Woburn commissioners to seek legal opinion on ABCC rules for one‑day licenses and outdoor dining
Summary
The commission discussed new ABCC guidance restricting entry and requiring distributor purchases for one‑day licenses and voted to seek a city solicitor opinion and consider local‑rule changes to ease permitting for nonprofit clubs and events.
The Woburn License Commission discussed recent Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (ABCC) guidance that, according to the commission, would prevent patrons from going in and out of establishments during events held under a one‑day license and would require organizers to buy alcohol from a distributor rather than use existing inventory.
Commissioners described the ABCC guidance as more restrictive than customary local practice and said it could make it harder for nonprofit clubs and community events — such as a hospice fundraising walk — to operate as they have in prior years. The commission voted to ask the city solicitor for a legal opinion and to examine local rules with the aim of clarifying whether the city can adopt local rules to allow in‑and‑out access and to reduce burdens on nonprofit events.
The commission noted two related authorization types the ABCC uses: the one‑day license and a 12C caterer's license that can allow events without a one‑day license if the caterer holds the appropriate authorization and provides notice to police and the commission. Commissioners said they plan to solicit feedback from local clubs in September and to review whether the commission should continue to waive one‑day license fees for nonprofits.
Commission members described the ABCC position as requiring nonprofits to purchase from a distributor for one‑day events and preventing patrons from reentering premises with alcoholic beverages, which they said would be impractical for traditional civic events. The chair said he would request a written legal opinion from the city solicitor and bring an item back to the commission’s July agenda and then to a broader discussion with club managers in September.
Commissioners also asked staff to preserve the one‑day license process while the solicitor reviews whether local rules can be amended to reduce unintended constraints on community organizations. The commission voted to pursue the solicitor opinion and to put the matter on a future agenda for rule changes and stakeholder consultation.
