There is a cap on how many alcohol licenses are allowed in Boston, and sometimes restaurants wait months for a license to become available. feels the system is antiquated and hurts the economic viability of Boston's main streets.

"I'm not talking about turning main streets into Bourbon Street. I'm talking about fostering small local environments for a nice glass of wine to celebrate a birthday or a graduation. We need libraries and supermarkets, but we also need quality places for people to socialize in all neighborhoods," said Pressley, who wants to lift the cap on alcohol licenses permitted in the city. There are several types of alcohol licenses, including one-day special licenses, but Pressley's gaze is upon the prized seven-day alcohol licenses. There are two ways to get a license: apply for license through the state's Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission, and Boston's Licensing Board; or buy one from an existing holder.

Hunting for licenses Liquor licenses are so scarce, restauranteurs hire firms to locate licenses and navigate the selling process from one business to another. A beer and wine license can go from $10,000 to $50,000, while a full alcohol all-inclusive license can go for upwards of $500,000. Restauranteur Joe Greene, who co-own's several restaurants including the , The Paramount 2 (in South Boston), , , and the Blarney Stone, spoke about buying alcohol licenses. Greene said he has always opened new restaurants at locations that had alcohol licenses, so he bought the lease and the license.

"At this point the liquor license cost area is about $250,000," said Greene. "If you spend that money and then they start giving them out, it wouldn't be good from in my point-of-view. It's tough to buy a license, but then it has value. It's part of the investment... It's just the way it works." Greene said it's tough to transfer a license from one area to another, especially when you need to go in front of neighborhood boards, and deal with possible zoning issues.

Buying a license Eric Battite, who owns in West Roxbury and , opened in Roslindale Village last year, but it took him more than half a year to get a beer and wine license for the restaurant. Battite said he first applied for a license in May 2011 and got one in February 2012.

Battite said a metro Boston business offered him a beer and wine license for $40,000.

"Word on the street is you can negotiate between $15,000 to $20,000 and not go through the system. You can purchase them, but I didn't want to negotiate a pay for that much. I thought I would get my license a lot quicker when I applied, but it really took six to seven months." Battite said the Sugar Baking Co.'s beer and wine license cost him about $7,000, with most of it going to legal fees.