AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE TOWN OF TISBURY TO CONVERT CERTAIN LICENSES FOR THE SALE OF WINES AND MALT BEVERAGES TO BE DRUNK ON THE PREMISES TO LICENSES FOR THE SALE OF ALL ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES TO BE DRUNK ON THE PREMISES.
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 sections 11, 11A and 17 of chapter 138 of the General Laws or any other general or special law to the contrary, the board of selectmen of the town of Tisbury may place upon the official ballot at the next state election or annual town election following the effective date of this act, the following question:
“Shall the board of selectmen of the town of Tisbury be authorized to convert licenses for the sale of wines and malt beverages to be drunk on the premises under section 12 of chapter 138 of the General Laws, originally granted or authorized pursuant to section 1 of chapter 187 of the acts of 2009, to licenses for the sale of all alcoholic beverages to be drunk on the premises to restaurants, including restaurants within inns and hotels, with seating capacities of not less than 30 persons, to be consumed with meals only and only to patrons who are seated at dining tables and to grant seasonal licenses for the same as the selectmen may determine?”
If a majority of votes cast in answer to the question is in the affirmative, the town may: (i) convert current licenses for the sale of wines and malt beverages to be drunk on the premises that have been granted pursuant to section 1 of chapter 187 of the acts of 2009 prior to the effective date of this act to licenses for the sale of all alcoholic beverages to be drunk on the premises under the same conditions as specified in said section 1 of said chapter 187 and to grant seasonal licenses for the same; and (ii) grant any of the 19 licenses originally authorized in said section 1 of said chapter 187 as licenses for the sale of wines and malt beverages to be drunk on the premises, which have not been granted prior to the effective date of this act, as licenses for the sale of all alcoholic beverages to be drunk on the premises under the same conditions as specified in said section 1 of said chapter 187 and to grant seasonal licenses for the same; provided, however, that there shall be not more than a total of 19 licenses granted pursuant to this act and said section 1 of said chapter 187.
The board of selectmen may issue regulations for the granting of licenses under this act and to define terms appropriate for that purpose.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
Approved, January 5, 2017