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On June 12th, Friday is the first day that open alcohol containers will be legally allowed on the AC Boardwalk. An open container bar crawl was held at 1pm starting at Bourre on NY Avenue to commemorate the historic moment (legal booze on the boards).
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Updated061320_nws_acboardwalk
Updated
On June 12th, Friday is the first day that open alcohol containers will be legally allowed on the AC Boardwalk. An open container bar crawl was held at 1pm starting at Bourre on NY Avenue to commemorate the historic moment (legal booze on the boards).
061320_nws_acboardwalk
Updated
On June 12th, Friday is the first day that open alcohol containers will be legally allowed on the AC Boardwalk. An open container bar crawl was held at 1pm starting at Bourre on NY Avenue to commemorate the historic moment (legal booze on the boards).
061320_nws_acboardwalk
Updated
On June 12th, Friday is the first day that open alcohol containers will be legally allowed on the AC Boardwalk. An open container bar crawl was held at 1pm starting at Bourre on NY Avenue to commemorate the historic moment (legal booze on the boards).
061320_nws_acboardwalk
Updated
On June 12th, Friday is the first day that open alcohol containers will be legally allowed on the AC Boardwalk. An open container bar crawl was held at 1pm starting at Bourre on NY Avenue to commemorate the historic moment (legal booze on the boards).
061320_nws_acboardwalk
Updated
On June 12th, Friday is the first day that open alcohol containers will be legally allowed on the AC Boardwalk. An open container bar crawl was held at 1pm starting at Bourre on NY Avenue to commemorate the historic moment (legal booze on the boards).
061320_nws_acboardwalk
Updated
On June 12th, Friday is the first day that open alcohol containers will be legally allowed on the AC Boardwalk. An open container bar crawl was held at 1pm starting at Bourre on NY Avenue to commemorate the historic moment (legal booze on the boards).
061320_nws_acboardwalk
Updated
Friday was the first day open alcohol containers were legally allowed on the Atlantic City Boardwalk. Orange Loop establishments such as Bourre and the Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall were among the first to sell spirits to customers to enjoy on the go.
061320_nws_acboardwalk
Updated
On June 12th, Friday is the first day that open alcohol containers will be legally allowed on the AC Boardwalk. An open container bar crawl was held at 1pm starting at Bourre on NY Avenue to commemorate the historic moment (legal booze on the boards).
061320_nws_acboardwalk
Updated
On June 12th, Friday is the first day that open alcohol containers will be legally allowed on the AC Boardwalk. An open container bar crawl was held at 1pm starting at Bourre on NY Avenue to commemorate the historic moment (legal booze on the boards).
061320_nws_acboardwalk
Updated
On June 12th, Friday is the first day that open alcohol containers will be legally allowed on the AC Boardwalk. An open container bar crawl was held at 1pm starting at Bourre on NY Avenue to commemorate the historic moment (legal booze on the boards).
061320_nws_acboardwalk
Updated
On June 12th, Friday is the first day that open alcohol containers will be legally allowed on the AC Boardwalk. An open container bar crawl was held at 1pm starting at Bourre on NY Avenue to commemorate the historic moment (legal booze on the boards).
061320_nws_acboardwalk
Updated
On June 12th, Friday is the first day that open alcohol containers will be legally allowed on the AC Boardwalk. An open container bar crawl was held at 1pm starting at Bourré on New York Ave to commemorate the historic moment (legal booze on the boards).
061320_nws_acboardwalk
Updated
On June 12th, Friday is the first day that open alcohol containers will be legally allowed on the AC Boardwalk. An open container bar crawl was held at 1pm starting at Bourre on NY Avenue to commemorate the historic moment (legal booze on the boards).
061320_nws_acboardwalk
Updated
On June 12th, Friday is the first day that open alcohol containers will be legally allowed on the AC Boardwalk. An open container bar crawl was held at 1pm starting at Bourre on NY Avenue to commemorate the historic moment (legal booze on the boards).
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Laurie and John Walker, of Ventnor, purchased drinks from the Biergarten on the Boardwalk.
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061320_nws_acboardwalk
Updated
On June 12th, Friday is the first day that open alcohol containers will be legally allowed on the AC Boardwalk. An open container bar crawl was held at 1pm starting at Bourre on NY Avenue to commemorate the historic moment (legal booze on the boards).
061320_nws_acboardwalk
Updated
On June 12th, Friday is the first day that open alcohol containers will be legally allowed on the AC Boardwalk. An open container bar crawl was held at 1pm starting at Bourre on NY Avenue to commemorate the historic moment (legal booze on the boards).
061320_nws_acboardwalk
Updated
June 12 was the first day open alcohol containers were legally allowed on the Atlantic City Boardwalk.
061320_nws_acboardwalk
Updated
On June 12th, Friday is the first day that open alcohol containers will be legally allowed on the AC Boardwalk. An open container bar crawl was held at 1pm starting at Bourre on NY Avenue to commemorate the historic moment (legal booze on the boards). (l-r) Rich Jacobs of Marlton and Jessica Jarvis of Atlantic City in front of the Steel Pier..
061320_nws_acboardwalk
Updated
On June 12th, Friday is the first day that open alcohol containers will be legally allowed on the AC Boardwalk. An open container bar crawl was held at 1pm starting at Bourre on NY Avenue to commemorate the historic moment (legal booze on the boards).
061320_nws_acboardwalk
Updated
On June 12th, Friday is the first day that open alcohol containers will be legally allowed on the AC Boardwalk. An open container bar crawl was held at 1pm starting at Bourre on NY Avenue to commemorate the historic moment (legal booze on the boards).
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Mark Callazzo says open containers and a walkable business district were a small part of a larger vision he and others shared for the Orange Loop when the project started nearly five years ago.
