In a tough economy, Ocean City restaurant owners can't compete with surrounding resorts and mainland eateries that have bars or allow patrons to bring their own alcoholic beverages, said Kevin Scull, vice president of the association.
Among New Jersey's handful of "dry" towns, the 11-square-mile oceanfront municipality marketed as "America's Greatest Family Resort" may be the most teetotaling. Even Monmouth County's Ocean Grove, which has similar religious roots and still forbids ocean swimming before noon Sundays, lets restaurant patrons bring wine and beer to dinner.
The state Alcoholic Beverage Control Board gives municipalities the right to permit BYOBs. Establishments without liquor licenses cannot advertise their "bring your own" status, however. And in no restaurant may a patron carry in hard liquor.
"I can't think of anything worse for Ocean City," Stanislaw said of the latest push for BYOB restaurants. "It would change everything about the place."
He acknowledges that his concerns are primarily faith-based, but Stanislaw - a local Chamber of Commerce member - says altering the town's PG image could also be bad public relations. "It's definitely a marketing niche not to have alcohol here," he said. "It's what makes us different from any other Shore town."
City Council members last month unanimously approved a resolution restating their opposition to BYOBs. The measure was necessary "to clear up any ambiguity" about Ocean City's official position, Council President Michael Allegretto said at the time.
"People want to come here because we don't have" alcohol, Councilman Keith Hartzell said Friday. BYOBs don't fit into the business model of a family-friendly destination, he said.
