Lowell commissioners queue public hearing on rule change to distinguish bars from restaurants, debate age limits for entry

The Lowell License Commission voted Thursday to hold a public hearing on proposed revisions to the commission's licensing regulations that would establish a separate license category for bar-only businesses and limit admission of minors to those venues.

The commission set the public hearing after an extended discussion that brought questions from commissioners about how the change would work, how it would interact with a separate City Council proposal about kitchens for restaurant-license holders, and whether age limits should be set at under 18 or under 21.

The proposal, framed by the city law department, would allow businesses to apply for an "all alcoholic beverages, general" license for bar-only operations; by contrast, existing "all alcoholic beverages, restaurant" licenses would remain available to establishments that keep a functioning restaurant. "That would be 1 of the proposals that…