Thursday, April 25, 2024

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Establishments serving liquor that launch during harsh New England winters will no longer get a bonus for their timing.

The Licensing Commission has been waiving charges for liquor licenses obtained after Nov. 1, waiting until Jan. 1 to charge the full fee. This grace period has been replaced with a prorating system that took effect Tuesday.

Tuesday’s decision has no bearing on the summer’s discussions on big hikes to the price of liquor licenses, which angered business owners. Instead, it ensures that all establishments operating in a calendar year have paid some portion of a fee to do so. Establishments opening between Oct. 1 and Dec. 1 will pay a portion of the fee based on the number of weeks they are open.

This policy only affects city-issued, no-value licenses, not licenses issued directly to the owners and therefore considered their property.