Residents Will Soon Be Able to Purchase Liquor within Arlington Town Limits

Before this year, Arlington residents had to travel over the border into Cambridge, Somerville or Lexington to buy liquor. But within a few weeks, Arlingtonians will be able to purchase liquor in town for the first time.

The approved a liquor license for last month and another for Giles Fine Wine last week. On Thursday morning, applied for the town’s third and final liquor license. 

In the November Town Election, Arlington residents  (65 to 34 percent) in the favor of , which authorized the Board of Selectmen to issue hard liquor licenses to the town’s beer and wine vendors. Until Question 4 passed, Arlington stores could only provide beer and wine, driving customers to neighboring towns to purchase liquor. According to beer and wine vendors in town, Arlington’s by-laws often forced customers outside town to make all alcohol purchases at “package stores,” which offer beer, wine and liquor all in the same location.

Upon hearing the results on Election Night, Menotomy Beer and Wine owner Neil Duggan was “pumped.”  

“We needed this one so bad,” he said. “We expect our sales will go up over 30 percent.”

Helmut Cobath, manager of Giles Fine Wine, echoed Duggan’s sentiments.

“People have been clamoring for this for quite a while,” said Cobath. “Especially with the holidays, people don’t want to drive to other towns. Why not do it all in one store?" 

Town vendors await approval from the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission (ABCC) in order to start selling liquor, which could take six to eight weeks.

“The sooner the better,” Cobath said.

But according to Mary Ann Sullivan, the town’s licensing clerk, Arlington could receive two more liquor licenses. A warrant article for Town Meeting proposes adding licenses for two more package stores in Arlington. Town Meeting members will debate the warrant starting on April 25. 

Regardless of what happens at Town Meeting, beer and wine store owners in town believe full liquor licenses can only benefit business. 

“We’re extremely happy this finally came to fruition,” Cobath said. “Why not keep the money in the town? Every dollar counts these days.”