Law Offices of John P. Connell, P.C.: The ABCC recently issued a “warning” to Cisco Brewers, Inc. after ABCC investigators noticed a sign posted in the window of a Plymouth restaurant that stated, “Captain John Boats, Cisco Brews Cruise . . . samples and sunset for $25 dollars.” In its decision, the ABCC stated that when its investigators boarded the vessel “Tales of the Sea” in Plymouth for the “2nd annual Cisco Brews Cruise,” investigators found fifty-six 12-packs of beer provided by Cisco which Cicso apparently intended to sell as 2 ounce samples. Cisco Brewers, Inc., the holder of a farmer-brewer license issued pursuant to G.L. c. 138, sec. 19C, was then citied for, among other infractions, violation of 204 CMR 19.11, which states as follows:
“No manufacturer, importer, wholesaler, certificate of compliance holder or other Massachusetts licensee (except ship licensees) shall directly or indirectly sponsor, promote or advertise or use its name or the trade or brand name of any alcoholic beverage in connection with any cruise or event, public or private aboard a ship. No ship shall allow or accept funds or favor for such sponsorship, promotion or advertisement.”
Finding that Cisco had violated this section of the Massachusetts Regulations issued by the ABCC, the ABCC issued Cisco a “warning” in light of the fact that it had no prior ABCC violations. Cisco’s faulty foray into troubled waters, however, serves as a reminder that when the nice weather does return to these parts, absolutely no licensee within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, from breweries to liquor stores and restaurants, may use its name or the trade name of its alcoholic beverage in promoting, advertising or sponsoring any type of event, whether it be private or public, aboard a ship. This remains true for both larger cruise ships and the locally chartered vessels that cater to such “booze cruises” in our waters.