SECTION 1. (a) Notwithstanding section 17 of chapter 138 of the General Laws, the licensing authority of the town of Tewksbury may grant 5 additional licenses for the sale of all alcoholic beverages to be drunk on the premises pursuant to section 12 of said chapter 138 and 2 additional licenses for the sale of wines and malt beverages to be drunk on the premises pursuant to said section 12 of said chapter 138, to establishments located within the town’s Commercial Zoning District or the Office Research District as those districts are defined by the town’s zoning map, as it existed as of January 2020, subject to the conditions set by the licensing authority of the town of Tewksbury. A license granted pursuant to this act shall be clearly marked on its face “Commercial Zoning District” or “Office Research District” and shall be subject to all of said chapter 138 except said section 17.

(b) The licensing authority shall not approve the transfer of a license granted pursuant to this act to a location outside of the town’s Commercial Zoning District or the Office Research District, but it may grant such license as initially issued to a new applicant within such Commercial Zoning District or the Office Research Zoning District 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.

(c) 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 in the town’s Commercial Zoning District or the Office Research Zoning District under the same conditions specified in this act.

(d) A license granted under this section shall only be exercised in the dining room of a Common Victualer and in such other public rooms or areas as may be deemed reasonable and appropriate by the licensing authority as certified in writing.

(e) All licenses granted pursuant to this act shall be issued within 3 years after the effective date of this act; provided, however, that a license originally granted within that time period maybe granted to a new applicant pursuant to subsection (b) or (c) thereafter. 

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