MA Liquor Laws

I believe that another problem with liquor licenses is the consolidation of them in the expensive downtown area to businesses that mainly cater to the wealthy and out of town visitors. There has been a trend over the last several years for outer neighborhood establishments to close and sell their very valuable liquor licenses to well financed restaurants/bars downtown. This is very much reducing the nearby eating and drinking options for Boston residents that live in the neighborhoods outside downtown.

This happened in JP with the very well known Doyle's Cafe back in 2019. This Irish bar/restaurant had operated for over 130 years even surviving Prohibition. It however could not survive the current landscape where owners could make big bucks instantly by cashing out and selling off their license. It was famous for its wall mural that depicted MA politicians from the last century (Honey Fitz, Curley, JFG, Teddy, Kevin White, Ray Flynn,
, etc). It once had a very close relationship with the nearby Sam Adams Brewery with it being one of its test sites. Its interior was used for shooting multiple tv series and movies set in the city.
 
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Completely agree. It's the state's fault for creating a regime that is zero sum and the only deciding factor is the almighty dollar. Even the neighborhood-restricted new licenses won't make a dent. Blow the system up, make liquor licenses like food licenses. It's a choice to live this way and no one wants it to change badly enough.
 
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