The Advisor - Issue #18 : simplebooklet.com

Which side are you on? Lines are divided on liquor license issues that willdirectly impact the retail tier, approaching the senate as both sides try torally their cause.Reform is coming to Massachusetts which will be the first significantliquor law change since prohibition. For savvy owners, it's "time for nine"and they will leverage the likely Grandfathering process across the state. Restaurants are adjusting and preparing for anything as they get creativewith the threat of new variants. Hang on because it's about to get very interesting for all stakeholders inthe liquor license industry here in Massachusetts. As always, we're here toassist you. Sincerely, Page 4 - Saving Mom & Pop Shops: Vote "YES" Page 6 - Time For Nine: Grandfathering Off Premise Liquor LicensesPage 8 - Restaurant's Pandemic AdjustmentsCEO's NoteWith over half of the year behind us, we are approaching what willbecome an important time in the history of the liquor licenseindustry.Looking ForFeatured LiquorStore Listings?www.LiquorLicenseAdvisor.comTHE ADVISOR MAGAZINE  | 2Founder, CEOLiquor License AdvisorD A N N E W C O M BLiquor License Advisor has beena trusted resource in the liquorstore and license industry since2002.CLICK HERE

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CONVENIENCE IS KING Hot In The City Summer heat turns up the intensity of upcoming legislation set for November 2022 by Dan Newcomb New variants means restaurant owners are on edge fearing a step backwards with restrictions fresh on their mind Getting creative and as a proactive approach some major chains have revamped their entire business model for the what if scenario of restrictions of any kind coming back one day Flexibility and introduction to even more convenience at our finger tips have led restaurants to more delivery options as well as catering to pick up and drive thru based business MORE THAN 19 000 SIGNATURES Public support has been overwhelming for local bottle shops to continue to provide an option for those who are looking for specialty items local support for events and teams and those who prefer to browse the aisle in search of something new to add to their palette It seems the retail tier is under more pressure than it ever has been by what Rob Mellion of MassPack calls outside forces referring to outof state corporations with an interest in expanding and or doing business in the state The number of proposed bills being lobbied has skyrocketed in recent years putting pressure on the system and its ability to uphold the original prohibition laws It s not a question that things have changed since then so how will it all shake out and be reflected in today s current ballot question As the world and the industry continue to evolve it will be very interesting to see how alcohol comes into the picture for these types of business models What we do know is there will always be those who prefer to treat themselves to dine in and have someone pour the wine or whiskey for them Changes are coming to the liquor industry are you prepared If you need support or want to know where you stand in today s market give us a call today 781 319 9800

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Saving Mom Pop Shops Vote YES To Question 3 On November 8 2022 On Friday July 15 the Mass Pack Association announced to its membership that the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth has confirmed that the Association s ballot initiative petition the Expanded Availability of Licenses for the Sale of Alcohol Beverages will appear on the ballot as Question 3 this November The announcement proclaimed Not since the repeal of Prohibition has an issue of this importance within our industry been put to voters This is historic Liquors in Westborough MA and Benjamin Weiner Chair of the 21st Century Alcohol Retail Reform Committee and owner of Sav Mor Spirits in Somerville MA comes after a year long process that involved signature campaigns and the tireless efforts of the Mass Pack Association to bring awareness to their membership and to the general public The announcement put forth by Ryan Maloney President of MassPack and owner of Julio s A YES vote in November will expand convenience by gradually increasing the number of allowed beer and wine licenses from nine THE ADVISOR MAGAZINE 4 The announcement breaks down just exactly what a YES vote in November entails 9 to eighteen 18 minus any full liquor licenses owned Most states allow three 3 to five 5 full liquor licenses The number of liquor licenses in Massachusetts will be capped at seven 7 A YES vote also enhances public safety and encourages vigilance by retailers through prohibiting self checkout of alcohol beverages and by basing the fine for selling to a minor on a store s total sales and not just its alcohol sales and A YES vote additionally supports state tourism and brings Massachusetts in line with every other state in the country by allowing for valid out of state IDs to be relied upon by alcohol beverage retailers

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A July 7 ballotpedia.org article entitled “Two Massachusetts ballot initiatives filed a second round ofsignatures for a spot on the November ballot” explains the somewhat convoluted process of a ballotinitiative becoming a question on the ballot, stating that: “The process for initiating state statues inMassachusetts is indirect, which means the legislature has a chance to approve initiatives with successfulpetitions directly without the measure going to the voters” and that “[the initiative] submitted the required3% of signatures in December 2021 and were presented to the state legislature in early 2022. Since thestate legislature did not act on the initiatives by May 4, the initiatives were cleared to gather a secondround of 13,374 signatures to qualify for the November ballot.”The Daily News reported on July 9 (and then updated the report on July 13) that “[the proposal] to expandretail beer and wine sales…cleared a final hurdle to the November ballot,” which is positive reinforcementto local liquor stores who believe that small business in Massachusetts is under attack and that they arefighting for their survival by undertaking the ballot initiative, which has now become a reality as Question#3 on November’s ballot.Support local liquor store businesses by making A YES vote on Question #3 in November!SAVING MOM & POP SHOPSTHE ADVISOR MAGAZINE  | 5ContinuedQuestions about liquor licenses in your local area? Give us a call.781.319.9800781.319.9800

