Business & Tech

Selectmen Pave the Way for BYOB Licenses in Marblehead

The Board of Selectmen unanimously approved recently-crafted BYOB regulations pertaining to carry-in alcoholic beverage licenses in Marblehead.

Get ready Marblehead, you may soon be able to bring beer and wine along with you when visiting properly-licensed local restaurants, thanks to a decision made by the Board of Selectmen Wednesday night.

At their meeting at Abbot Hall, board members unanimously approved the implementation of local BYOB regulations that they've hammered out over the last two months and paved the way for as many as five carry-in alcoholic beverage licenses in town.

The need for BYOB regulations was pushed to the forefront in September when Marblehead's new Mexican restaurant on Smith Street, Casa Corona, filed a request for permission to allow patrons to bringing along their own alcohol beverages.

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Casa Corona representatives were on hand for Wednesday's meeting and were instructed by board members to stop by the Town Administrator's office at Abbot Hall Thursday morning to obtain a license application.

A timeline for when the restaurant could obtain a license was hard to provide, board members said, because this is the first time BYOB guidelines have been drawn up in Marbehead and it is unclear how long it will take to become official.

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What You Need to Know About BYOB in Marblehead:

  • Approved alcoholic beverages will be limited to beer and wine only.
  • If a local business has been awarded a carry-in license, and a beer or wine license suddenly becomes available in town, that business doesn't necessarily have to apply for it.
  • The annual cost of the carry-in liquor license will be $400.
  • Alcohol can be brought in during a restaurant's regular business hours.
  • A BYOB license can be requested as soon as a Common Victualler's license has been awarded.
  • The Board of Selectmen can take away a license if they determine it is being abused
  • The Marblehead Police Department must sign-off on all applications.
  • The amount of alcohol each patron can bring with them will be regulated.
  • It is the responsibility of the restaurant to be sure patrons don't over-serve themselves.
  • If a drink isn't finished, it must be taken away in a sealed clear plastic bag.
  • Wait staff may not assist with alcoholic beverages unless they are over 21 and TIPS certified

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What do you think of BYOB in Marblehead? Is there a restaurant other than Casa Corona in Marblehead that you think BYOB would be a good fit for? Would you be willing to bring alcoholic beverages along with you?

Let us know in the comments section below


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