New Law Allows Sales Of Beer, Wine At More Mass. Supermarkets
BOSTON (AP) — Gov. Deval Patrick has signed into law a bill allowing beer and wine to be sold at more supermarkets in Massachusetts.
The new law will gradually increase the number of liquor licenses that can be held by a single company.
Companies that own multiple stores around the state can now sell beer and wine at no more than three of those stores. The bill — which won the approval of the Massachusetts House and Senate — would allow for two additional licenses in 2012, two in 2016 and two more in 2020.
A group that represents supermarkets had gathered signatures to put the issue on the ballot, but then agreed to drop the measure if the bill became law.
A similar ballot question was defeated by voters in 2006.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.