Will Massachusetts liquor licensing process get reformed

Earlier this month the Boston Business Journal had an excellent article addressing the antiquated or to use the BBJ’s lingo, “Puritanical”, approach to regulating liquor licenses in Massachusetts.  Apparently even our Governor agrees because Baker has filed legislation as part of a municipal modernization bill to allow cities and towns set their own quota for restaurants licensed to serve alcohol. That portion of the governor’s bill (H 3906) was pending before the Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government when I wrote this.

Although I’m not hopeful, I’d love to see this antiquated process revamped. I don’t know if it is true, but I was once told that our liquor licensing process is the result of Hugh O’Brien being sworn in as Boston’s first Irish mayor back in 1895. As the story goes, shortly after his swearing in the Brahmin community used their influence to have legislation passed so the city of Boston couldn’t turn into a giant pub (dare to dream) and would give the authority of granting liquor licenses to the State House where Protestants still maintained control. I can’t imagine this was true, but as a gay man, I can’t tell you how often I’ve seen senseless, vindictive legislation so I wouldn’t write it off either.

If you’d like to read the BBJ article, which inspired this post, link here.