There is much angst and anticipation as to what the overhauled changes to the antiquated liquor licensing laws will be.  As of right now, it is still anyone’s guess.

Since State Treasurer Deborah Goldberg “threw open the doors” and appointed a task force to create more comprehensive and cohesive booze rules that are sensible and relevant to modern times at the beginning of the year, what has been accomplished?

A task force was appointed on February 16, 2017.  The task force met key personnel of the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (ABCC) to get a clear understanding of the existing licensing process, launched a website to obtain viewpoints and perspectives of interested parties, hosted six town hall-style meetings to allow interested parties an opportunity for direct input, formed five working groups to discuss the issues and make recommendations to the task force and formulated 12 areas to be reviewed.

The task force issued a preliminary report on August 16, 2017, outlining its efforts to date and stating that it anticipates completing its study and making recommendation by the end of the year.  This will only be a recommendation and no new rules or revised statutes will be proposed.  So we wait with bated breath until the Task Force’s final report is issued.