The Boston Licensing Board decided today that the Liberty Hotel did nothing wrong when it offered guests a complimentary flute of sparkling Spanish wine when they registered.

However, whether the hotel can resume the practice - interrupted Aug. 13, when Boston Police detectives issued a citation - might be up to the state Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission, which pretty explicitly states on its Web site that hotels may not offer free alcohol to guests, except as part of a meal package.

Namely, what it's like to spend the night in the District A-1 lockup.

Boston Police report the Beatrice brothers - Michael, Nicholas and Aaron - were refused entry to the Liberty Hotel shortly after midnight due to "high levels of intoxication." Instead of going quietly into that good night, however, they stuck around the entrance, allegedly performing such hijinks as flicking a cigarette at a hotel worker, police say, adding:

Rhea Becker was on scene for the yappy hour at the Liberty Hotel yesterday. She reports their owners snapped up hors d'oeuvres and sipped cocktails.