Increased Access to Liquor Licenses and Expanding Alcohol Offerings at Farmers Markets

You guessed it, another newsletter article on An Act Relative to Strengthening Massachusetts Leadership, Ch. 238 of the Acts of 2024. This really is the bill that keeps on giving!  

Buried within the Act is a quiet but significant change to liquor licensing in Massachusetts. Specifically, the Liquor Control Act has historically limited the issuance of liquor licenses and transportation permits to citizens of the United States. The Act now allows such approvals to be granted to a “qualified alien under the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. 1101.” According to Senator Jamie Eldridge (D-Marlborough) the reform is expected to increase the participation of immigrants with expertise in the alcohol industry, create jobs, and align the liquor laws with the welcoming stance of Massachusetts to immigrants. 

In addition, the Act expanded the types of alcohol that may be sold at farmers markets within the state. For the last decade, only vintners and wineries had been allowed to set up booths for samples and off premises consumption sales. Now farmer-brewers and farmer-distillers of hard liquor will be able to provide such offerings.