SECTION 1. (a) Notwithstanding sections 11A and 17 of chapter 138 of the General Laws or chapter 887 of the acts of 1977 or any other special or general law to the contrary, the Town Council of the town of Winthrop shall cause to be placed on the official ballot for the election of offices at the biannual town election to be held in the year 2009 the following question:-

"Shall the licensing authority of the Town of Winthrop be authorized to grant licenses for the sale of all alcoholic beverages to be drunk on the premises in restaurants and function rooms having a seating capacity of not less than 25 persons?"

(b) If a majority of the votes cast in answer to the question is in the affirmative, the town shall issue licenses for the sale of all alcoholic beverages to be drunk on the premises of restaurants and function rooms having a seating capacity of not less than 25 persons. The licenses shall be subject to all the other provisions of said chapter 138, except those that provide for a limitation as to the number of licenses permitted or the wording of the question posed to the voters.

SECTION 2. The Town Council of the town of Winthrop shall include a summary of the aforesaid question to be printed on the ballot along with the question as stated in section 1.

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