Boston magazine profiles the law firm that does quite nicely helping restaurant and bar owners get their hands on that most precious of Boston commodities: A liquor license.
Can't someone in charge understand that the liquor license system is totally broken, and stifles the creation of interesting restaurants from newcomers, because only established players can serve booze?
The only time it's legal to allow customers to bring their own beer, wine, or spirits into a restaurant is in the brief window between the time it has applied for a beer/wine/cordial or full liquor license and the time the board makes its decision yea or nay. In all other cases, BYOB is illegal. That's not to say it doesn't happen in many Boston restaurants (and don't ask me to tell you which ones), but it's not legal.
I was under the perception that if the place does NOT have a liquor license, you are allowed to bring your own with permission of the location...because they're not going to be able to serve you their own.
I don't know why I had that particular perception now that I think about it...but that's what I had assumed.
Comments
What is the matter with us?
Can't someone in charge understand that the liquor license system is totally broken, and stifles the creation of interesting restaurants from newcomers, because only established players can serve booze?
How does the law look at
How does the law look at "BYOB" policies? Some places without a license have them, but others do not.
There is no BYOB in Boston
The only time it's legal to allow customers to bring their own beer, wine, or spirits into a restaurant is in the brief window between the time it has applied for a beer/wine/cordial or full liquor license and the time the board makes its decision yea or nay. In all other cases, BYOB is illegal. That's not to say it doesn't happen in many Boston restaurants (and don't ask me to tell you which ones), but it's not legal.
Variation on the theme
West on Centre has a weekly Bring Your Own Wine night. Granted, they have a full liquor license anyway, but still.
Really?
I was under the perception that if the place does NOT have a liquor license, you are allowed to bring your own with permission of the location...because they're not going to be able to serve you their own.
I don't know why I had that particular perception now that I think about it...but that's what I had assumed.