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Summary of Question 1
This proposed law would allow local licensing authorities to issue licenses for food stores to sell wine. The proposed law defines a "food store" as a retail vendor, such as a grocery store, supermarket, shop, club, outlet, or warehouse-type seller, that sells food to consumers to be eaten elsewhere (which must include meat, poultry, dairy products, eggs, fresh fruit and produce, and other specified items), and that may sell other items usually found in grocery stores. Holders of licenses to sell wine at food stores could sell wine either on its own or together with any other items they sell. The licensing authorities in any city or town of up to 5000 residents could issue up to 5 licenses for food stores to sell wine. In cities or towns of over 5000 residents, one additional license could be issued for each additional 5000 residents (or fraction of 5000). No person or business could hold more than 10% of the total number of the licenses that could be issued under the proposed law. Such licenses would not be counted when applying the laws that limit the number of other kinds of alcoholic beverage licenses that may be issued or held. Any applicant for a license would have to be approved by the state Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission, and any individual applicant would have to be at least 21 years old and not have been convicted of a felony. In issuing any licenses for food stores to sell wine, local licensing authorities would have to use the same procedures that apply to other licenses for the retail sale of alcoholic beverages. Except where the proposed law has different terms, the same laws that apply to issuance, renewal, suspension and termination of licenses for retail sales of alcoholic beverages which are not to be consumed on the seller's premises, and that apply to the operations of holders of such licenses, would govern licenses to sell wine at food stores, and the operation of holders of such licenses. Local authorities could set fees for issuing and renewing such licenses.

2006 - Statewide - Question 1Do you approve of a law summarized below, on which no vote was taken by the Senate or the House of Representatives before May 3, 2006?

View as: # | %  
County Blanks Total Votes Cast
Barnstable More »
 
39,601
61,077
4,722
105,400
Berkshire More »
 
13,156
30,292
3,300
46,748
Bristol More »
 
58,684
97,363
13,332
169,379
Dukes More »
 
3,204
3,894
601
7,699
Essex More »
 
112,368
129,846
18,274
260,488
Franklin More »
 
11,737
15,462
1,603
28,802
Hampden More »
 
55,370
72,277
9,398
137,045
Hampshire More »
 
24,254
30,026
2,559
56,839
Middlesex More »
 
237,908
269,534
31,002
538,444
Nantucket More »
 
1,450
2,190
392
4,032
Norfolk More »
 
104,793
144,206
12,647
261,646
Plymouth More »
 
66,719
107,627
8,861
183,207
Suffolk More »
 
79,917
83,515
17,833
181,265
Worcester More »
 
108,306
138,405
16,130
262,841
Totals
917,467
1,185,714
140,654 2,243,835