City Council vote lets Pittsfield restaurants upgrade beer and wine licenses to all alcohol

PITTSFIELD – Restaurants that currently serve beer and wine could soon be raising the bar — literally — after a new state law opened the door for them to upgrade to full liquor licenses.

The City Council on Tuesday voted to accept Massachusetts General Law Chapter 138, Section 12D allowing on-premises wine and malt beverages license holders to trade in their license for a nontransferable all alcoholic beverages license.

“I think this is going to be good for our businesses,” said Councilor Dina Lampiasi. “It allows more flexibility for them to kind of change the product that they’re providing and finding new ways to service the community, provide an experience that will call them back.”

Currently, Pittsfield is at its quota for wine and malt licenses, holding nine in total, and cannot issue additional ones unless a business closes or ceases operation.

Over four decades ago, Pittsfield turned down a one-time offer from the state to lift liquor license limits, a decision that now leaves the city unable to create any additional licenses, with none left to issue. The city is already over its population-based cap of 46 all-beverage liquor licenses.

The converted all-alcohol license cannot be sold, and if it is no longer used — if the business closes, for example — it reverts back to a wine and malt license, preserving the city’s license quota.

“It’s a benefit to the operator, and doesn’t harm the city,” said Licensing Board Chair Thomas Campoli.

Those looking to convert their licenses would have to submit an application for a change of license to the Licensing Board, per the state law.

However, the conversion is not without cost. Transitioning to an all-alcohol license would require businesses to pay an additional $530, bringing their annual fee to $1,175 versus $645 for just wine and malt.

The initial application for the wine and malt license is the same as the all-alcohol license, Campoli noted; the only difference is the cost.

“It would be my hope now that all nine wine and malt holders go for the all alcoholic license to give people more choice,” said Licensing Board member Jon Lifvergren at the Sept. 29 meeting. “I would be more apt to go somewhere that serves liquor than just beer or wine.”