ABINGTON - June 11, 2026 - The Abington Select Board voted unanimously to opt into a temporary state pilot program allowing local pouring establishments to extend their alcoholic beverage service by one additional hour through July 31, 2026. The measure, signed into law by Governor Haley on June 8, 2026, aims to help local businesses remain competitive during a summer packed with major international events like World Cup matches, though town officials emphasized that strict local oversight and police details will be used to keep order.
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The Abington Select Board called a brief special session to address a single, time-sensitive agenda item: determining whether the town would participate in a newly enacted state pilot program to expand liquor and entertainment license hours.
Town Manager Mike Maresco explained that the state legislation, titled the “Act Authorizing Municipalities to opt in to a temporary pilot to expand the hours of liquor licenses and to allow for the public consumption in designated districts in the summer of 2026,” was passed rapidly by the General Court to accommodate a unique convergence of summer events. The pilot was heavily driven by Boston lawmakers seeking to keep Massachusetts competitive with major cities like New York and Los Angeles during high-profile draws, including the international World Cup tournament, Sail 2026 (the Tall Ships celebration), and the nation’s 250th anniversary festivities.
“[The state] did it for the whole state, and then it’s up to the local licensing boards to make a decision what’s best for their community.” — Town Manager Mike Maresco
While the state law grants local licensing authorities the option to extend pouring hours up until 3:00 a.m. and designate public consumption zones, the Abington Select Board immediately established tight boundaries for the local rollout. Board member William Cormier emphasized that the extension should strictly apply to on-premise “pouring facilities,” entirely excluding retail package stores. The board also explicitly rejected the notion of establishing any public drinking districts within the town.
Under the approved framework, Abington establishments will not receive a blanket or automatic extension. Instead, individual business owners must submit a formal written request to Town Manager Maresco. This centralized process allows the town administration to compile an accurate roster to share with the police department so public safety officials know exactly which venues are permitted to operate late.
