Selectmen Preparing to Vote on BYOB

Town Administrator Jeff Chelgren asked that the Board of Selectmen "do their homework" when it came to reviewing recently crafted BYOB regulations in the hopes of bringing the matter to a vote at their meeting Wednesday night.

Board members have been working with Town Counsel Lisa Mead to put together local regulations ever since Marblehead's new Mexican restaurant, Casa Corona, filed a request last month for permission to allow their patrons the option of bringing along their own alcohol beverages.

"We're hoping that with this homework, that we'll be ready to vote on this Wednesday," Chelgren said.

If the regulations are approved, Casa Corona owners Felix and Jose Bracamontes will be called in to discuss their application at te board's next meeting; and, if all goes according to plan, patrons could be enjoying their own beverages at the Smith Street restaurant by mid-November.

Regulations discussed earlier this month included:

• All alcoholic beverages (beer, wine, hard alcohol) will be permitted.
• Alcohol can be sold during a restaurant's regular business hours
• A BYOB license can be requested as soon as a Common Victualler's license has been awarded
• Five BYOB licenses will be available in Marblehead at $50 each and will be good for 12 months
• 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
• All alcoholic beverage containers brought into the restaurant must be brought out by one of the patrons
• 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 18 and TIPS certified

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The new Mexican restaurant opened last month in the space next to Evan's New York Style Deli, which was formerly occupied by Trattoria Sablone.