Voters say yes to NJ town allowing alcohol sales for 1st time in 120 years

An ordinance that has passed in one New Jersey town on 2024 Election Day could have people raising a glass.

Haddon Heights voters had a simple yes/no question about making alcohol sales in the Camden County municipality legal for the first time in more than a century.

“Should the Borough of Haddon Heights amend its Ordinances to permit Plenary Retail Consumption Liquor Licenses, which allow the license holder to sell alcoholic beverages for on and off premises consumption?” reads the question as posed on the ballot to voters in the town of about 7,500 residents.

The ballot question passed on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, with 2,176 voting yes and 1,351 voting no, according to “unofficial results” shared by Camden County.

Mayor Zachary Houck on Wednesday had yet to respond to NBC10 Philadelphia’s request for comment.

Leading up to Election Day, Houck noted to NJ.com that the town – which has no bars or liquor stores — doesn’t have any specific laws prohibiting alcohol sales, just not one allowing for alcohol sales.

Houck supports the measure to let the booze flow.

“This town has been dry for 120 years,” Houck told NJ Advance Media last week. The passing of the ordinance “would be beneficial to the community.”

A township spokesperson told NBC10 that several things must happen before alcohol can legally be served in the previously dry town. The ordinance could be mentioned during Wednesday night’s township meeting.