LICENSE INITIATIVE PASSES

It’s official. Governor Deval Patrick has signed legislation that will permit supermarkets and other large retailers to gradually acquire more alcoholic beverage licenses.  Under the new law, the cap on licenses per corporation would be lifted from three to five in 2O12, up to seven in 2O16, and to nine in 2O2O.  The bill also would assess applicants $5OOO for every license they obtain in excess of three.  The bill does not create a new category of licenses, but stays within the existing quota system and preserves the authority of local officials to approve licenses.