Medford Reduces Seating Requirement in Liquor License Ordinance
More restaurants are now eligible for a full liquor license.
More restaurants are now eligible for liquor licenses in Medford, but a new ordinance hasn't caused of flood of applications.
The ordinance change, approved by Governor Deval Patrick last month, reduces the required number of seats at a restaurant seeking a full liquor license from 99 to 50.
City Councilor Paul Camuso oversaw the ordinance changes in serving as the chairman of the council's licensing board. The ordinance change aims at making Medford a more appealing location for restauranteurs, Camuso said in a phone interview last week.
"I think it will help us bring in quality businesses," Camuso said. "That’s really the whole point of this."
As of the end of last week, no businesses already open in Medford had applied for a full liquor license under the new ordinance.
The ordinance change was approved by the city council by a 6-0 vote, with Councilor Robert Penta absent. Mayor Michael McGlynn signed off on the proposed ordinance change in July; it was approved by Gov. Deval Patrick Sept. 13.
It isn't the first time Medford has loosened its liquor ordinance recently. In 2008, the city reduced its seating requirement for full liquor license eligibility from 250 to 99 seats. Restaurants with 19 or more seats are allowed to have a beer and wine license, but can't serve hard liquor or mixed drinks.
Matt
9:13 pm on Thursday, October 25, 2012
It's a good start, even if it hasn't resulted in any changes yet. Massachusetts is so full of ridiculously archaic liquor laws. Now let's bring back Happy Hours, keep bars open all night, let liquor stores be open whenever they want and maybe Boston (and, by extension, Medford, etc.) can really be a great, thriving city. Restaurants and bars would probably be more alive, people could be more social and relaxed (both out and at home parties) and taking the stigma of alcohol away might actually result in LESS abuse.