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The basics:

• Paul Urbish nominated to lead New Jersey Alcoholic Beverage Control
• Urbish currently serves as director at NJ Cannabis Regulatory Commission
• ABC oversees alcohol manufacturing, distribution, sales statewide
• Nomination comes after major changes to New Jersey liquor license laws

Paul Thomas Urbish has been tapped as director of the New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control.

Gov. Mikie Sherrill and Attorney General Jennifer Davenport announced the nominee in a May 11 press release. Urbrish currently serves as a director at the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission.

As head of the CRC’s Office of Compliance and Investigations, Urbish oversees the regulation and investigation of cultivators, manufacturers, distributors, testing labs and dispensaries.

Prior to joining the CRC, he spent three years as a deputy attorney general at the ABC. His job encompassed providing legal interpretations regarding matters including appeals from municipal action, applications for permits and municipal ordinance review.

Urbish is an alumnus of The College of New Jersey and Temple University Beasley School of Law. He has also worked at the state Department of Community Affairs.

If confirmed by the state Senate, Urbish would oversee the ABC. The agency regulates the manufacture, distribution, sale and transportation of all alcoholic beverages in New Jersey. He would succeed interim ABC Director Kirstin Krueger. She took on the role in April 2024, following the retirement of James Graziano.

Commenting on his nomination, Urbish said, “I’m grateful to Gov. Sherrill for the opportunity to rejoin ABC and I’m excited to work with Attorney General Davenport and the ABC team.”

“I look forward to working diligently to protect residents, ensure that local businesses are operated lawfully and responsibly, and that our businesses have the necessary flexibility to accommodate an unprecedented wave of tourism this summer,” he said.

‘Exceptional leadership’

Sherrill remarked, “With his background in licensing, investigations, and regulating the products of New Jersey’s burgeoning legal cannabis industry, and his experience with alcoholic beverage permitting and appeals, Paul understands the important balance between enabling businesses to thrive and ensuring compliance with guardrails and consumer safety.”

“His history of regulating and fostering a fledging industry will be an asset to the ABC, which similarly oversees a sector that is constantly undergoing transformation and forms a vital part of New Jersey’s economy,” the Democratic governor stated.

Davenport shared, “As ABC continues to streamline processes and build an alcohol regulation system based in integrity, safety, and economic opportunity, we welcome Paul Urbish’s exceptional leadership to balance the needs of industry while protecting residents. I look forward to him joining our leadership team at the Department of Law and Public Safety.”

She also thanked Kruger for her service as interim director.

“She came into the role after major legislative changes were enacted and, among other accomplishments, has ensured an effective framework for the variety of events associated with the World Cup,” Davenport said.

In early 2024, New Jersey’s decades-old liquor license laws underwent some of the most meaningful changes since the regulations first went into effect more than 75 years ago.

Under a law signed by then-Gov. Phil Murphy, the state boosted the number of available liquor licenses as well as eased controversial food and event restrictions that New Jersey’s rapidly growing craft brewing and distilling industry have railed against.