Waltham City Council Votes To Add Liquor Licences

WALTHAM, MA — After months of back and forth, Waltham City Councilors voted - nearly unanimously- in favor of petitioning the state for additional alcohol licenses, Monday night.

Twelve city councilors voted in favor, one voted against, and one recused (Joey LaCava), and one councilor was absent at the vote.

The city has approximately 92 liquor licenses, and they are all in use. That cap of 92 licenses was hit about six years ago. This means that if a new business wants to serve alcohol, the only option is to buy a license from a business that has one, which can be super pricey - even if the original business got theirs for free. It's been a controversial issue for quite some time. Proponents say it will bring in more businesses. Those against say it could make some already busy areas, too busy.

Every so often the topic has come to the council. Last December the City Council was set to vote to add 16 new liquor licenses to the city’s inventory, complete with the approval of the license and franchise committee. But it ended up having to go back for legal review.

The serving of alcohol in the Commonwealth is governed by the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission, which is responsible for issuing licenses and permits.

In every municipality in the state, with the exception of Boston, the number of liquor licenses each is allowed to grant is based upon that town or city's population. For an on-premise license, a municipality can issue one license per 1,000 residents. For an off-premise license, a municipality can issue one license per 5,000 residents. Regardless of population, a city or town can grant two off-premise licenses and fourteen on-premise licenses. Once the population growth exceeds certain population thresholds, it can issue additional licenses after a home-rule petition.

Read more: The License and Franchise Committee recommends the Home Rule petition to grant additional liquor licenses in the City of Waltham be approved.

More soon.

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