061320_nws_acboardwalk
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On June 12th, Friday is the first day that open alcohol containers will be legally allowed on the AC Boardwalk. An open container bar crawl was held at 1pm starting at Bourre on NY Avenue to commemorate the historic moment (legal booze on the boards).
061320_nws_acboardwalk
Updated
On June 12th, Friday is the first day that open alcohol containers will be legally allowed on the AC Boardwalk. An open container bar crawl was held at 1pm starting at Bourre on NY Avenue to commemorate the historic moment (legal booze on the boards).
061320_nws_acboardwalk
Updated
On June 12th, Friday is the first day that open alcohol containers will be legally allowed on the AC Boardwalk. An open container bar crawl was held at 1pm starting at Bourre on NY Avenue to commemorate the historic moment (legal booze on the boards). Ventnor residents (l-r) Laurie and John Walker, enjoy a cooling refreshment from the Biergarten at 2701 Boardwalk.
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JaVonn Parrish had expected to return to work at Bourre next week, when outdoor dining resumes in New Jersey, but the relaxing of Atlantic City’s open-container laws brought him back early.
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People line up for service Friday afternoon outside the Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall in Atlantic City’s Orange Loop commercial district.
061320_nws_acboardwalk
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On June 12th, Friday is the first day that open alcohol containers will be legally allowed on the AC Boardwalk. An open container bar crawl was held at 1pm starting at Bourre on NY Avenue to commemorate the historic moment (legal booze on the boards). (l-r) Cindy and Jim Detweiler, from Souderton PA, enjoying the outside patio at Bourré on New York Ave.
061320_nws_acboardwalk
Updated
On June 12th, Friday is the first day that open alcohol containers will be legally allowed on the AC Boardwalk. An open container bar crawl was held at 1pm starting at Bourre on NY Avenue to commemorate the historic moment (legal booze on the boards). (l-r) Dom Lafragola and Anna Myers, both of Tuckerton, in front of the Tennessee Ave. Beer Hall.
061320_nws_acboardwalk
Updated
On June 12th, Friday is the first day that open alcohol containers will be legally allowed on the AC Boardwalk. An open container bar crawl was held at 1pm starting at Bourre on NY Avenue to commemorate the historic moment (legal booze on the boards). (l-r) Luigi Esposito and Joe Ruscoe, both of Little Egg Harbor, with their drink orders from Bourré.
061320_nws_acboardwalk
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On June 12th, Friday is the first day that open alcohol containers will be legally allowed on the AC Boardwalk. An open container bar crawl was held at 1pm starting at Bourre on NY Avenue to commemorate the historic moment (legal booze on the boards). (l-r) Michelle and Tom Kunzman of Toms River.
061320_nws_acboardwalk
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On June 12th, Friday is the first day that open alcohol containers will be legally allowed on the AC Boardwalk. An open container bar crawl was held at 1pm starting at Bourre on NY Avenue to commemorate the historic moment (legal booze on the boards). Bourré bartender Javonn Parrish of Atlantic City .
061320_nws_acboardwalk
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On June 12th, Friday is the first day that open alcohol containers will be legally allowed on the AC Boardwalk. An open container bar crawl was held at 1pm starting at Bourre on NY Avenue to commemorate the historic moment (legal booze on the boards). Cory Clair, 25, from Tuckerton, outside of Tennesssee Ave. Beer Hall.
061320_nws_acboardwalk
Updated
On June 12th, Friday is the first day that open alcohol containers will be legally allowed on the AC Boardwalk. An open container bar crawl was held at 1pm starting at Bourre on NY Avenue to commemorate the historic moment (legal booze on the boards). (l-r) Bartenders Roger Barr of Egg Harbor Township and Javonn Parrish of Atlantic City serving patrons at Bourré on New York Ave.
061320_nws_acboardwalk
Updated
On June 12th, Friday is the first day that open alcohol containers will be legally allowed on the AC Boardwalk. An open container bar crawl was held at 1pm starting at Bourre on NY Avenue to commemorate the historic moment (legal booze on the boards). (l-r) Dom Lafragola and Anna Myers, both of Tuckerton, receive their drink order from their friend (center) Joe Ruscoe of Little Egg Harbor, in front of the Tennessee Ave. Beer Hall.
061320_nws_acboardwalk
Updated
On June 12th, Friday is the first day that open alcohol containers will be legally allowed on the AC Boardwalk. An open container bar crawl was held at 1pm starting at Bourre on NY Avenue to commemorate the historic moment (legal booze on the boards). Mark Callazzo, owner of the Tennessee Ave. Beer Hall.
061320_nws_acboardwalk
Updated
On June 12th, Friday is the first day that open alcohol containers will be legally allowed on the AC Boardwalk. An open container bar crawl was held at 1pm starting at Bourre on NY Avenue to commemorate the historic moment (legal booze on the boards). (l-r) Marisa Lucchetti of Atlantic City, and Marybeth Litchholt of Absecon, receive their drink orders from Bartender Roger Barr of Egg Harbor Township.
061320_nws_acboardwalk
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On June 12th, Friday is the first day that open alcohol containers will be legally allowed on the AC Boardwalk. An open container bar crawl was held at 1pm starting at Bourre on NY Avenue to commemorate the historic moment (legal booze on the boards). Atlantic City resident and Mayoral candidate Tom Forkin stopped by Bourré to show his support behind the new policy.
061320_nws_acboardwalk
Updated
On June 12th, Friday is the first day that open alcohol containers will be legally allowed on the AC Boardwalk. An open container bar crawl was held at 1pm starting at Bourre on NY Avenue to commemorate the historic moment (legal booze on the boards). Any containers issued by city bars had to have a sticker or marking stating where the cup originated from.
