Law Offices of John P. Connell, P.C.: Hosting an open bar can be a great way to revitalize a stagnant restaurant business or entice partygoers to celebrate the New Year, but for liquor licensees it presents pitfalls and potential liability unless proper measures are implemented to ensure compliance with the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission’s (“ABCC”) controlling regulations. The ABCC has Continue Reading...
Tag Archives: Boston Licensing Board
Law Offices of John P. Connell, P.C.: In Massachusetts, pursuant to state law, the number of liquor licenses towns and cities are authorized to issue is capped at a certain number based upon that municipality’s population. Essentially, the law provides that one all alcoholic beverages pouring license may be issued for every thousand people in that municipality. Yet, not all Continue Reading...
Law Offices of John P. Connell, P.C.: Buying wine over the Internet from nationally known websites, such as wine.com or WSJwine.com, is a complicated process. Massachusetts laws prohibit consumers from purchasing wine directly from wholesalers, out-of-state retailers, and out-of-state wineries not in possession of a Massachusetts Winery Shipment License, issued pursuant to M.G.L. c. 138, § 19F. Indeed, Massachusetts consumers Continue Reading...
Law Offices of John P. Connell, P.C.: On February 5, 2014, newly elected City Council President Bill Linehan filed a home rule petition for a law that would impose a 6.25% sales tax on alcoholic beverages purchased in Boston package stores. The revenue generated from this proposed tax would be used to fund prevention and treatment programs for substance abuse Continue Reading...
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PROPOSED LEGISLATURE MAY ALLOW ON-PREMISES “POURING” LICENSES TO BE GRANTED TO OFF-PREMISES RETAIL STORES
Law Offices of John P. Connell, P.C.: Generally, in Massachusetts, a retail package store is authorized to sell alcoholic beverages for consumption off-premises only. Such an establishment is prohibited from offering alcoholic beverages for consumption on-premises. M.G.L. c. 138, §15. If House Bill 3420 is passed into law, however, local licensing authorities would be authorized to issue a license pursuant Continue Reading...