Earlier this month, Boston City Councilor Ayanna Pressley requested the Boston City Council to consider allowing Boston to acquire additional Liquor Licenses from State Legislature. As discussed in our previous blog, Councilor Pressley challenged the current quota of issued Liquor Licenses, claiming it does little to promote cultural and economical growth for the City of Boston.
Today, the Boston City Council focused on acquiring just one additional liquor license in particular, for the Irish Social Club in West Roxbury. The Irish Social Club currently has to apply for a special liquor license each time it holds an event, as the establishment went out of business and lost its license last year when an expensive re-fitting of the club’s sprinkler system required renovations that the club simply could not afford. Since that time, fund raising and donations have provided the necessary funds for the sprinkler system renovation which has allowed the venue and to re-open.
To remedy the Irish Social Club’s current inability to serve drinks on a continuous basis, the Boston City Council has requested the State Legislature for a “special license” that would be held by the Club exclusively, without transfer or selling rights. This “special license” would allow the Irish Social Club an easier opportunity to preserve the Irish-American culture in Boston and in West Roxbury in particular.
The site specific request for the issuance of one license to an Irish establishment, when the establishment could purchase such a license on the open market for a market dictated price, has given rise to some controversy as some observers note that the City Councilors associated with this legislative request are Steven Murphy and John Connolly, both of proud Irish decent.