3. Notwithstanding any other law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, a license holder may only sell, display, or offer for sale alcoholic beverages within a retail food store if the area containing the alcoholic beverages is capable of being physically separated from customers during the hours when the sale of alcoholic beverages is restricted by applicable State law or local ordinance. The physical separation shall be by a means reasonably designed to restrict customer access to alcoholic beverages during the prohibited time periods including, but not limited to, the use of a movable gate or fence. Nothing in this section shall require any license holder who, as of the effective date of this act, P.L.2021, c.48 (C. 33:1-99 et seq.) does not physically separate an area containing alcoholic beverages in a retail food store from establishing the physical separation in the future.

L.2021, c.48, s.3.