Wareham select board votes down opt-in to allow alcohol service until 3 a.m.

The Wareham Select Board on June 16 voted against opting in to an Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (ABCC) temporary allowance that would permit establishments to serve alcohol until 3 a.m.

After brief discussion about staffing and late-night incidents, the board rejected the opt-in on a 3–2 vote, meaning local liquor license holders will not be able to extend service to 3 a.m. under the ABCC rule in Wareham. A board member told colleagues they had spoken with the chief of police, who had concerns that the town lacks staffing to cover the additional late-night hours and that most incidents involving impairment occurred after midnight.

Board members also reported speaking with two liquor license holders who opposed the change, saying later schedules would push staff departures later into the morning. One member summed up community concerns by saying that, in their view, nothing good tends to happen after midnight. Proponents noted that the opt-in is permissive and that individual businesses would not be required to stay open until 3 a.m.

The motion to opt in failed; the town will not adopt the ABCC temporary allowance. The board did not direct staff to revisit the matter at a future date during the meeting.

The Select Board took no other action on local alcohol policy at the June 16 session.