Can a retailer sell alcoholic beverages by auction?
A “package store” licensed under section 15 of chapter 138 of the General laws may sell wine only by auction only if the package store applies for and receives the proper license from the local licensing authority with the prior approval of the ABCC. Since 1997, package stores could also obtain a license that would allow them to sell wine at auction To obtain such a wine auction license, the package store be issued a license under section 15 of chapter 138. These wine auctions must be held only at the location described on the wine auction license but may be licensed to be held at “premises which are either the principal place of business or headquarters of the applicant and which are legally zoned to allow such sales or which are the premises of a licensee under section 12 or section 15 of chapter 138 of the General Laws.” The law imposes a number of restrictions and controls on the wine auction license, one of which restricts the duration and number of wine auction licenses that may
