City Council Misses Last Call On Expanding Liquor Sales

MELROSE, MA — The City Council punted this week on expanding retail liquor sales in what amounted to closing time for this iteration of the City Council.

The Council held the order in Appropriations Committee Monday night so language could be further examined, particularly as it pertains to a restriction on the sale of nips. At issue is a largely procedural matter on what would be the best way to go about instituting the ban on nips so the state legislature doesn't potentially change it: Codifying it via the ordinance or making it a regulatory issue via the Liquor Commission.

Councilors Peter Mortimer and Frank Wright, both in their final meeting, said the issue should be weighed by the next administration and held for the next Council.

But as Councilor Mike Zwirko pointed out in what was also his last meeting, Mayor Paul Brodeur has already submitted a letter to the Council indicating he hoped for its passage. Brodeur also asked in the letter that the Council "proceed carefully in crafting that limit" of nip sales.

Councilors Jeff McNaught and Manisha Bewtra discussed the possibility of dropping the ban altogether.

City Solicitor Robert Van Campen told the Council the safest legal way to institute the ban would be statutorily.

A challenge out of Chelsea regarding the city's ban on nips is at the root of the Council's hesitancy on the issue. Van Campen said the most recent publication from the state's Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission allows local licensing authorities to restrict nips.

The initial proposal, offered by Mayor Gail Infurna in October, was to allow for the sale of liquor beyond just beer and wine at Buckalew's and Beacon Hill Wine, the holders of two of the city's three retail liquor licenses. The City Council has since amended to include the third license — not currently in use — but has been deliberate in considering limitations on sales.