Lawmakers, municipal officials and retailers spar over returning liquor‑license control to cities and towns

House and Senate bills that would give cities and towns more authority to grant liquor licenses drew competing testimony at a joint hearing of the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure.

Proponents, including municipal officials and the Massachusetts Municipal Association, told the committee the current quota and home‑rule petition system is slow and blocks local economic development. "H 437 and S 279 would simplify existing processes and provide more ability to grant additional liquor licenses back at the local level," Ally Dimatayo, legislative analyst with the Massachusetts Municipal Association, told the committee. Christopher Senior, town manager of Cohasset, described a local restaurant scene he said has outgrown the town's existing licenses: "Every one of our 14 on premises all alcohol licenses have been issued," Senior said, and Cohasset reported more than $350,000 in local option meals…