A House passed bill that would put some small restaurants in the state out of business was debated before the NH State Senate Commerce Committee.  House Bill 432 would require some current restaurant owners to get a new liquor license that would be called a Tavern license. Under the bill some current license holders would see the annual license fee jump from the current $1,200.00 per year to $12,000.00 and others would see that increase go to $24,000.00. 

Independent Restaurant and Bar Owners of NH [IRBONH] is a new group organized to protect and defend the interests of hard working proprietors who sometimes feel that their voice is drowned out by the big guys.  IRBONH has hired lobbyist Rick Newman to oppose HB 432 and to work on other matters that impact the business of their members.

Under current law a restaurant must sell an equal amount of food as alcohol or hit an annual threshold of $75,000.00 in food sales in order to sell alcohol.  HB 432 doubles that threshold to $150,000.00 which would force smaller establishments to get the dramatically more expensive tavern license.

“Even if the bill is amended to keep the threshold where it currently is, there are many other provisions in this bill that will hurt the little guy.� Said Jeremey Miller President of IRBONH. The bill also requires an annual approval of the local governing body before a Tavern would be allowed to renew its liquor license, something not currently required of any other liquor licensee.

One provision prohibits anyone under 21 years of age from working in these licensed establishments while they could continue to work in other establishments such as chain restaurants that sell liquor. This provision would increase labor cost and put many college age students out of work.

Although the NH Restaurant and Lodging Association testified in support of the bill provided that an amendment is adopted to prohibit smoking and to keep the food threshold at the current level the Independent Restaurant and Bar Owners of NH are vehemently opposed to adding the remaining new burdensome requirements to small liquor licensees.“I realize this bill does not impact large restaurants and chain restaurants but the obvious negative impact on small establishments will cause many to close� Miller said.  “This is exactly the type of legislation that caused small business owners to form IRBONH in the first place.� He said.