Boston Allows Restaurants to Upgrade Liquor Licenses

The Boston City Council has approved a new measure that allows restaurants with existing licenses to upgrade from beer and wine licenses to full all-alcohol licenses, enabling them to sell liquor and cocktail products. This legislation aims to support approximately 375 Boston-based businesses by reducing the expenses and complexity associated with obtaining a full liquor license, which could previously cost six figures.

Councilor Gabriela Coletta Zapata introduced the measure, which aligns with a recent state law change that allows city and town license upgrades under certain conditions. To qualify for the upgrade, restaurants must be in good standing with the tax authorities and labor regulations and obtain approval from the state. 

The measure now goes to Boston's Liquor Licensing Board for further discussion.

This change will enable restaurants, such as Dynasty in Chinatown, to offer a wider variety of alcoholic beverages, including traditional Chinese spirits like rice wine, thereby enhancing the dining experience for guests.

According to WBUR Public Media, news of this upgrade should be well-received by dining establishments in Boston, which has traditionally had its alcohol licenses limited by the state. While Boston previously added 225 new liquor licenses last fall, the most significant increase since Prohibition, the uptake in some neighborhoods remains slow. Most of these licenses were reserved for neighborhoods that had previously been unable to take advantage of the liquor license opportunity.