Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

SECTION 1. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 17 of chapter 138 of the General Laws, the license commission of the city of Lowell, upon request of the trustees of Lowell Memorial Auditorium, may issue to a person or entity that is operating the Lowell Memorial Auditorium under a contract to operate and manage the Lowell Memorial Auditorium or that has been granted a concession by the trustees for the sale of food and alcoholic beverages a license to sell all alcoholic beverages to be drunk on the premises of the Lowell Memorial Auditorium or any part thereof, but not including Liberty Hall. Sections 12A and 16C of said chapter 138 shall not apply to such premises. A licensee shall not be required by said license commission under the provisions of section 12 of said chapter 138 to have the licensed premises open during any hours when there is no activity being conducted in the Lowell Memorial Auditorium, nor shall the licensee be permitted to serve food or alcoholic beverages to strangers, travelers or members of the general public who are not attending any activity then being conducted in the Lowell Memorial Auditorium.

SECTION 2. Notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law or ordinance to the contrary, the license commission of the city of Lowell may issue to a person that is operating the Lowell Memorial Auditorium under a contract, or that has been granted a concession by the trustees for the sale of food and beverages, a common victualler's license for the premises of the Lowell Memorial Auditorium or any part thereof, but not including Liberty Hall, pursuant to section 2 of chapter 140 of the General Laws. Section 5 of said chapter 140 shall not apply to the license so issued.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon its passage.