Liquor License (ABCC)

Alcohol:

Alcoholic beverages retail licenses are distinguished by where a patron may consume beverages purchased, ie., Off-Premise or On-Premise. Off-Premise alcohol licenses include package stores, convenience stores and supermarkets. There are 5 types of On-Premise alcohol licenses: restaurants, clubs (or veterans' club), hotels, taverns, and general On-Premise.

Retail alcoholic beverages licenses fall into five categories: All Alcoholic Beverages, Wine and Malt Beverages, Wine Beverages, Malt Beverages, and Wine and Malt with Cordials and Liqueurs Beverages. These licenses may be issued seasonally or annually. 

The number of licenses issued in Douglas are regulated under MGL Chapter 138, Section 17. Please contact the Select Board's Office for availability.

To apply for a new Alcohol license or amend an existing one, go to the Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission (ABCC) Website

Additional Required Documents: 


Common Victualler 

A Common Victuallers License is required under MGL Chapter 140 (2) for any establishments that have the necessary implements for cooking, preparing and serving food for strangers and travelers, and a place to consume the food, i.e., chairs, tables, counters. 

As outlined under MGL Chapter 140 (21e), the provisions do not apply to some charitable or religious organizations and clubs that are licensed under MGL Chapter 138 (12) - On Premise Alcohol. 

Automatic Amusement/Entertainment: 

Applicants for an Automatic Amusement license must be reviewed before granted a license. Automatic Amusement device as defined in MGL Chapter 140 (177A), shall be construed as meaning any mechanism whereby, upon the deposit therein of a coin or token, any apparatus is released or set in motion or put in a position where it may be set in motion for the purpose of playing any game involving, in whole or in part, the skill of the player, including, but not exclusively, such devices as are commonly known as pinball machines including fee play, but not including slot machines as defined in Chapter 23K. Video games also fall under this license.  

Operators that offer to view, set on foot, maintain or carry on a concert, dance, exhibition, cabaret or public show of any description, require a license issued by the Select Board. As outlined under MGL Chapter 140 (183a), no innholder, common victualler, keeper of a tavern or person owning, managing, or controlling any club, restaurant or other establishment holding a liquor or common victualler license, and no person owning, managing or controlling any concert, dnace, exhibition, cabaret or public show of any description to be conducted on any premises holding a liquor or common victualler license, shall, as part of its usual business, offer to view, set up, set on foot, maintain or carry on a concert, dance, exhibition, cabaret or public show of any description, unless and until a license has been issued by the Select Board. 

NOTE: Clubs need an entertainment license when entertainment is open to all membership. Private functions, those attended by invitation only (baby shower, birthday party, etc) do not require an entertainment license. Clubs holding a Field Day event can purchase a one-day license. CLUBS CANNOT ADVERTISE AN EVENT IN THE PAPER, ON THE STREET, OR ON SOCIAL MEDIA, etc. Doing so opens the event to the public. 

Licensing for Sunday Entertainment is outlined in MGL Chapter 136 and requires the approval of both the Select Board and the State of Massachusetts.  

Additional Required Documents:

SUNDAY ENTERTAINMENT

Licensing for Sunday Entertainment is outlined under MGL Chapter 136 and requires the approval of both the Select Board and the State of Massachusetts.