Hub hauling in Southie bars ahead of St. Patrick’s Day
Mandatory hearing Friday
City officials are hauling in Southie bars and restaurants in advance of St. Patrick’s Day.
All establishments with a liquor license in South Boston must virtually attend a 1 p.m. hearing Friday with the city’s licensing board.
It’s mandatory, the posting says. One all-caps portion of the public notice declares that any licensee who doesn’t show “WILL BE SUBJECT TO DISCIPLINARY ACTION,” potentially including “SUSPENSION” of their license.
The city says it holds an “informational hearing” every year with all Southie licensees to discuss protocols and operational requirements for parade day.
Of course, for the second year in a row, COVID-19 has scuttled plans for a parade, so the city says this one is to remind the bars and restaurants of the various COVID19 operational restrictions. Those include the ongoing prohibition on live entertainment, the 40% capacity limit and the 90-minute maximum stay.
The city says this isn’t a disciplinary hearing.
One of the first major events of the pandemic last year locally was the cancellation of the parade, which Mayor Martin Walsh did six days out as coronavirus cases doubled overnight — to 41 total. But then during the weekend right before St. Paddy’s Day, the local news was full of pictures of lines outside bars in Southie, which is normally home to the raucous parade.
After news stories that Saturday, a collection of Southie bars voluntarily closed on Sunday, March 15, fearing even larger crowds.
Over the summer, the licensing board dragged in groups of licensees for “emergency” hearings over coronavirus rules, having largely friendly conversations — with the exception of the Allston-Brighton group. During the past couple of months the city has begun nailing bars and restaurants for COVID violations.