Take a brewery tour almost anywhere in the world (except New Jersey, of course) and it's likely to end in a tasting room where you can enjoy a cold one, buy souvenirs, and order a few cases for home. But at the end of a walk through any of our state's growing number of micro-breweries you're shown the door, thirsty and empty-handed.

Wikipedia pulls no punches when it says, "Alcohol laws of New Jersey are some of the most complex in the United States of America, and contain many peculiarities not found in other states."

The first oddity is that municipalities can create their own rules for the sale and service of alcohol, so numbers of liquor licenses and hours and places of operation vary widely from town to town. Some permit no on-premises sales while others are wide open. State law imposes another whole layer of restrictions.

Jersey City is unusual in that some pharmacies may sell bottled spirits because of a very old ordinance that included "alcohol" on a long list of items they could use and sell for medication.

There were never as many temperance advocates in New Jersey as elsewhere. Nevertheless, in the 1920s residents were supposed to abide by the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. A few actually did, a few more pretended to, but most didn't even try to hide their defiance. Col. Ira Reeves, head of the federal government's NJ District for Prohibition Enforcement, quickly became frustrated when everyone around him continued drinking openly, including agents in his own office and police of every rank. Arrested by a county sheriff on a trumped-up charge, he was forced to promise not to raid the state Legislature's annual dinner in Atlantic City one year.

Soon it became apparent to everyone that Prohibition wasn't working as its promoters had hoped. Crime, alcoholism and poverty was rampant and governments were desperate for the money alcohol taxes had provided. Talk of repeal was popular. Especially here. In New Jersey, 85 percent of voters supported the 21st Amendment in May 1933 elections and ratification occurred only two weeks later.

Immediately a patchwork of new laws was put in place. Some were designed to placate the 15 percent who still wanted dry towns, and some were written to prevent the consumption of dangerous concoctions. Others intended to get the mob out of the booze business. However, some clearly were aimed at keeping out competition, and these recently have been challenged.

Chain stores are now fighting to remove limits on the number of licenses one person can own. Only a few years ago wineries won the right to offer tastings and sell on premises, and only this year consumers were allowed to order from out-of-state vintners.

Then along came those upstart microbreweries that want potential customers to be able to actually taste their beers. The Garden State Craft Brewers Guild persuaded all 40 senators and 64 of 80 Assembly members to allow on-site tasting rooms and retail stores in microbreweries. However, Governor Christie has not yet signed that bill, possibly because of continued opposition from the Restaurant Association.

Jersey City developer Paul Silverman, who heads the New Jersey Beer Company on Tonnelle Avenue in North Bergen, can't understand the governor's reluctance. He notes that his brewery is eco-friendly, great for tourism and good for the economy. He says seeing beer made is a fun experience and since it's delicious, tasters are likely to become customers. His brewery has three employees now and for each additional thousand barrels sold, they'll need to hire another worker. Cheers!



EDITOR'S NOTE: Joan Quigley's column appears here every Tuesday.