"Boston's Licensing Board this week approved the first batch of restaurant and bar applications seeking to transfer their beer and wine licenses for a coveted all-alcohol license. The department, which doles out food and beverage licenses to the city's restaurants, held a hearing Wednesday, when lawyers and managers from five restaurants went before the board to exchange their licenses. On Thursday, the board approved all five applications."
"The restaurants who were approved to trade in their beer-and-wine license for an all-alcohol license were 89 Charles, Bebop, Carmelina's, New England Wicked Craft Company, and Serafina. This exchange means these restaurants can finally serve spirits or cocktails with liquor instead of what they were originally restricted to, which was beer, wine, and/or cordials. These five restaurants were able to do this exchange because of an item in the 2026 Massachusetts State Budget"
Boston's Licensing Board approved five restaurants to upgrade beer-and-wine licenses to non-transferable all-alcohol licenses, allowing those establishments to serve spirits and cocktails. The approved restaurants were 89 Charles, Bebop, Carmelina's, New England Wicked Craft Company, and Serafina. The upgrades originate from a 2026 Massachusetts State Budget provision enabling municipalities to grant such exchanges, inserted by state Rep. Aaron Michlewitz. Boston's City Council passed enabling legislation introduced by Mayor Michelle Wu, and the Licensing Board finalized regulations on Jan. 8. Some businesses may be exempt from new community review if one occurred within two years or if they can demonstrate public need after holding a license for at least one year. The upgraded licenses must be returned to the city and are non-transferable.
Read at Boston.com
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