Don’t take a seat
Published on January 8th, 2003
STONEHAM, MA - A public hearing to tighten up the Stoneham alcohol bylaws resulted in just the opposite as the Stoneham Board of Selectmen voted to allow restaurant patrons to stand while ordering alcohol. In recent history, Stoneham patrons have had to be seated in order to be served beer or alcohol, but, at the behest of establishment owners such as the 99 Restaurant, Felicia’s and J.J. Grimsby’s and over an hour of deliberation, but that was one of several changes that took place. The change was expected to take place immediately, and allow patrons to imbibe while waiting to be seated for dinner.
“From our point of view, it really doesn’t matter whether a person is sitting or standing and drinking alcohol,” said Stoneham 99 Restaurant manager Steve Durand. “It’s the responsibility of the staff and management of a restaurant to make sure that the alcohol is safely and responsibly being served.”
“Right now, we have to explain to people why they can’t have a cocktail while they wait to be seated, and we’re losing business to the surrounding towns, added Durand.”
The restaurant owners were all invited to the public hearing to discuss the new changes, and, by and large, they had no problems with the bylaw adjustment. There was no fanfare about the two drink maximum before food is served, and the Board also voted to allow grand-fathering with regard to the space between seating. Current restaurants will not be forced to adhere to the 24 inch spacing requirement between chairs for a liquor license, but any new plan will have to provide such spacing.
Stoneham Selectman Cosmo Ciccarello, a vocal opponent of “loosening the liquor laws and allowing a bar-type atmosphere in Stoneham” eventually relented and approved the changes.
“We haven’t had any problems in this town with bar fights or police activity at the restaurants, so I’m willing to go along with this,” said Ciccarello. “If things go bad, we can always go back and amend the bylaws or pull people’s liquor licenses.”
“Besides, if you can’t stand after two drinks then that’s a sure sign you shouldn’t be drinking anymore,” added the elder Selectman.
The Selectmen did provide some provisions that will keep the standing drinkers within the barroom area, Selectman Mary Pecoraro also raised a provision that will require servers to carry unfinished drinks from the bar to the dining area.
“I’m very concerned about people carrying drinks and spilling, and think that a server with a tray could be the solution,” said Pecoraro.
A smattering of audience members voiced concern about losing control of alcohol service, and implored the Selectmen to not turn Stoneham into a “bar town.”
“The 99 Restaurant is a responsible, family-oriented restaurant, but we’re not just approving these bylaws for the 99,” said Kristen Russo. “We’re approving this bylaw for every restaurant with a current liquor license, and every future licensee.”
“My husband and I breathe a sigh of relief when we go to the Stoneham restaurants because we don’t have to worry about someone walking into our child with a drink.”
The owners in attendance spoke openly of their records, and perhaps swayed the Selectmen with their responsible staffing and management practices.
“We’ve been in Stoneham for two years, and we have never had a police incident at Felicia’s,” said owner Fred Pew. “In my forty years of owning restaurants, I have never been reprimanded or fined or knowingly sold alcohol to a minor. It’s the responsibility of each business to treat their license with responsibility.”
The Selectmen voted unanimously to approved the Liquor License bylaw with the standing provision.
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