Frequently Asked Questions

OPERATING THE BUSINESS

What are the Holiday and Sunday Operating Hours for "Pouring" establishments?

Holidays

Suffolk County: (Boston, Chelsea, Winthrop and Revere):
No licensee under Section 12 shall sell alcoholic beverages on Christmas Day (or the day following when Christmas Day is on a Sunday), or on the last Monday in May (Memorial Day) between 2 a.m. and 12:00 noon.

Non-Suffolk County:
No licensee under Section 12 shall sell alcoholic beverages on Christmas Day (or the day following when Christmas Day is on a Sunday), or on the last Monday in May (Memorial Day) between 1:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon.
The exception to the above is that if the local licensing authority accepts a certain state law, they may authorize a restaurant, hotel, club, or veterans' club to sell alcoholic beverages between 11:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon on Christmas Day (or the Day following when Christmas Day is on a Sunday), or on the last Monday in May (Memorial Day).

Sundays

Taverns:
No tavern licensee may sell alcoholic beverages on Sundays.

Restaurants, Hotels, Clubs and Veterans' Clubs:
The general rule is that no licensee under section twelve shall sell any alcoholic beverages on Sundays between one o'clock a.m. and twelve o'clock noon.

The two exceptions are:

(i) If the local licensing authority accepts a certain state law, they may authorize a tavern, restaurant, hotel, club, or veterans' club to sell alcoholic beverages between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. on Sundays.
(ii) If the local licensing authority accepts a certain state law, they may authorize a restaurant, hotel, club, or veterans' club to sell alcoholic beverages between 11:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon.