Overview
The ABCC issues the following Frequently Asked Questions to provide guidance to Local Licensing Authorities (“LLAs”), members of the industry, and the public at large, on some of the questions most often asked of the ABCC. Nothing in this document should be considered legal advice but instead should be used as a tool to assist individuals in navigating the sometimes-complicated alcohol laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
This document focuses on questions related to the retail alcoholic beverages industry. For questions related to the state alcoholic beverages industry, click here.
Please note that anywhere a statute is cited by section number (“§”), it is referring to the Massachusetts Liquor Control Act, M.G.L. c. 138, unless otherwise noted.
Additional Resources
The Licensing Process
When does an individual need an alcohol license?
Section 2 prohibits sale, storage, transportation, importing, exporting, manufacturing with the intent to sell, keeping for sale and exposing for sale without a license. If any individual conducts such activities without a license they are in violation of Chapter 138 and may be charged criminally.
Please be aware that under § 41, the delivery of alcoholic beverages in or from any place that is not a private dwelling house is presumed to be a sale.
Who issues restaurant/bar licenses and package store licenses?
The LLA issues retail licenses for both on-premises consumption under § 12 (restaurants, hotels, clubs, taverns, war veterans’ clubs, continuing care retirement communities, and general-on-premises), §§ 19B(n), 19C(n) & 19E(o) (farmer-series pouring permits), and off-premises consumption under § 15 (package stores, including grocery stores and convenience stores).
The licensing process for § 12 on-premises and § 15 package store licenses involves three steps:
- the LLA grants a retail license;
- the ABCC approves the granting of such a license;
- the LLA issues the license upon payment of the licensing fee.
How many classifications of retail licenses exist?
LLAs grant three classifications of retail licenses:
- Licenses under §§ 12, 19B(n), 19C(n) & 19E(o) (On-Premises), commonly referred to as a "Pouring License" (e.g. restaurants, hotels, clubs, taverns, war veterans’ clubs, continuing care retirement communities, general-on-premises, and farmer-series pouring permits);
- Licenses under § 14 (Special), commonly referred to as “One-Day Licenses”; and
- Licenses under § 15 (Off-Premises) commonly referred to as a “Package Store License” which can be used in various types of businesses (e.g. package stores, supermarkets and convenience stores).
What are the four categories of retail liquor licenses?
Liquor licenses fall into one of four categories:
- All alcoholic beverages (wine, malt beverages, and distilled spirits)
- Wine only
- Malt beverages only
- Wine and malt beverages
In certain cities and towns that vote to accept a specific state law, businesses that hold a wine and malt beverages license under § 12 as well as a common victualler’s license may be given a permit to sell also cordials and liqueurs. This cordials and liqueurs permit must be granted by the LLA with the approval of the ABCC.
How many different types of pouring licenses are there?
Eight different kinds of pouring licenses exist. They are:
- Hotel
- Restaurant
- Tavern
- Club
- General-On-Premises
- Continuing Care Retirement Community
- War Veterans’ Club
- Farmer Series establishments
Are there any qualifications for being granted a retail liquor license?
Yes. These qualifications are set by the legislature. The type and number of qualifications for a liquor license depend on who the party is that is applying for the liquor license (i.e. whether the party is an individual, a partnership, a limited liability company or a corporation) and what type of liquor license is being sought.
a. "Pouring" Licenses under Section 12
Generally, an individual applying for a "pouring license" under § 12 must be a citizen of the United States and 21 years of age or older. A partnership may hold such a liquor license where each partner is a citizen of the United States and 21 years of age or older.
A corporation may hold such a liquor license provided that a majority of the directors are not aliens and that the corporate licensee appoints a license manager who is an individual, 21 years of age or older, who is a citizen of the United States and has, under § 26, “vested in him [or her] by properly authorized and executed written delegation as full authority and control of the premises, described in the license of such corporation, and the conduct of all business therein relative to alcoholic beverages as the [corporate] licensee itself could in any way have and exercise if it were a natural person.” This license manager must be approved by both the ABCC and LLA with respect to his or her character.
A limited liability company (LLC) may also hold such a liquor license. The ABCC applies to LLCs the statutory requirements regarding citizenship and residency for corporations. So, the statutory standards for directors of a corporation are applied to the analogous position within an LLC. The ABCC analogizes the directors or a corporation to managers of an LLC. Therefore, an LLC may hold such a liquor license provided that a majority of the directors are not aliens. The ABCC analogizes the stockholders of a corporation to members of an LLC. There are no statutory requirements regarding citizenship and residency for shareholders of a corporation and likewise there are no statutory requirements regarding citizenship and residency for members of an LLC. An applicant who is an LLC must appoint a license manager as specified in § 26.
No "pouring" license shall be issued to any applicant who has been convicted of a violation of a federal or state narcotic drugs law. There is no time limit after which this disqualification ends.
b. "Package Store" License under Section 15
Generally, an individual applying for a "package goods store" or "package store" license (i.e. a license for the sale at retail of alcoholic beverages not to be drunk on the premises where sold) must be both a citizen and a resident of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and 21 years of age or older. A partnership may hold such a liquor license where each and every partner is both a citizen and a resident of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and 21 years of age or older.
A corporation may hold such a liquor license provided that the corporation is organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, that all directors of the corporation are citizens of the United States and that a majority of the directors of the corporation are residents of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. A corporation who holds such a license must appoint a license manager who is an individual, 21 years of age or older, who is a citizen of the United States and has, under § 26, "vested in him [or her] by properly authorized and executed written delegation as full authority and control of the premises, described in the license of such corporation, and the conduct of all business therein relative to alcoholic beverages as the [corporation] licensee itself could in any way have and experience if it were a natural person." This license manager must be approved by both the ABCC and LLA with respect to his or her character.
An LLC may hold such a liquor license provided that the LLC is organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The ABCC applies to LLCs the statutory requirements regarding citizenship and residency for corporations. So, the statutory standards for directors of a corporation are applied to the analogous position within an LLC. The ABCC analogizes the directors or a corporation to managers of an LLC. Therefore, an LLC may hold such a liquor license provided that all the managers of the LLC directors are citizens and a majority of the managers are residents of Massachusetts. The ABCC analogizes the stockholders of a corporation to members of an LLC.
There are no statutory requirements regarding citizenship and residency for shareholders of a corporation and likewise there are no statutory requirements regarding citizenship and residency for members of an LLC. An applicant who is an LLC must appoint a license manager as specified in §26.
No license shall be issued to any applicant who has been convicted of a felony. Further, “no firm, corporation, association or other combination of persons, directly or indirectly, or through any agent, employee, stockholder, officer or other person or any subsidiary whatsoever shall be granted, in the aggregate, more than five1 such licenses in the commonwealth, or be granted more than one such license in a town or two in a city.”
c. "Special License" under Section 14
A "Special License" to pour liquor at an indoor or outdoor activity or enterprise may be issued to the responsible manager of the indoor or outdoor activity or enterprise. Such a license is issued by the LLA in the city or town in which the activity or enterprise will be conducted. This type of license may be issued only to a natural person, although this natural person may be a person acting on behalf of a corporation, partnership, or other entity. No person may be granted such licenses permitting sales on an aggregate of more than 30 days in any calendar year. No special license, with only very limited exceptions (i.e. a special license for a dining hall maintained by an incorporated educational institution authorized to grant degrees) shall permit sales on more than 30 days. A special license for a municipal golf course may permit sales on an aggregate of not more than 245 days in any calendar year, in or from any municipally owned building that is operated in conjunction with an 18-hole regulation golf course.
i. Special License under Section 14 for All Alcoholic Beverages
1 As of January 1, 2016, this maximum number of licenses increases from five to seven, and as of January 1, 2020, the maximum number of licenses increases from seven to nine.
Special licenses for the sale of all alcoholic beverages, wine, or malt beverages, or any of these beverages, may be issued by the local licensing authorities only to a person at least 21 years of age acting on behalf of a not for profit organization. No other person may be issued a special license to sell all alcoholic beverages.
ii. Special License under Section 14 for Wine and/or Malt Beverages
Special licenses for the sale of wine, malt beverages, or both, may be issued by the local licensing authorities to any person. This type of special license may be issued to a person at least 21 years of age who is conducting an activity or enterprise for profit.
Please be aware that no special license under Section 14 shall be granted to any person while his or her application for an annual and or a seasonal license under Section 12 is pending before the LLA or before the ABCC.
Are retail license applicants barred from holding a liquor license if they have been convicted of a crime?
Yes. A § 12 “pouring license” may not be issued to a person “who has been convicted of a violation of a federal or state narcotic drug law.”
A § 15 off-premises “package store” license may not be issued “to any applicant who has been convicted of a felony.”
What is the quota system and on what is it based?
Section 17 places a restriction commonly referred to as a “quota” on the number of § 12 pouring licenses and § 15 package store licenses a city or town can issue. The quota is based on the municipality's population enumerated in the most recent federal census.
In calendar year 2010, the most recent federal census was taken. Each city and town was notified by the ABCC what the quota of license was as determined by this most recent census. Questions about this quota and any newly available licenses may be directed to either the ABCC or to the LLA in any city or town.
How far does an establishment selling alcoholic beverages have to be from a church or school?
No specified distance. However, under § 16C, premises located within a radius of 500 feet of a school or church shall not be licensed to sell alcoholic beverages unless the LLA determines in writing and after a hearing that the premises are not detrimental to the educational and spiritual activities of that church or school, unless the premises are those of an innholder or unless the parts of the buildings are located ten or more floors above street level. The 500- foot distance under this § 16C is measured in a straight line from the nearest point of the church or school to the nearest point of the premises to be licensed, as outlined in ABCC regulation 204 CMR 2.11.
How long does a licensee have to appeal to the ABCC an adverse decision made by the LLA?
A licensee has five days from receipt of the written decision to appeal to the ABCC a decision made by the LLA. The five days are business days.
How long does a licensee have to appeal a decision made by the ABCC, and to whom does a licensee appeal?
A licensee has thirty (30) calendars days from receipt of the written decision of the ABCC to appeal the decision to the Superior Court.
What are the most common reasons for license applications being denied or returned without action?
The most common reasons for license applications being denied or returned without action are:
- Incomplete application;
- Taxes are owed to the State (Department of Revenue (the “DOR”) and/or Division of Unemployment Assistance (the “DUA”);
- The investigator was unable to complete the investigation after numerous attempts to get information from the applicant; and/or
- The city/town quota is full.
Can a retailer sell alcoholic beverages by auction?
A § 15 package store may sell wine, malt beverages, and distilled spirits by auction only if the package store applies for and receives the proper license from the LLA with the prior approval of the ABCC.
To obtain such an auction license under § 14A, the package store be issued a license under § 15. These auctions must be held only at the location described on the auction license but may be licensed to be held at “premises which are either the principal place of business or headquarters of the applicant and which are legally zoned to allow such sales, or which are the premises of a licensee under Section 12 or Section 15 of M.G.L. Chapter 138.”
The law imposes a number of restrictions and controls on the auction license, one of which restricts the duration and number of auction licenses that may be issued to any package store. No auction license “shall be for a duration of more than ten consecutive
calendar days and no holder of any such temporary license shall be granted more than two such temporary licenses in a calendar year.”
Can a retailer use his/her license to secure a loan?
Yes, but only under certain conditions. Section 23 states that "any license granted under the provision of this chapter may be pledged for a loan provided approval of such a loan and pledge is given by the local licensing authority and the Commission [ABCC]."
What are the different kinds of liquor assets/property that can be pledged?
The law permits three kinds of liquor assets/property to be pledged. These are:
- Licenses that authorize the sale of alcoholic beverages;
- Corporate Stock in a corporation that holds a license to sell alcoholic beverages; and
- Alcoholic beverages themselves which a licensee is authorized to sell.
What is the deadline to submit my renewal?
Under § 16A, the deadline to submit renewals for § 12 on-premises and § 15 off-premises licenses is November 30th.
Operating the Business
Do LLAs set the hours during which restaurants can serve alcoholic beverages on weekdays?
To a limit. Massachusetts State Law says that § 12 licensees cannot be barred from serving alcohol between 11:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m. LLAs may grant extended opening hours between 8:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. and extended closing hours between 11:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m. In no event can sales be made between 2:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m.
What are the Sunday hours that a § 15 package store can be open?
A § 15 Package Store/Supermarket/Convenience Store licensee chooses the hours of sale on a Sunday, so as long as the sales do not commence before 10:00 a.m. and conclude no later than 11 p.m., or 11:30 p.m. on a day before a legal holiday.
What are the Sunday hours that a pouring license can be open?
A § 12 pouring license can open on a Sunday at 12:00 noon. The exception to this is if the local licensing authority accepts a certain state law, they may authorize a restaurant, hotel, club, or veterans club to open as early as 10:00 a.m.
If a restaurant occasionally runs out of a popular item on a busy night, can the manager go to a package store and buy a few bottles to temporarily meet his/her customer's demands?
No. All licensed retail establishments, including holders of Special Licenses (so-called "One Day" Licenses), must purchase their alcoholic beverages from a licensed Massachusetts wholesaler, manufacturer issued by the ABCC.
Can a retailer get a transportation permit to transfer product from one package store to another?
No. Alcohol ordered by a package store must stay on its licensed premises.
Can everyone bring their own beer, wine, or other alcoholic beverages into an establishment (so-called “BYOB”)?
Not if the establishment has a liquor license. If the establishment has a liquor license, then no one can carry onto the premises their own beer, wine or other alcoholic beverages for their own private consumption (so-called “BYOB” or “brown-bagging”). If the establishment does not have a liquor license, then one must check with the city/town in which the establishment is located to learn if there is any local law dealing with bringing one's own beer onto an establishment for personal consumption.
The only exception is a private club under § 12. A club may permit its members to bring on to the club’s licensed premises wine lawfully purchased by them, to be consumed on the premises with a meal purchased at the club. If a club permits its members to bring wine on to the licensed premises, then several requirements must be followed:
- the member may only bring wine on to the premises, and not malt beverages, spirits and/or liqueurs;
- the member must purchase a meal at the club and consume the wine with that meal;
- at all times the club must control the handling, serving, and dispensing of the member’s wine;
- unopened bottle of wine must be returned to the patron, who then must remove them from the premises at the conclusion of the meal, and any opened and unfinished bottles of wine must be recorked in accordance with 204 CMR 2.18 and M.G.L. c. 90, § 24I; and
- the club must charge a reasonable corkage fee of at least $30.00 per bottle of wine that is opened.
Can "non-alcoholic beer" be served or sold to persons under twenty-one?
Maybe. The State Liquor Control Act, M.G.L. Chapter 138, regulates "alcoholic beverages" as that term is defined by law. The law defines "alcoholic beverages" to be "any liquid intended for human consumption as a beverage and containing one half of one percent or more of alcohol by volume at sixty degrees Fahrenheit." Thus, if a product is composed or manufactured so that it contains 1/2% or more of alcohol by volume at sixty degrees Fahrenheit, it is an "alcoholic beverage" and subject to the Liquor Control Act. If a product is composed or manufactured so that it contains less than 1/2% of alcohol by volume at sixty degrees Fahrenheit, it is not an "alcoholic beverage" and is not subject to the Liquor Control Act.
A product that is not an "alcoholic beverage" may be subject to regulation by a city or town under its authority under M.G.L. Chapter 140.
Therefore, one must also check the local laws of each city or town about "non-alcoholic beer."
Is a person dining alone in a restaurant able to order a pitcher of beer to go along with his/her meal?
No. If this order was taken and delivered, or, if such a request were honored, it would be a violation of the ABCC's regulation commonly called the "Happy Hour" regulation, 204 CMR 4.00. This regulation prohibits the sale or delivery of malt beverages or mixed drinks by the pitcher except to two or more persons at any one time. The Happy Hour regulations also prohibit the sale or delivery of more than two drinks to one person.
Is a person dining alone in restaurant able to order a bottle of wine to go along with his/her meal?
Yes. The exception to “The Happy Hour Regulations” allows one individual to purchase a bottle of wine with a meal. Otherwise, without a meal, a bottle of wine must be served only to two or more people. Should the person wish to take any remaining wine off of the § 12 licensee’s premises, the licensee must comply with ABCC regulation 204 C.M.R. 2.18 regarding the resealing of partially consumed bottles of wine.
How old do you have to be to tend bar?
At least 18 years of age. Although § 34 prohibits the sale or delivery of alcoholic beverages to a person under 21 years of age, nothing in § 34 prohibits a licensee from employing a person 18 years old or older for the direct handling, selling, mixing or serving of alcohol or alcoholic beverages.
What forms of identification are acceptable to prove that someone is twenty-one years of age or older, so that person may be served, delivered, or allowed to possess or purchase alcoholic beverages?
If a licensee is charged with permitting the service, delivery to, or furnishing of alcoholic beverages to a person under 21 years of age, under current state law, a licensee has a defense only if the licensee can affirmatively prove that prior to permitting the service, delivery or possession of alcoholic beverages by a person, the licensee requested, was shown, examined and reasonably relied on either:
- A Massachusetts Driver’s License;
- A Massachusetts Liquor Identification Card;
- A Massachusetts Identification Card;
- A Passport Issued by the United States or a government that is officially recognized by the United States;
- A Passport Card for a Passport issued by the United States; and
- A Military Identification Card.
Reliance by a licensee on any other form of identification to determine proof of age does not give the licensee a defense.
Neither the state Liquor Control Act nor the regulations of the ABCC require identification to be checked as a condition to selling or delivering an alcoholic beverage to any person (except in the case of certain deliveries to consumers at their homes or offices). Each licensee is left to decide for itself what policy to establish on checking identification prior accepting orders for, selling and delivering alcoholic beverages.
Therefore, while a licensee may choose to rely upon any form of identification to obtain proof of age, only these specific six forms of identification provide a defense to a charge of service, delivery, or furnishing of alcoholic beverages to a person under 21 years of age.
If a patron is not driving, does it matter how many drinks s/he is served?
Yes. Massachusetts state law prohibits the service of alcoholic beverages to an intoxicated patron under § 69. It is still a violation to serve to an intoxicated person even if person is not driving.
Is spirit tasting allowed in Massachusetts?
Yes. These spirit tastings can only be held at premises licensed under § 15 ("package stores") or restaurants, hotels or function halls licensed under § 12. Each spirit tasting event must be conducted in full compliance with the conditions set by Ch. 138.
Farmer-series licensees (wineries, breweries, and distilleries) may also offer free samples on their premises of their own brand(s) of alcohol.
Do restaurants, hotels, function halls and package stores need to meet certain requirements while conducting a wine tasting, malt beverages and spirit tastings?
Yes. Restaurants, hotels, and function halls holding wine, malt beverages and spirits tasting must provide food with the alcoholic beverages and they must not solicit orders for any off-premises consumption. The manager of the restaurant, hotel, or function hall is responsible for controlling the dispensing of the alcoholic beverages and the size of each serving is limited to the following amounts:
- Malt beverages one (2) ounce serving
- Wine beverages one (1) ounce serving
- Spirits beverages one (1/4) ounce serving
Package stores may not charge for any wine, malt beverages or spirits tasting, and they must also limit the above stated serving sizes. All alcoholic beverages tasted must also be available for sale on such premises.
Section 12 (on-premises) licensees must charge for the provision of samples for tasting and also must serve food in conjunction with it.
Can § 12 (on-premises) establishments with wine and malt licenses serve cordials and liqueurs?
Yes. Section 12 allows cities and towns, which vote to accept the provisions of the law, to permit common victuallers licensed to sell wine and malt beverages under § 12 to also sell liqueurs and cordials, subject to approval of the LLA and the ABCC.
Can a § 15 “package store” licensee take orders from its customers and deliver the orders, containing alcoholic beverages, to the customers?
Yes. However, in order to transport the customers’ orders, the licensee will need to obtain a transportation permit from the ABCC to transport and deliver alcoholic beverages sold by the licensee directly to its customers. When delivering orders containing alcoholic beverages, each driver shall carry with him the vehicle permit or a certified copy of it.
Club Licenses
Can "Club Licensees" serve non-members?
Clubs may serve alcoholic beverages only to members of the club. However, subject to regulations made by the LLAs, a guest of a member may be served an alcoholic beverage after s/he has been introduced by the member as a guest. Should the member at any time leave the premises, the bartender can no longer serve the guest and the guest must also vacate the premises.
May Club Licensees restrict, distinguish or discriminate among their membership regarding entering certain areas of the premises?
No. No club licensee except a club that is distinctly private, may make any distinctions, discrimination, or restriction on account of race, color, religious creed, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability or ancestry relative to the admission of any person to membership in the club, or to admission to the premises as a guest, or relative to the treatment of any member or guest at the club premises.
What determines whether a club is distinctly private?
The decision whether a club is distinctly private is based on, but not limited to, the following criteria:
- The extent to which the club facilities, alcoholic beverages licenses or both are used for commercial purposes;
- Club membership exceeding 200 persons;
- The availability of regular meal and beverage services on the premises;
- The degree to which the club receives payment for dues, fees, use of space, facilities, services, meals or beverages directly or indirectly from or on behalf of non-members for the trade or business or professional interests;
- The frequency with which the premises, or part of it, are used for conferences and meetings sponsored by or on behalf of trade or business or professional enterprises;
- The extent to which club facilities, like meal and beverage services, are utilized by non-members;
- The degree to which persons are selected for membership in the club on the basis of trade, business or professional associations or achievement;
- The number of partners, officers, directors or trustees of trade or business or professional enterprises who are members; and
- The club's holding, by lease or otherwise, of any interest in real property owned by a governmental entity or municipality.
Fines, The Bottle Bill and Other Miscellaneous Information
Is the ABCC required to accept from a licensee a fine as an offer in compromise in lieu of suspension?
No. The ABCC may accept an offer in compromise in lieu of suspension under § 23 from a licensee or certificate of compliance holder (an out-of-state supplier) if they petition the ABCC to accept this offer in compromise within twenty (20) calendar days following notice of a suspension of the license by the ABCC. The fine to be paid is calculated according to the formula set out in § 23: Fifty percent of the per diem gross profit multiplied by the number of license suspension days, with the gross profit to be determined as gross receipts on alcoholic beverage sales less the invoiced cost of goods sold per diem. In no event is the fine less than $40.00 per day. Upon the
acceptance of the fine in lieu form and payment by the ABCC, the licensee waives all rights to appeal to the Superior Court.
It is worth noting that LLAs are not authorized to accept "fines in lieu."
Can a bar, restaurant, or hotel offer a free drink?
No. A bar, restaurant or hotel cannot offer any free drinks. However, a bar, restaurant, or hotel can include a drink as part of a meal package under certain circumstances. The ABCC's "Happy Hour" Regulations, and November 23, 2009 Advisory should be consulted for further information.
Can a bar, restaurant, or hotel increase the price for alcoholic beverages during the evenings when they have entertainment?
No. Alcoholic beverages must be sold to all persons at the same price for a calendar week. A § 12 on-premises licensee cannot change its prices -- up or down -- during the week.
Are containers for wine coolers redeemable under the Bottle Bill?
No. Although several attempts have been made to include containers for wine coolers under the provisions of the Bottle Bill, to date they are not required to be redeemed.
May a retailer require that bottles be washed before redeeming the five-cent deposit?
No. A retailer may refuse to accept beverage containers that are not in acceptable condition. The "acceptable condition" depends on the type of container:
- A refillable glass container must be able to hold liquid, be able to be resealed, be in its original shape, not be chipped and not be cracked to be acceptable.
- A non-refillable glass beverage may be chipped, but may not have the bottom broken out or broken off to be acceptable.
- Metal cans and plastic bottles must be easily identifiable and reasonably intact to be acceptable.
A retailer may refuse to accept a container which is not in a reasonably clean condition. All containers must be free of foreign materials, such as paper, sticks, and cigarettes. A retailer may refuse to accept a container that is not empty. State law provides a container is "not empty" if the container “holds a liquid in any significant amount.” A retailer may refuse to accept a metal can which is substantially altered from its original shape.
May a retailer limit the amount of returnable containers he will accept from a person?
Yes. A retailer may refuse to accept more than 120 containers in one 24-hour period from any one person; however, he may choose to accept more.
Can a licensee change a manager, stockholder, officer, director, the holder of an interest in the license or take on a new partner or investor at any time?
No. Any change of a licensed manager, stockholder, officer, director, change in beneficial interest or the addition of a new partner or investor is not legal unless and until the new individual(s) is (are) approved by both the LLA and the ABCC.
When can I start selling and allowing my customers to drink alcoholic beverages on my newly added patio area?
No sales or consumption of any alcoholic beverages can be allowed by the license holder in the patio area unless and until the changes to their location are approved by both the LLA and the ABCC, and a new amended license (with the approved changes added to the description of premises) is issued.
Can a one-day license or BYOB be issued or allowed at the premises covered by seasonal license during the period that the seasonal license is dormant?
The LLA sets the actual term that a seasonal licensee can operate. The LLA can permit a seasonal licensee to operate as late as January 15th (e.g. The seasonal licensee opens on April 1, 2012 and can operate as late as January 15, 2013). However, no one-day license or BYOB can be issued or allowed on that seasonal license premises during the dormant period of January 16th- March 31st.
If my approved licensed manager resigns or quits is my liquor license automatically suspended?
No. While a license holder must always have an approved license manager in control of the alcohol license operations, the absence of the approved license manager does not automatically suspend or otherwise affect the license status in any way. The licensee is required to petition the LLA and the ABCC for a change of manager immediately.
How can I view the public records of a licensee?
The ABCC complies with the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth’s rules and regulations regarding public records requests and inspections. Generally, a request should be made in writing to the ABCC, which should include a detailed description of the information you are seeking. The ABCC then will provide a response within ten (10) days including the cost for production. Please note that documents not subject to the public records laws will be redacted.
I am a creditor and a licensee owes money to me. I have learned that the licensee has applied to transfer his license. Can the ABCC stop the transfer until he pays me?
No. In order to stop the transfer of a license based on an outstanding debt to a private individual or business, the individual or business must obtain a court order of an injunction prohibiting the licensee from transferring the license. Then, only a judge may lift the injunction and permit the transfer.
Please be aware that while a party may obtain an attachment under Mass. R. Civ. P. 4.1 against a license issued by the LLA, an attachment does not prohibit the sale or transfer of a license, but instead only encumbers it. Therefore, the ABCC may not prevent the sale or transfer of a license on the basis of an attachment alone. Only a court order and/or injunction prohibiting the sale or transfer of the license is sufficient to stop a sale or transfer of a license.
Can a Local Licensing Authority restrict a § 15 Package Store from selling “nips,” single bottles of beer, etc.?
Yes, an LLA may restrict its granting of § 15 package store licenses to prohibiting the sale of “nips” and single bottles of beer.