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The House unanimously approved a summer pilot that would let cities and towns extend alcohol service to 3 a.m. and create designated outdoor drinking districts from June 8 through July 31.
Patrons at the bar watch the FIFA drawing for teams at Phoenix Landing Bar a sports pub in Cambridge on December 5, 2025. (David L Ryan/ Boston Globe Staff)
June 5, 2026 | 1:20 PM
2 minutes to read
The Massachusetts House of Representatives unanimously passed legislation Thursday that would temporarily allow bars and restaurants to serve alcohol until 3 a.m. and permit public drinking in designated outdoor districts, a move supporters say will help the state capitalize on a surge of summer visitors.
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Gov. Healey backs bill to keep Mass. bars open until 3 a.m. this summer
The bill, H. 5471, authorizes a pilot program running from June 8 through July 31 that gives municipalities the option to extend on-premises alcohol service by one hour beyond current closing times. Cities and towns that opt in would also have the authority to establish designated public consumption zones and set their own rules around which businesses may participate and what restrictions apply.
Supporters have pointed to this summer’s confluence of major events as the driving force behind the measure. Massachusetts is set to host FIFA World Cup matches at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of American independence, and the return of Tall Ships to Boston Harbor.
For bill sponsor Representative Carole A. Fiola, that combination made the timing hard to ignore.
“Summer 2026 presents a unique opportunity for Massachusetts,” the Fall River Democrat said to lawmakers before their vote Thursday. “With international visitors expected throughout the region for FIFA World Cup events and celebrations surrounding America’s 250th anniversary, and the return of Tall Ships to the Boston Harbor, communities across the Commonwealth will have an opportunity to showcase their downtowns, waterfronts, cultural districts, restaurants, and small businesses.”
House Speaker Ronald J. Mariano, who championed the bill alongside Fiola and Ways & Means Chair Aaron Michlewitz, said the pilot would serve a dual purpose: letting businesses cash in on the visitor boom while giving the state a chance to study what a permanent last-call extension might look like.
“This pilot program won’t just allow us to better understand the one hour last call extension, it will also ensure that businesses are able to take advantage of the influx of visitors,” the Quincy Democrat said.
But many service workers are skeptical of the proposal.
Frederic Yam, a bartender and Chapter Director for the United States Bartenders Guild’s Boston chapter, told Boston.com in a statement that the proposal may make sense in some neighborhoods like the Seaport, which has a younger population and many hotels, or near sporting venues, but could face difficulties elsewhere.
“People are voting with their dollars not to make it profitable for places to stay open late,” Yam said, adding that he sees a trend of earlier closings in many parts of Boston over the last five years. “Most neighborhoods generally support only one late-night food and drinking spot, and a second would be competing for that same pool.”
Yam also highlighted challenges for restaurant workers, including health, work-life balance, and transportation. Extending closing times to 3 a.m. could mean staff might not get home until 5 a.m., he said, making it difficult to rest or have a proper meal.
“Food service does not go that late in most places because the kitchen staff generally has to take public transportation home and are not paid enough to spend that much of their earnings on Uber/Lyft to get home every night,” he added.
The bill now heads to the state Senate for consideration.
Annie Jonas is a Community writer at Boston.com. She was previously a local editor at Patch and a freelancer at the Financial Times.
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