Point Pleasant Beach Council Concerned About Alcohol Sales, Distribution In Town

Point Pleasant Beach officials say they've become increasingly concerned about local establishments that either want to, or not supposed to serve alcohol.

During council's Tuesday meeting, Mayor Vincent Barrella voiced his concern over suspected suspicious activity at a local motel.

The mayor said there is speculation that a certain Point Pleasant Beach motel has been serving alcohol to its guests. The mayor, however, declined to provide the name of the hotel at the public meeting, and did not offer additional details on the initial report of the incident.

Barrella did mention, however, that he was informed that the establishment, which does not have a liquor license or have the authority to sell alcoholic beverages, was serving guests at the pool.

Meanwhile, the council is considering whether wine can be sold at Prime 13 on Arnold Avenue.  The Council heard from an employee of Domenico Winery, who has applied for a liquor license to sell select wines to patrons at the steakhouse.

Borough ordinance prohibits two liquor licenses to be situated within 500 feet of each other.  If approved, the license would violate the proximity ordinance.

“The issue is respecting our own ordinance,” Barrella said.  “When you amend it, you open up a whole can of worms.”

Council President William Mayer added that while “the restaurant is inventive…we don’t want to encourage more liquor licenses.”