Alcohol Licenses

In this article, you can discover… What you should consider before starting the process to obtain an alcohol license. How to obtain an alcohol license for your business in Massachusetts. The cost of obtaining an alcohol license in Massachusetts. What Should I Consider Before Beginning The Process To Obtain An Alcohol License In Boston? In Massachusetts, a business owner looking for an alcohol license should consider several key factors. First, is a license even available? In today’s environment, demand far exceeds supply, especially in major cities like Boston. In cities, alcohol license prices can skyrocket because the demand simply cannot keep up. One of the first questions I ask a client who wants to open a restaurant or start serving alcohol at their business is: Does the city or town have an available alcohol license? In Boston, for example, licenses are very expensive and rarely available directly through city hall, so you usually have to buy one from a private party, which can be tricky. Something a business owner should consider when purchasing an alcohol license from a private party is making sure there are no liens against the seller. All suppliers and wholesalers must be paid before a license […]

In this article, you can discover… What the Massachusetts “Five-Day Appeal” Rule is, and how it could impact your business. Whether your Massachusetts business can appeal a revoked alcohol license. How an experienced attorney can help you navigate and win an appeal. What Is The Massachusetts Five-Day Appeal Rule For Alcohol License Revocations? In Massachusetts, if a city or town revokes your alcohol license, regardless of whether you operate a restaurant, convenience store, hotel, or club, you have five days to file an appeal. This is an extremely short window, and missing it means you forfeit your right to challenge the decision. You can think of it as a statute of limitations in essence because once those five days pass, the opportunity to appeal is gone. Once, I was on vacation when I received an urgent call from a client whose license had been revoked three days earlier. With only two days left to act, I guided my client step by step on how to file the appeal properly. I walked him through the entire process detailing how to draft a notice of appeal, hand-deliver it to the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (ABCC), obtain a time-stamped receipt, and send a […]

In this article, you can discover… What the process of transferring an alcohol license in Massachusetts looks like. Common delays you might run into when transferring your alcohol license. How an attorney can help streamline the process of transferring your license. How Does The Alcohol License Transfer Process Work For New Business Owners In Boston? Transferring an alcohol license in Massachusetts, especially in a major city like Boston, can be a somewhat complex process. Whether you’re purchasing a restaurant, bar, or retail store that sells alcohol, knowing the legal and procedural steps involved can help avoid costly mistakes and delays. Each city or town in Massachusetts has a designated body that oversees alcohol licensing. In smaller municipalities, this could be the Board of Selectmen. In Boston, alcohol licensing is managed exclusively by the Boston Licensing Board. This board reviews all applications for new licenses and transfers, deciding whether to approve or deny them. In Massachusetts, there are two main ways to obtain a license: purchasing a new license or transferring an existing license. When purchasing a new license, you’d apply to the city directly for a new license, though it is subject to availability. If transferring an existing license, you’d […]