Massachusetts, United States: Loosening Alcohol Regulations Tabled
Massachusetts Treasurer Deborah Goldberg is paving the way for the most extensive rethinking of how the state regulates alcohol.  A new task force has been set up to explore a more cohesive set of rules for alcohol regulation.
However, so far the only discussions have been about loosening of alcohol regulations, while public health and safety consideration have largely been ignored.
Task force mandate
With a broad mandate and scope, the task force of seven legal and political figures — with input from the public and bars, brewers, distributors, and other companies — will have broad authority to set its own agenda when it meets for the first time later in January.
The involvement of the alcohol industry in the discussions is highly problematic, due to conflicts of interest. This situation indicates in which direction the task force might go when considering modernization of alcohol regulation in Massachusetts.
For instance, the issues that officials and alcohol industry executives have proposed for review are:
- Extending the hours for package stores,
- Lifting caps on liquor licenses in each municipality,
- Allowing beer-makers to switch distributors more easily,
- Loosening restrictions on consumers bringing alcohol to restaurants or reusing growlers,
- Boosting funding to the chronically understaffed Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission, or
- Clarifying rules about so-called pay-to-play incentives.
Rift within alcohol industry, public health considerations largely ignored
The wide-ranging review was prompted by several controversies arising from the state’s convoluted, post-Prohibition-era liquor rules.
Many recommendations would require approval by the Massachusetts Legislature. In the past lawmakers have been reluctant to make comprehensive changes to state alcohol regulation, due to heavy lobbying by some members of the industry. Different actors within the alcohol industry are pursuing different interests, driven by concerns for their profit margins.
While most agree the current regulatory system is needlessly complex and unclear, each segment is worried that changes sought by other businesses will hurt its own bottom line.
Public health consideration have not been heard as much as industry talking points.
