Alcohol License – Special or One Day
Liquor License – One Day or Special
The Town of Pembroke has guidelines for applicants requesting a One Day, or Special, Liquor License as issued under M.G. L. c.138 §14.
An application for a Special Liquor License must be submitted to the Board of Selectmen's office at least thirty (30) days in advance of your event.
Special licenses may only be issued to an individual in conjunction with a business, organization or charity. The person named on the Special License must sign the application for the license and is responsible for management of the license and shall remain on the premises for the entire event. The person named on the license shall be a United States citizen. The applicant named on the application shall, at all times during which alcoholic beverages are being sold, be available to the licensing authorities. The full name, residential address, business and home telephone number numbers of said applicant must appear on the One Day License Application.
Licensees are responsible for ensuring that minors are not served alcoholic beverages and are not drinking alcoholic beverages on the licensed premises, whether served to them by an employee or handed to them by another patron. All servers must be at least 18 years of age to serve, clear or handle alcoholic beverages.
All alcohol served under a One Day Special License must be purchased by the license holder from a licensed Massachusetts wholesaler/importer, manufacturer, farmer-winery, farmer brewery or special permit holder. A person holding a Section 14 license cannot purchase alcoholic beverages from a package store in compliance with MGL Chapter 138 Section 14. Alcohol may not be purchased out of state, from a caterer or from a Section 15 package store. A list of wholesalers is available through the State Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission.
In all cases where alcohol is served, it must be served by a caterer or bar service who has presented evidence of liquor liability insurance to the Town. All Alcohol Licenses shall only be issued to an applicant who represents a non-profit organization. Proof of an organizations non-profit status may be required.
No alcohol may be stored on any unlicensed premises. For special events covered under a One Day Liquor License, alcohol must be delivered the day of the event and removed from the premises after the event at the expiration of the Special License. Under State Alcoholic Beverages Control Law, MGL Chapter 138 Section 22, holders of a One Day Special License may not transport alcohol without a permit.
A Special License shall not be granted to any applicant while their application for a license under Massachusetts General Law Chapter 138 § 12 (restaurant) is pending before the licensing authorities. Not more than one license can be issued for a premise at one time.
The licensee is required to post the Special License in a conspicuous location during the event. A Special License can be used for indoor and/or outdoor events.
The Board of Selectmen has the authority to dictate the specific hours and terms of sales and service of alcohol. The ABCC prohibits liquor sales between the hours of 2:00 am and 8:00 am.
The Board of Selectmen has the authority to refuse to issue or reissue a special license if the licensee fails to comply with state or local regulations or any reasonable requirements of the local licensing authority.
The Board of Selectmen has the right to suspend, cancel or revoke a special license, after a hearing, if the licensee fails to comply with state or local regulations or any reasonable requirements of the local licensing authority.