Temporary liquor license extension won’t be in effect in Athol

ATHOL – A bill signed into law by Gov. Maura Healey allowing bar and social club owners to stay open an extra hour won’t apply to Athol establishments, following Tuesday’s Selectboard meeting.

The issue was brought before the board by Town Manager Shaun Suhoski. The special legislation, “An Act authorizing municipalities to opt-in to a temporary pilot to extend the hours of liquor licenses and to allow for public consumption in designated districts in summer 2026,” unanimously passed the House and Senate and was signed into law by Healey in early June, and expires July 31.

“It’s related to the World Cup,” Suhoski explained. “Some of the larger cities – Boston, Worcester and others – have adopted this. There are two parts to it….whether you would allow your local licensees to stay open an hour beyond their licensed time. So, if it’s a 2 a.m. license, it would be 3 a.m….It also allows public consumption in a designated zone. We don’t have a zone proposed for you, but we’re bringing this to the board for your perusal.”

The town manager told the board, after confirming the information with administrative aide Bridget Armentrout, that his office had received no inquiries from any Athol establishment interested in taking advantage of the legislation.

“I don’t know if we’ll have any big World Cup parties here in Athol,” said Suhoski. “But this is more informational, to see if there’s any interest in this or, if the interest arises, if you’d like to address it at your next meeting.”

In response to a question from board Chair Bill Chiasson, Suhoski confirmed any extended hours would require a vote from the board. Currently, establishments are prohibited from serving any alcohol after 1:15 a.m., according to Armentrout.

“The World Cup matches have already started,” said board member Russell Raymon, “and nobody has reached out to the board or to Bridget about staying open later. I don’t know that we necessarily need to do this.”

“My concern is that it’s for the month of July,” said Chiasson. “It’s a new fiscal year with the Police Department having a curtailment of personnel and, frankly, I’m not in favor of it.”

“It’s amazing to me that they can something like this done so quickly – to extend liquor hours – when they can’t get nothing else done,” board Vice Chair Marc Maxwell interjected. “I won’t support this.”

Subsequently, no member made a motion to opt-in to the legislation. “No motion, no action,” said Chiasson, and the matter ended with no further consideration.