The Future of Partying:

Will Cannabis-Infused Beverages Spark a New Kind of “Buzz”?

It’s widely known that the younger generations are drinking less alcohol, opting more for no and low-alcohol options than their elders. With health and wellness being at the forefront of this movement, liquor store shelves continue to adorn and multiply the products available for sober shoppers, including non-alcoholic beer and other canned beverages, no and low-alcohol wine, as well as a growing amount of no and low-alcohol options within the hard liquor category. There’s even a new bottle shop, Dray Drinks, in Boston’s South End that features only non-alcoholic beverages, demonstrating a real interest in the sober lifestyle. Retailers are following what’s trending and offering more non-alcoholic products in their stores than ever before.

To read the full article – check out The Advisor Magazine – Issue 34.

 

Holiday Gifting: Top Gift Trends For 2023

December is here, which means that shoppers are out in full force seeking the perfect holiday gift for everyone on their list. Alcohol remains a popular go-to gift, but what will consumers purchase this year? BevAlcInsights by Drizly has taken the guesswork out for retailers by issuing their 2023 Holiday Gift Guide, which provides insight on what categories and brands retailers should enhance in their inventory based on 2023 sales and 2022 gifting trends – critical data for businesses to make the busiest time of year a success.

Spirits reached new heights during the 2022 holiday season, with bourbon, Scotch whisky, and reposado tequila topping the charts for gifting purchases; wine (Champagne and red varietals) was a close second. It seems that despite the current economic climate, the holidays still remain a time when consumers splurge more than they might otherwise, with premium products being high in demand.

To read the full article – check out The Advisor Magazine – Issue 34.

 

Inflation Impact On Holiday Alcohol Spending

Almost everyone you talk to these days brings up the alarming rise in the cost of just about everything, from gas to food to interest rates. Although people are making an effort to consciously monitor their budgets, the holiday season is upon us once again, and with that season inevitably comes an increase in spending, despite the current economic climate. Will consumers celebrate the holidays more frugally this year, or will they toss budgets aside? Consumer spending will affect both on and off-premise establishments as we wrap up 2023, a year that has found most Americans financially strapped, with no end in sight.

To read the full article – check out The Advisor Magazine – Issue 33.

 

Pressure On For Boston Pocket Licenses?

The Joint Committee On Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure held its hearing on Oct. 2, 2023 for proposed Bill H.3741 and Bill S.2380 which are seeking an additional 250 licenses across 10 specific zip codes in the next 5 years, should it become law.

One of the issues that arose during the hearing around the 1:00:45 to 1:05:50 mark addressed the term “pocket” licenses, which are inactive liquor licenses being held by owners and/or landlords which go against the city’s guidelines for license use.

To read the full article – check out The Advisor Magazine – Issue 33.

 

Have You Heard of Sober October?

How This Trend Is Impacting Alcohol Sales

We’ve all become increasingly familiar with Dry January, but have you heard of “Sober October”? According to a recent USA Today article, this movement is becoming increasingly popular as consumers make more health-conscious purchases, trading in their alcoholic beverages for non-alcoholic or low-alcohol substitutes. Some people are trying out this lifestyle shift for a month to consider the benefits of not drinking, while others are trading out a few beverages here and there; however, others are making the shift to eliminate all alcohol entirely.

To read the full article – check out The Advisor Magazine – Issue 32.

 

Does Boston Need More Licenses?

Boston’s Home Rule Petition Hearing: October 2, 2023

Hearing to Consider 250 New Liquor Licenses in the City of Boston: A Brief Summary and What the Change Could Mean for Local Business Owners.

On October 2, 2023, a legislative hearing to consider additional Boston liquor licenses took place at the State House. Mayor Michelle Wu, City Councilor Ruthzee Louijeune, Councilor Brian Worrell, and Councilor Ricardo Arroyo were the forefront of the proposal to advocate in support of the home rule petition, which would allow the city to issue 250 new liquor licenses in ten specific zip codes over the next five years – if it becomes law. To become law, the bill still needs to pass the full Legislature and be signed by the Governor.

To read the full article – check out The Advisor Magazine – Issue 32.

 

Proposed Bill To Nix US Requirement To Obtain Liquor License

Will U.S. Residency Be Required?

Our Team here at Liquor License Advisor often receives the question of whether someone must be a U.S. citizen to obtain a liquor license in Massachusetts. Legally, they do: The way the law currently stands, the manager of record for a business must be a U.S. citizen to obtain a liquor license, which means that a non-citizen cannot be listed as the manager of record if he or she requires a liquor license for his or her business. Here in Massachusetts, the license owner must actually be a state resident as well to go on record as a manager or owner of a liquor license.

To read the full article – check out The Advisor Magazine – Issue 31.

 

Reviving Boston’s Nightlife

Prepare To Thrive: Boston Bars, Pubs, Restaurants & More

It’s not surprising for many that Boston is one of the major cities in the United States that isn’t well-known to have a variety of options for what to do when the sun goes down. Some argue that the reason is due to the City curfew, which is in place to reduce crime, support safety, and maintain cleanliness. Others say that transportation has also always been a main factor in Boston’s dull nightlife since the T stops running at around 1:00 AM, and rideshare prices have skyrocketed due to gas prices and the issue of supply and demand.

To read the full article – check out The Advisor Magazine – Issue 30.

 

Online Lottery Out of Luck

FY2024 Budget Will Not Include the Legalization of Online Lottery

The Massachusetts Package Store Association (MassPack) released a news brief on July 31, 2023, announcing that online lottery is no longer a contender in the Massachusetts FY2024 budget. This decision is good news for local package stores, many of which rely on lottery commissions as part of their sales.

Lottery officials began advocating for an online lottery system due to the legalization of sports betting, as they argue that “sports betting revenues could siphon off revenues from lottery sales”, to which MassPack retorts that, “This has never happened”.

MassPack claims that the state has presented “misleading information” and data based on New Hampshire, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Michigan, where the state controls alcohol and lottery sales, and therefore does not accurately represent the situation here in Massachusetts, where 100% of lottery retailers are private stores, and an online lottery system would directly compete with these stores.

To read the full article – check out The Advisor Magazine – Issue 30.

 

Summer Travel Impact On Business

Some Key Takeaways On How To Make The Most of Summer Travel

With summer now in full swing, many restaurant and liquor store owners are faced with the same question: what will this season look like for my business? Will people hop on a plane or into their cars to seek adventure far away from home, or will the rising costs of fuel, food, and nearly everything in between cause people to stay closer to home? Recent travel reports reveal that while many remain enthusiastic about travelling this summer, embracing a pandemic-free season, travel plans may look a little different this year due to continuing inflation concerns. Restaurants and liquor stores, like most other businesses, are also faced with the consequences of inflation, and if you are a business owner you know that keeping your hand on the pulse of who your customers will be this summer (and how long they will be staying) has never been more important.

To read the full article – check out The Advisor Magazine – Issue 29.

 

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