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November 8 2022 is a date that all liquor store owners should have circled on their calendar as a lot rides on the outcome of a proposed ballot question for 21st Century Alcohol Reform bill Issue 17 of The Advisor the license cap for the sale of all alcoholic beverages beer wine and liquor under the same license would be reduced from 9 to 7 Retailers will be allowed more licenses overall however Most recently more than 19 000 the cap for all alcoholic licenses signatures from the public were will be lower filed in support of the reform which over time would gradually For retailers who are currently increase the current number of near or wanting to capture the 9 licenses available to a single license limit they will have to retailer from 9 to 18 by 2031 pick up licenses quickly and start now Why is the number 9 so important While it is not clear when the retail reform bill would officially As previously mentioned in Retail take effect should it pass those Tier Reform Looming 21st who have a plan in place will be Century Alcohol Changes in set up for success THE ADVISOR MAGAZINE 7 With the cap increasing and the quota remaining the same simple economics of supply and demand suggest that anyone who has controlling interest in multiple stores specifically those with all alcoholic licenses will greatly benefit For successful retail owners with great ambitions of increasing their capacity this is not a time to wait and see Your climb to nine licenses has to start now while there s still time to get them under agreement Waiting around on the sidelines to see what happens won t work and in fact will be too late If you need a plan we re here for you Call us any time at 781 319 9800

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An article posted in early July onrebusinessonline.com entitled“Retail, Restaurant IndustriesEmbrace Post-Pandemic DesignShifts” addresses the post-pandemic shifts in consumerbehavior, as the ease of orderingonline with multiple pickupand/or delivery options hasbecome the norm over the pastfew years. Although thepandemic is behind us, thebehaviors consumers adoptedare not, and consumer behaviorsand expectations when it comesto shopping, dining, and drinkinghave changed, and businessesare paying attention. Let’s take acloser look at how restaurantsare adapting. The article identifies BorderFoods, one of the largestprivately held Taco Bellfranchises in America, as onerestaurant that has worked tocreate a new restaurant conceptdesigned around the established fast-food model - but an elevatedexperience, with two-stories andfour drive-thru lanes. JoshHanson, founder and CEO atVertical Works and WORKSHOP(the company behind the BorderFoods redesign), states that theirgoal was to offer a “highlypersonalized customerexperience” and that “thepandemic accelerated thisexpectation, as retailers wereforced to connect withconsumers in new ways.”Chipotle Mexican Grill hasembraced a similar concept witha “Chipotlane digital kitchen” thatonly takes digital orders forpickup or delivery. And it seemslike this was a smart move for thecompany, as their digital salesgrew 24.7% year over year andrepresented almost half of theirsales in 2021, according to thearticle.Pandemic life changed the way many businesses did business, asthe need to adapt to constantlyshifting restrictions became thekey to survival. Many consumers enjoyed theseadaptations, as they created amore convenient way to shop.People became accustomed toclicking to buy goods, anywherefrom groceries to a bottle of wine,and the continued popularity ofonline grocery orders that arepicked up at the consumer’sconvenience and alcohol deliveryservices like Drizly makes it clearthat consumer behavior hasshifted, and convenience andflexibility are king.Restaurants have recognized thisshift and are honoring consumers’desire for convenience andflexibility. Restaurants alreadyoffered pick-up and delivery withflexible options during thepandemic – even offering alcoholto-go in some places – and nowthey have upped their game byoffering next-level drive thruservice as well.Close behind have been liquorstores, also offering deliveryservices during the pandemic andcontinuing this service today,which makes you wonder, willliquor stores continue to followsuite and will drive thru liquorstores be next?***THE ADVISOR MAGAZINE  | 8Restaurant's Pandemic Adjustmentsby Michelle Hansford

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A L C O H O L D I R E C T - T O - C O N S U M E R Q U A R R E LA L C O H O L D I R E C T - T O - C O N S U M E R Q U A R R E LIMPACT ON MASSACHUSETTS RETAIL SALESThere’s some recent news in the DTC (“direct to consumer”) shipping world: A July 15, 2022 report onthe Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA) website pronounces that “WSWA opposes the DTCshipping of alcohol and were disappointed that the ULC [Uniform Law Commission] took up thisissue”, citing that issues concerning public health and safety occur in an interstate DTC marketplaceand that to avoid these issues, local delivery options are best.Speaking to these public health and safety concerns is a June 14, 2022 Avalara article which reportsthat the Massachusetts Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (ABCC) is conducting “MinimumPurchase Age Compliance Checks” on direct wine shipper licensees through September 30, 2022 andthat there are penalties associated with selling and shipping wine to minors. What Massachusetts hasyet to specify is how DTC shippers should regulate this issue and verify that a customer is over theage of 21.As alcohol shipments became more mainstream during pandemic life, there’s sure to be more tocome on this topic as consumers’ lifestyles have now shifted. As more and more things change, someretailers nearing the end of their careers are considering not getting involved at all and exiting a fewyears earlier than planned. ***THE ADVISOR MAGAZINE  | 9BY MICHEL LE H ANSFORD

