STATE HOUSE, BOSTON, JULY 29, 2024…..Boston would gain more than 260 new alcoholic beverage licenses under a bill that cleared the Massachusetts Senate Monday afternoon, exceeding the 205 new licenses that the House favors.
The Senate bill (S 2903) authorizes 264 licenses in Boston, and like the House bill (H 4696) that passed in May, the Senate plan steers the bulk of the licenses toward specific neighborhoods, with the goal of spurring economic development and knocking down the obstacle of hefty license fees that has limited opportunities for sit-down restaurants to turn a profit.
Sen. Liz Miranda, who sponsored the initial bill, spoke about Boston neighborhoods that were previously cultural hubs in the city but have lost their unique restaurants and nightlife in recent decades.
“Out of the 1,400+ liquor licenses actually in the city of Boston, only 2 percent are held by Black-owned business,” Miranda said on the Senate floor Monday. “The secondary market, without needed reform of sit-down restaurant and bar liquor licenses in the city, has perpetuated the growing racial and gender pay and wealth gaps. The secondary liquor license market has created an ecosystem in our city, where only if you’re affluent or own a restaurant already can you actually maybe possibly afford the cost of operating a license in the secondary market. They’re selling for $500,000, $600,000 and sometimes as high as $700,000.”
Senators also approved 12 new unrestricted licenses in the bill.
“This is going to bring great economic opportunity and equitable economic development to businesses in our city that deserve it,” Sen. Nick Collins of Boston said by phone during the session, calling the bill “long overdue.”
Maureen Dahill is the editor of Caught in Southie and a lifelong resident of South Boston sometimes mistaken for a yuppie. Co-host of Caught Up, storyteller, lover of red wine and binge watching TV series. Mrs. Peter G. Follow her @MaureenCaught.
