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Gov. Chris Christie.

(Aristide Economopoulos/NJ Advance Media)

TRENTON -- Gov. Chris Christie on Thursday vetoed a bill that would have allowed several Jersey Shore bars with coveted seasonal liquor licenses to sell booze earlier in the year.

The governor, calling the legislation "unnecessary" and harmful to places that hold year-round licenses in his veto message, supported the policy in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.

However, Christie argued since "shore bars reported high revenues this past summer season" means "the existing seasonal license period is working as intended."

He added: "These year-round licensees rely on the few customers who patronize their establishments in the winter months, and permanently extending the seasonal license by two months will adversely affect their financial stability."

The bill (A1850) pit some Jersey Shore bars against each other after some of the seven seasonal license holders pushed to make the two month extension granted after Sandy permanent.

If the bill became law, D'Jais in Belmar, for example, would be able to open in time for St. Patrick's Day, which is big business in the town because of the huge crowds that come in for Belmar's annual parade.

But others, including Reggie Hyde, owner of Bar A in Lake Como and the Monmouth County director of the New Jersey Licensed Beverage Association, which represents other year-round bars in the area, argued against the measure.

"Anyone that bought a seasonal license bought one at a substantially reduced dollar amount comparatively speaking to a full-year license," Hyde told NJ Advance Media in February. "You're basically harming the value of the licenses and the potential business on the month of March and the month of April, including Parade Day."

Seasonal licenses permit the sale of alcohol by licensees from May 1 to November 14.

Assemblyman Thomas Giblin (D-Essex), one of the primary sponsors of the bill, expressed disappointment with the governor's veto.

"I didn't see where it would be detrimental," Giblin said.

The bill also had a provision that would allow municipalities to opt of two-month extension, he said.

NJ Advance Media Staff Writer Alex Napoliello contributed to this report.

Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MatthewArco or on Facebook.