A state government task force has recommended a major overhaul of state alcohol laws.

The recommendations include raising the alcohol excise tax, raising alcohol-related fines and fees and eliminating some regulatory burdens on the industry.

"Our office has just begun reviewing this report and will identify next steps that can be done internally, in addition to developing long term legislative priorities that will promote public safety, help our Massachusetts businesses and enhance the smooth operations of the Alcohol Beverages Control Commission," Treasurer Deborah Goldberg said in a statement.

Goldberg's office convened the task force and oversees the Alcohol Beverages Control Commission.

The task force was led by E. Macey Russell, a partner at the law firm Choate, Hall & Stewart, with appointees from the treasurer, House speaker, Senate president and governor. It was established to examine ways to update state alcohol laws and determine if Massachusetts could do a better job reducing alcohol consumption by minors and other vulnerable groups.

Many of the state's alcohol laws have not been updated since 1933.

The report found that Massachusetts today has relatively low excise taxes on alcohol compared to other states. Raising the tax by 50 percent on beer, wine and spirits could generate an additional $41.6 million a year.

This would mean raising the tax on beer from $0.11 to $0.16 per gallon, on wine from $0.55 to $0.82 per gallon and on spirits from $4.05 to $6.07 per gallon.

By doing this, the report writes, the state "would be taking positive step towards implementing sound public health policy while also generating needed revenue for the Commonwealth."

The 288-page report makes 37 recommendations.

Some of the provisions would make it easier for people to apply for alcohol licenses and run alcohol-related businesses. For example, licensing authorities would have to give a reason in writing why they were denying an application. Applicants would have longer to appeal a denial, from five days to 10 days.

Bars would be allowed to accept out-of-state photo IDs under the same conditions as Massachusetts IDs.

Smaller brewers, wineries and distilleries would have an easier time terminating franchise agreements under the proposed changes. Today, laws make it difficult for manufacturers to terminate contracts with wholesalers, which has become a major point of contention for farmers and small businesses.

Pub brewers would be allowed to sell on Sundays, the same way farmer brewers are today.

At the same time, the proposed changes would do more to discourage misconduct. "The efforts to modernize the Commonwealth's liquor laws provide a unique opportunity to implement policies that will improve public health and safety," the report writes.

The task force recommends increasing the fines for illegal sales and deliveries of alcohol.

The Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission would be authorized to revoke the license of anyone who provides false or misleading information on an application.

The task force recommends surveying children in schools to monitor their alcohol consumption, then using that data to develop strategies to prevent alcohol use among minors.

It recommends raising the excise tax on alcohol and using the money to form a new ABCC Health and Education Fund that would give money to nonprofits that provide education and treatment programs.

It recommends raising licensing fees. It also recommends increasing alcohol-related fines by 10 percent and eliminating discount programs, which let large retailers buy alcohol more cheaply from distributors, then sell it at lower prices.

"On balance, the threat to small business coupled with the public health and safety dangers posed by discounted sales outweigh the minimal consumer benefit," the report found.

The task force also recommends bolstering staffing at the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission. Today, the commission, which oversees the alcohol industry, has one investigator for every 800 licensees, compared to a national average of one investigator for 261 licensees. The task force recommends spending $3.1 million a year, paid for by licensing fees and alcohol excise taxes, to add another 30 investigators and 15 staff.

2017-12-27 Final Alcohol Task Force Report by Shira Schoenberg on Scribd