Local Licensing Issues

The Daily Gazette reports that the Amherst Select Board agreed with opponents to the Cumberland Farms convenience store at 35 Belchertown Road selling beer and wine, and unanimously turned down its request for a license. Among the reasons cited by the board were a determination that there is no need for additional alcohol sales in […]

The Sandwich Broadsider reports that the Board of Selectmen has voted 5-0 to revoke the liquor license held by Booster Bar & Grill in Forestdale. Selectmen later said it was a “difficult case” to consider because much of the testimony in the license hearing did not add up, and that 17 people will lose their […]

The Bourne Courier reports that the Selectmen have voted to reject a request by All Bourne Liquors Inc. to triple the space at Monument Wine & Spirits Shop in the nearly vacant shopping center off Clay Pond Road, Monument Beach. But the board did not vote to transfer the package store license to the firm […]

The North Adams’ General Governance Committee will recommend the city do without a “bring your own bottle” ordinance, at least for now, reports iberkshires.com The topic has been under debate since last spring, when the owners of Big Shirl’s informed the city they would allow it for evening hours and wanted to know if there […]

A former selectman was granted the town’s one remaining all-alcohol liquor license on Wednesday, pending town counsel review, as reported by iberkshires.com. Donald Sommers, who is opening Haflinger House in the former Harrington’s Restaurant on Commercial Street, was the only application the town received after four separate businesses inquired about the license. The board approved […]

Anup K. Sangar will open his Indian restaurant within the next month with a liquor license, according to massive.com. The Easthampton License Board awarded the lone available all alcohol license in the town to Sangar on Wednesday night. He was one of four applicants for the license. The Massachusetts Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission awarded the […]

The Newton Tab reports that in a unanimous vote, the Newton Licensing Board has denied a beer and wine license for a new Star Market supermarket on Boylston Street. During a public hearing on Feb. 21, licensing commissioners Martina Jackson and James Mitchell agreed that Star Market is a good corporate citizen, but said the […]

Wayland Selectmen Monday night held off on approving temporary liquor licenses for two wineries interested in offering tastings during the Winter Farmers’ Market at Russell’s Garden Center, reports patch.com The wineries, Still River Winery out of Harvard, Mass., and Westport Rivers Inc. out of Westport, Mass., each requested a one-day liquor license for wine to […]

Greenfield’s Board of License Commissioners has ordered the Easy Street Nightclub to remain closed through this holiday weekend – a traditionally busy time for Western Massachusetts eating and drinking establishments – after a series of recent problems, including the arrest of a co-owner of the nightclub on drug charges last month. Bar owner Ivan Tristan […]

A Wellesley Special Town Meeting approved an article that moves the town closer to reducing the number of seats required by a restaurant to apply for a liquor license, as reported by boston.com and local Wellesley media. Because this item was approved, the Board of Selectmen will now petition the state legislature to write special […]

WWLP.com reports that Senator Robert Hedlund, a Republican from Hingham, is backing away from his Senate-passed casino amendment that proposes to return Happy Hour to Massachusetts. Instead, he’s suggesting that the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission review its regulations on bars and restaurants and propose revisions. Hedlund said the six-member casino bill conference committee tasked with […]

Police surveillance of liquor stores and restaurants has resulted in multiple arrests of underage persons for purchasing of alcohol and a five-day liquor license suspension for Powdermill Road business Millstream Liquors in Maynard. Over a five-week period, officers witnessed the sale of liquor to underage patrons at Millstream Liquors. In three instances, the customer was […]

In an effort to boost business, the Somerville Board of Aldermen is crafting legislation for Beacon Hill that would give the city an unlimited number of beer, wine and liquor licenses to distribute to qualified bars and restaurants, reports the Somerville Journal. Those bars would still need to make a case before the Licensing Commission, […]

Patch.com reports that although Twin Seafood customers will not be able to buy alcohol at the restaurant, they will be able to bring their own. The Acton Board of Selectmen agreed to allow Twin Seafood, soon to open on 541 Massachusetts Avenue, a Common Victualler’s License and a Carry In License (bring-your-own). The restaurant will […]

A proposal to use fingerprinting for criminal background checks is one of 19 articles on a warrant approved by Selectmen Tuesday for the Nov. 15 Town Meeting. Under a proposal by Brookline Police Chief Daniel O’Leary, the police department is seeking to change its background check system for a number of business and retail license […]

The Eagle Tribune reports that the state ABCC will team up with Lawrence police to sweep through city bars and clubs for five or six weeks beginning this weekend, in a coordinated effort “to rein in the wave of lawlessness that’s taking place in Lawrence,” state Treasurer Steven Grossman said. Grossman’s announcement that ABCC agents […]

The website patch.com reports on the snags facing three Braintree establishments trying to get up and running with liquor licenses. The article illustrates well the often cumbersome liquor licensing process, with a myriad number of issues that can arise, such as financing, parking, and entertainment. All the more reason to hire an experience liquor license […]

The Town of Adams Board of Selectmen has placed five liquor-licenses holders on suspended sentences for failing to pass compliance checks. O’Geary’s package store, Forest Park Country Club, Wojo’s bar, C.J’s Sports Pub, and Gringo’s Firehouse Cafe were all given a six-month probationary period after they failed alcohol compliance checks in June. If one of […]

Interesting piece on patch.com about efforts afoot in the town of Braintree to reign in the sale of liquor licenses on the open or black market, and instead making it easier (and much cheaper) for prospective licensees to simply obtain the license directly from the town. Certainly favors the mom-and-pop type shops, who cannot afford […]

Alcohol regulators in Massachusetts are wisely pulling back from a potential rules change that had small beer brewers across the state fuming. The change approved last week by the state Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission would have required brewers operating under a so-called farmer-brewery license to grow at least half the hops and grains they use, […]

Six applications will be considered for the three available liquor licenses at the public hearing held on August 2 at the Board of Selectmen meeting at Town Hall, as reported by patch.com. According to Town Clerk Joe Collins, four of the six applicants already have beer and wine licenses, and are looking to upgrade to […]