The serving of alcohol in the Commonwealth of

Massachusetts Massachusetts (Massachusett: ''Muhsachuweesut Massachusett_writing_systems.html" ;"title="nowiki/> məhswatʃəwiːsət.html" ;"title="Massachusett writing systems">məhswatʃəwiːsət">Massachusett writing systems">məhswatʃəwiːsət'' En ...

is governed by the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (ABCC), which is responsible for issuing licenses and permits for all manufacturers, wholesalers and importers, out-of-state suppliers, brokers, salespeople, warehouses, planes, trains, ships, ship chandlers and vehicles transporting alcoholic beverages.

Drinking age

Beginning just after the repeal of prohibition by the 21st Amendment on Dec. 5, 1933, the minimum drinking age in Massachusetts was set at age 17. Then, following the July 1, 1971 passage of the 26th Amendment (which lowered the voting age from 21 to 18 years of age), on April 13, 1972, governor Francis M. Sargent (following suit with 29 other governors) signed a bill lowering the Massachusetts drinking age from 21 to 18. The effective date of the new law was April 1, 1973. On February 16, 1979, the State Senate voted to raise the Massachusetts minimum drinking age from 18 to 20. The vote for final approval was 29 to 3. On December 4, 1984, governor Michael S. Dukakis signed a bill raising the drinking age from 20 to 21 in Massachusetts. This bill was in response to the

National Minimum Drinking Age Act The National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984 () was passed by the United States Congress and was later signed into law by President Ronald Reagan on July 17, 1984. The act would punish any state that allowed persons under 21 years to purchase a ...

which would reduce federal highway funding by 10% for any state that did not adopt a drinking age of 21. Those under 21 can, however, consume alcoholic beverages provided by their parents or grandparents on private premises. Establishments accepting, in good faith, the following as proof of age are protected if underage patrons are served accidentally: *A Massachusetts Driver’s License *A Massachusetts Liquor Identification Card *A Massachusetts Identification Card *A Passport Issued by the United States or a government that is officially recognized by the United States *A Passport Card for a Passport issued by the United States *A Military Identification Card

Sale of alcohol

The sale of alcohol off premises (in a licensed liquor store for spirits other than beer and wine) is allowed from 8 AM to 11 PM Monday through Saturday and noon to 11 PM on Sundays. The sale of alcohol on premises (for all types) is allowed from 8 AM to 2 AM Monday through Saturday and noon to 2 AM on Sundays.

Transportation of alcohol

Individuals can transport alcohol without a license, up to but not exceeding, twenty gallons of malt beverages, three gallons of any other alcoholic beverage, or one gallon of alcohol at a single time. People under 21 years of age may not knowingly drive a car with alcohol inside unless they are accompanied by their legal guardian. This also means a person under the age of 21 cannot drive a vehicle with alcohol inside of the vehicle even if it belongs to a person over the age of 21 who is also inside the vehicle. Violators can be fined and/or have their driver's license suspended for three months.

Drunk driving

Driving under the influence of alcohol in Massachusetts is a crime that is punishable by a fine and/or imprisonment. Massachusetts' maximum blood alcohol level is 0.08% and 0.02% if the driver is under 21 years of age.Massachusetts Drunk Driving Law Center
/ref> Operating under the influence penalties can vary depending on prior OUI offenses.

Happy hour ban

Bars and restaurants in Massachusetts are prohibited from offering discounts on alcoholic beverages; this includes a total ban on happy hour promotions. Establishments are not permitted to offer a drink special for a short time, even for a day; prices must remain the same throughout the calendar week. The ban on happy hour promotions came into effect in December 1984, following a series of happy hour-related drunk driving crashes, as part of a broader push to reduce drunk driving. It was supported by

Mothers Against Drunk Driving Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is a non-profit organization in the United States, Canada and Brazil that seeks to stop drunk driving, support those affected by drunk driving, prevent underage drinking, and strive for stricter impaired drivi ...

and state officials, including Governor

Michael Dukakis Michael Stanley Dukakis (; born November 3, 1933) is an American retired lawyer and politician who served as governor of Massachusetts from 1975 to 1979 and again from 1983 to 1991. He is the longest-serving governor in Massachusetts history a ...

. Multiple attempts to repeal the ban have failed.

Social host law

The host of a party can be held liable for a guest who causes injury to others if it is proved that the host knew or should have known that the guest was intoxicated but continued to allow the guest to drink alcoholic beverages.

Restaurant liquor license quotas

A quota system for liquor licenses held by restaurants was set by state law in 1933. Cities and towns must appeal to the legislature to increase the number of local licenses. In some cases the licenses granted are non-transferable and cannot be sold.Massachusetts is stuck in the Prohibition era on liquor licenses
/ref>

References

{{Massachusetts government

Massachusetts law