The city of Boston has the same number of liquor licenses today as it did in 1930.

(Or something like that ... I don't know the real date, but it's in the early 20th century.)

The city has to get the state's approval before it can issue more licenses.

The state has said no, repeatedly.

Until recently.

A bill that will would add 65 new liquor licenses to the city of Boston was endorsed by the legislative Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Wednesday and is now headed to the state Senate.

The additions include 25 new all-alcoholic licenses, five of which would be reserved for hotels; 30 new beer-and-wine- licenses; and 10 all-alcohol licenses that must be exchanged with existing beer-and-wine licenses.

Source: Committee OKs bill to increase liquor licenses - By Naomi R. Kooker, Boston Business Journal