Bill
S 213
Amends Massachusetts law to remove the 50% grocery-revenue eligibility test for off-premises alcohol licenses, enabling more retailers to qualify and affecting local licensing.
Status and sponsors
- Bill number: S.213 (filed Jan 16, 2025; introduced in Senate Jan 23, 2025).
- Primary sponsors: Sen. John J. Cronin and Sen. Pavel M. Payano.
- Committee activity (selected): Referred to Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure and Finance; hearing scheduled July 7, 2025; reported favorably and referred to Senate Ways & Means (11/19/2025). The bill record contains some duplicate/contradictory referral entries (including one listing Transportation) and an inconsistent title in the docket; the body of the bill addresses alcoholic beverage licensing.
Purpose and intent
- The bill seeks to change eligibility rules for certain Massachusetts licenses permitting the sale of alcoholic beverages “not to be drunk on the premises” by removing a current revenue test tied to grocery sales. The intent is to eliminate the statutory requirement that a premises generate at least 50% of its revenue from grocery-item sales in order to qualify under Section 15 of chapter 138.
Key provision
- Amends Section 15 of chapter 138 by striking the clause (added by section 98 of chapter 219 of the acts of 2016) that required: “if at least 50 per cent of the revenue generated at the premises licensed under this section is derived from the sale of grocery items as defined in section 184B of chapter 94.”
- In short: removes the 50% grocery-revenue threshold as an eligibility condition for obtaining the relevant off‑premises alcohol license.
Who would be affected
- Retailers and prospective licensees: Convenience stores, specialty food retailers, and other non‑grocery businesses that were previously ineligible because they did not meet the 50% grocery revenue test could become eligible for the license.
- Existing grocery-based license holders: Competitive dynamics could change if more businesses can obtain similar off‑premises licenses.
- Local licensing authorities and enforcement agencies: Municipal licensing boards would implement the revised eligibility rule; enforcement practices and public‑safety oversight may be adjusted.
- Consumers: Potentially greater retail availability of packaged alcohol depending on local licensing decisions.
Potential impacts and considerations
- Market competition: May broaden the pool of businesses eligible to sell packaged alcoholic beverages, increasing competition and retail outlets.
- Local control: The change removes a state-level revenue threshold but does not explicitly alter municipal licensing caps or other local controls; local boards would still issue licenses under existing frameworks.
- Public health & enforcement: Broader eligibility could affect alcohol access and may prompt localities to consider public‑safety, zoning, or license‑limit responses.
- Legislative and docket anomalies: The bill’s docket contains inconsistent titles and duplicate entries; readers should consult the official bill text (Chapter 138, §15 amendment) for definitive language.
Text reference
- Amends: Massachusetts General Laws, chapter 138, section 15 (strike the 50% grocery‑revenue phrase added by ch. 219, §98 of the Acts of 2016).
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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