Council Recommends Retail Liquor, Spirits Sales — Nips And All

MELROSE, MA — Some local retail shops may soon be able to sell liquor and spirits alongside their beer and wine offerings, the City Council decided some five months after the idea was formally introduced.

Small containers, including nips, will be allowed for sale under the legislation. The 50-milliliter bottles were a major sticking point throughout the process, but it was believed the state legislature wouldn't act favorably on a petition restricting them due to a pending legal case regarding the ban of nips in Chelsea.

The decision impacts all three licenses in Melrose; Buckalew's and Beacon Hill Wine have the two currently in circulation.

The City Council still needs to approve the special act in a Council meeting — it was approved Monday night in the Appropriations Committee. Even though Appropriations and the Council are made up of the same members, there appeared to be some uncertainty among the members. There were initially five votes to hold the issue in committee. Councilor Shawn MacMaster ended up being the lone vote against recommending for passage; Though he supported expanding sales, he hoped for more time to weigh the issue in a larger context.

Rebecca Beraldi, who owns Beacon Hill Wine, pushed for the allowance of nips and small containers, going as far as saying it would be difficult to stay in business if there were size restrictions.

"The novelty of wine and beer, truthfully, has really faded here in Melrose," Beraldi said.

Buckalew's owner Robin Peevey said she had no interest in selling nips — or large jugs, for that matter — but pushed for allowing sales of containers of less than 750 milliliters.

Jeana McNeil of Zero Waste Melrose spoke against the sale of nips, citing the need to keep additional single-use plastics out of the city.

"It's one of the very rare instances where we as a community have the opportunity to prevent something," McNeil said.

Related: Melrose's Loosening Liquor Laws Already Getting Tightened

There was a push to keep the order in committee to see how things unfold elsewhere. There was also an effort to recommend while restricting smaller bottles - something the failed when only Councilors Kate Lipper-Garabedian, MacMaster and Robb Stewart supported it.

Mayor Paul Brodeur said this is an isolated decision, separate from the long-term vision of the city regarding alchohol.

"This is designed to be a very simple change, designed to help the business leaders ... expand their marketplace a little bit," Brodeur said.

It was the new City Council's first crack at the issue, which Mayor Gail Infurna first floated in October before giving way to Mayor Paul Brodeur. Brodeur was also an early supporter of the issue, though he did not take a firm stand on nips.

"This isn't the last word on whether or not we can sell nips," Councilor Jack Eccles said.

Also discussed at the meeting:

• Councilor Chris Cinella pushed for the reconvening of the Public Safety Building Committee.
• The undefeated Melrose Red Raiders were recognized for their Super Bowl championship.