The Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission is authorized to promulgate regulations clarifying, carrying out, enforcing and preventing any violation of the provisions of M.G.L. c. 138. These regulations can be found in Chapter 204 of the Code of Massachusetts Regulations. These regulations control the method by which a business with an alcoholic beverages license is conducted, and must be followed, where applicable. Some of the regulations are known by their common name, e.g., the "Happy Hour Regulation" (204 CMR 4.00, et seq.) and the "Tag-A-Keg Regulation" (204 CMR 9.00, et seq.). A violation of any regulation of the ABCC may be prosecuted against a licensee either criminally (to impose the available criminal penalties of fine and/or imprisonment) or administratively (to impose a suspension, revocation, cancellation or modification on the alcoholic beverages license).

Below is the list of ABCC regulations.  Please click on the regulation you wish to review:

The ABCC is responsible for regulating businesses licensed under M.G.L. c. 138. This includes ascertaining whether or not activities permitted or conducted on licensed premises are in compliance with Chapter 138 and state and local regulations. A primary component of that oversight includes holding hearings to determine whether or not an alcoholic beverages licensee has violated any of these provisions.

The ABCC has jurisdiction to hear cases regarding all aspects of any business licensed under Chapter 138. The ABCC provides fair and impartial hearings and issues timely decisions. These decisions address a wide range of issues, from whether an individual may be approved as a licensed manager, to whether a local licensing authority properly approved or denied a license application, to whether a business that paid millions of dollars for alcoholic beverages products must continue to sell the products to wholesalers who increased the products' market share.

View links to ABCC decisions that are intended to offer information and guidance on these issues.