SECTION 1. (a) Notwithstanding section 17 of chapter 138 of the General Laws, the licensing authority of the town of Bedford may grant 8 additional licenses for the sale of all alcoholic beverages to be drunk on the premises pursuant to section 12 of said chapter 138. The licenses shall be subject to all of said chapter 138 except said section 17.

(b) Notwithstanding said section 12 of said chapter 138, the licensing authority may restrict the licenses issued pursuant to this act to holders of a common victualler licenses.

(c) No license granted pursuant to this act may be sold or otherwise transferred for financial consideration.

(d) If a license granted pursuant to this act is cancelled, revoked or no longer in use, it shall be returned physically, with all of the legal rights, privileges and restrictions pertaining thereto, to the licensing authority and the licensing authority may then grant the license to a new applicant under the same conditions as specified in this act if the applicant files with the licensing authority a letter from the department of revenue and a letter from the department of unemployment assistance indicating that the license is in good standing with those departments and that all applicable taxes, fees and contributions have been paid; provided, however, that the licensing authority shall not issue a license to a new applicant pursuant to this subsection for a period of 3 years from the date of original issuance. The granting of a license to a new applicant pursuant to this subsection shall be the sole method by which a holder of a license granted pursuant to this act may be changed.  

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon its passage.