Alcoholic Beverages License (Section 12) — Boston
Serving alcohol in Boston requires a Section 12 on-premises license from the Boston Licensing Board, approved by the state ABCC.
What it is. A Section 12 on-premises alcoholic beverages license for restaurants (on-premises consumption).
Who issues it. City of Boston — Licensing Board (the Local Licensing Authority), with approval by the Massachusetts Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (ABCC) (City + State).
When you need it. Before serving alcohol. The Board holds a public hearing and considers public need and license availability; Boston has limited licenses. The process typically takes 4–12 weeks.
How to apply. File with the Boston Licensing Board; the ABCC then reviews/approves the state portion.
Fees. Per the Licensing Board / ABCC schedules — see source (⟢ VERIFY).
What SpoonSeal tracks. The document(s) you upload for this requirement, with automatic renewal/expiration tracking (Current, Due Soon, Expired). Where the city publishes health-inspection results (e.g., NYC and Chicago), SpoonSeal syncs them automatically; elsewhere they can be added manually.
References
- City of Boston, Apply for an Alcoholic Beverages Retail License — https://www.boston.gov/departments/licensing-board/apply-alcoholic-beverages-retail-license — Official source last checked: 2026-07-02
- Mass.gov, Apply for an Alcoholic Beverages License (ABCC) — https://www.mass.gov/apply-for-an-alcoholic-beverages-license-abcc — Official source last checked: 2026-07-02
Stay ahead of this requirement
SpoonSeal stores your documents, tracks expirations, and reminds you before anything lapses — so you are always inspection-ready.
Get started free →This guide is informational and not legal advice. Always confirm current requirements with the official agency linked above.