How far does an establishment selling alcoholic beverages have to be from a church or school?

No specific distance; however, under Section 16C of M.G.L. Chapter 138, premises located with a radius of five hundred feet of a school or church shall not be licensed to sell alcoholic beverages unless the local licensing authority determines in writing and after a hearing that the premises are not detrimental to the educational and spiritual activities of that church or school, unless the premises are those of an inn holder or unless the parts of the buildings are located ten or more floors above street level. The 500 foot distance under this Section 16C is measured in a straight line from the nearest point of the church or school to the nearest point of the premises to be licensed. 

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1. What is a license?
2. Does the ABCC issue licenses directly to any segments of the alcoholic beverages industry?
3. Who issues restaurant licenses and package store licenses?
4. How many classifications of retail licenses exist?
5. What are the four categories of retail liquor licenses?
6. How many different types of pouring licenses are there?
7. Are there any qualifications for being granted a retail liquor license?
8. Are license applicants barred from holding a liquor license if they have been convicted of a crime?
9. What is the quota system and on what is it based?
10. How far does an establishment selling alcoholic beverages have to be from a church or school?
11. How long does a licensee have to appeal to the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (ABCC) a decision made by the local licensing authority?
12. What are the most common reasons for license applications being denied or returned without action?
13. How long does a licensee have to appeal a decision made by the ABCC?