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OUR FEATURED LISTINGS by Ben Jerrom Featured Listing Full Alcohol NEW Package Store Essex County MA Asking Price 425 000 Call For Information Listing Type Liquor License Advisor is proud to offer for your consideration a unique opportunity to own a brand new liquor store in Essex County The current landlord is selling the allalcoholic beverages license and is open to negotiating a new lease for the store which is approximately 1 200 square feet of downtown retail space it is currently unoccupied and ready for your personal touch This Main Street location is adjacent to multiple retail and town offices and is one half mile from the highway There is both off on street parking Buying this license does require that it stays in the same location where a liquor store was previously established for over 35 years As the new owner you will have the opportunity to develop the store and build it out to meet your dreams and vision making it an excellent opportunity for a motivated and visionary buyer Don t miss this opportunity to re establish this liquor store and take advantage of this rare business prospect Location Asking Price Wine Malt Package Store Middlesex County 200 000 Full Alcohol Package Store Middlesex County 1 000 000 Full Alcohol Package Store Suffolk County 4 000 000 Full Alcohol Package Store Norfolk County 750 000 Full Alcohol Package Store Plymouth County 525 000 Package Store License Wine Malt Middlesex County 75 000 Package Store License Wine Malt Somerville MA 159 000 Contact Ben Jerrom directly for further details on all of our current listings QUESTIONS ABOUT LISTINGS Call Text Ben Jerrom Partner Buyer Specialist Cell 413 544 4960 THE ADVISOR MAGAZINE 10

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WHAT DO THE NEXT 20 YEARS HOLD?If only we had a crystal ball...Independent liquor store owners are going to see a shift in the industry and theyneed to be prepared - whether it be to grow their existing footprint or exit to takeadvantage of the market changes.Either way, you need to be planning now. If you have questions on what that willlook like for your business, we can provide detailed recommendations for yourpersonal situation. We're here for you.In approximately 4 months time, a vote in the Senate will change the liquor store industry in Massachusetts forever. The question is by how much...Questions? Give us a call.781.319.9800

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YOUR TRUSTED INDUSTRY PARTNERDid you know that for over 2 decades, our Founder, Dan Newcomb, hasbeen in the liquor license industry as the "go-to" for other industryprofessionals and leaders? Every phone call that comes into our office is about a liquor license. Wedon't work in any other industry besides liquor stores and licenses.We provide owners with a "firewall" to protect them from all of the pitfallswe know are out there throughout a transaction because we know how toprepare the deal and navigate the waters. We're here for you.Meet Our TeamDan NewcombCEO & FounderBen JerromBuyer SpecialistJennifer MedicoTransaction SpecialistGlenn LawlerSeller SpecialistMichelle HansfordSeller ConciergeSherri BeauchampMarketing SpecialistQuestions?Call 781.319.9800 orvisit: LiquorLicenseAdvisor.comKate NewcombProject Specialist

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References:© Liquor License Advisor 2022, All Rights Reserved Unless Otherwise NotedSpecial Contributions & Acknowledgements:- Features Editor & Editorial Assistant: Michelle Hansford;- Magazine & Digital Editor: Sherri Beauchamp.THE ADVISOR MAGAZINE  | 13Saving Mom & Pop Shops: Vote "YES" To Questions #3 In November (Page 4-5)1 - Two Massachusetts ballot initiatives filed a second round of signatures for a spot on the November ballotby By Victoria Antram July 7, 2022 (https://news.ballotpedia.org/2022/07/07/two-massachusetts-ballot-initiatives-filed-a-second-round-of-signatures-for-a-spot-on-the-november-ballot/)2 - Referendums clear final hurdle for ballot By Christian M. Wade on Jul 9, 2022 Updated Jul 13, 2022 (https://www.newburyportnews.com/news/referendums-clear-final-hurdle-for-ballot/article_73ca427a-7e22-5826-aec6- bb6cdb15564d.html)Restaurant's Post-Pandemic Adjustments (Page 8)1 – Retail, Restaurant Industries Embrace Post-Pandemic Design Shifts on July 5, 2022 by Kristin Hiller (https://rebusinessonline.com/retail-restaurant-industries-embrace-post-pandemic-design-shifts/) Alcohol Direct-To-Consumer Quarrel (Page 9)1 – WSWA Issues Statement In Response To Uniform Law Commission Adopting Direct-To-Consumer Alcohol Shipping Proposal on Jul 15, 2022 (https://www.wswa.org/news/wswa-issues-statement-response-uniform-law-commission- adopting-direct-consumer-alcohol)2 - Massachusetts steps up DTC age compliance enforcement by Gail Cole on June 14, 2022 (https://www.avalara.com/blog/en/north-america/2022/06/massachusetts-steps-up-dtc-age-compliance- enforcement.html)

The Advisor - Issue #18

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