Rockport, Mass., Restaurants Granted Liquor Licenses

Liquor was not allowed to be sold in Rockport since pre-Civil War days, but it began to change when voters in April decided to grant liquor licenses to restaurants and inns. Beacham, who led the movement to legalize liquor sales and bought the first drink, together with supporters of the effort come from all over the world to repeal the ban celebrated Tuesday at Emerson Inn by the Sea, the first Rockport establishment to obtain a liquor license. Complaining that the law has been negatively influenced the tourism in Rockport, Bruce Coates, owner of the Emerson Inn, said restaurant patrons had been allowed to bring in their own alcohol before the law changed, but many tourists grew impatient with having to go to nearby Gloucester and other towns. "It was driving the built-in business away," Coates said. "The Americans got frustrated. The Europeans didn't believe what you were saying. They were all quite surprised." Heidi Zander, an artist and gallery owner who grew up in Rockport, said the town has changed over the years, with older residents selling their homes and higher-income people moving in. “They're not bad people. They're cultured people. They want a glass of wine when they go out," she said. Opponents to easing the ban had said they feared it would lead to bars, bar fights and increased traffic that would erode the town's character. A phone number for the group Keep Rockport Dry was disconnected Tuesday. However, according to Rockport police, there were no problems on Day 1. "There have been no reported incidents at all," officer Robert Hickey said. http://www.nrn.com/story