Mass. Gen. Laws » Part I Title XX Chapter 138
Massachusetts General Laws

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 138, § 18B (2026)

Issuance of certificates of compliance to licensees authorized to export or sell alcoholic beverages to domestic licensees; information concerning shipments; issuance of certificates to immediate family; cancellation and revocation of certificates

✓ current as of July 2026
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Section 18B. The commission shall issue a certificate of compliance to a licensee having a place of business located, and a license granted, outside the commonwealth and whose license authorizes the exportation or sale of alcoholic beverages to licensees in this commonwealth; provided, that such certificate shall be issued upon the condition that the holder shall furnish from time to time as the commission may require, but in no event more often than once each month, information concerning all shipments or sales of alcoholic beverages made by him to licensees in this commonwealth, and that he comply with the provisions of this chapter and any rules or regulations made under authority contained therein which pertain to a licensee of the same class, type or character, doing business in this commonwealth under a license issued by the commission. The commission may suspend, cancel or revoke any certificate issued hereunder for a violation of the terms or conditions thereof. All certificates shall be issued to expire December thirty-first of the year of issuance and the fee therefor shall be no less than $200.

No person who holds a certificate under this section shall hold or be granted a license under section eighteen. A person shall be deemed to hold a certificate under this section and a license under section eighteen if such person or any member of his immediate family holds such a certificate and license. As used in this section the words ''immediate family'' shall include the certificate holder and his spouse and their parents, children, brothers and sisters.

Violation of the provisions of this section shall be cause for the revocation of all certificates and licenses held by the certificate holder and his immediate family.

In the case of a corporate certificate holder or licensee any person or his immediate family who owns more than ten per cent of the stock of such corporation shall be deemed to be the certificate holder or licensee under this section.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 9 cases, 1976–2019 · leading case: Anheuser-Busch, Inc. v. Alcoholic Beverages Control Comm'n, 912 N.E.2d 1034 (Mass. App. Ct. 2009).
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Anheuser-Busch, Inc. v. Alcoholic Beverages Control Comm'n, 912 N.E.2d 1034 (Mass. App. Ct. 2009). · cites it 6× “By G. L. c. 138, § 18B, inserted by St. 1943, c.”
M. H. Gordon & Son, Inc. v. Alcoholic Beverages Control Comm'n, 358 N.E.2d 778 (Mass. 1976). · cites it 3× “The court also enjoined Gordon, pending this appeal, from selling or supplying to retailers in this Commonwealth any alcoholic beverages obtained from any holder of a certificate of compliance under G. L. c. 138, § 18B, but who is not the brand owner or designated agent therefor…”
Miller Brewing Co. v. Alcoholic Beverages Control Comm'n, 780 N.E.2d 80 (Mass. App. Ct. 2002). · cites it 2× “Miller Brewing Company (Miller) appeals a judgment of the Superior Court affirming an order of the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (commission) that suspended for fourteen days Miller’s certificate of compliance, issued pursuant to G. L. c. 138, § 18B, to export and sell…”
BAA Massachusetts, Inc. v. Alcoholic Beverages Control Comm'n, 733 N.E.2d 564 (Mass. App. Ct. 2000). · cites it 2× “, certificate of compliance holder, G. L. c. 138, § 18B 5 ) furnishes the product to: *841 2.”
Van Munching Co. v. Alcoholic Beverages Control Comm'n, 670 N.E.2d 401 (Mass. App. Ct. 1996). “(Van Munching), is a certificate of compliance holder under G. L. c. 138, § 18B, which licenses Van Munching as a supplier to sell alcoholic beverages to Massachusetts wholesalers.”
Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of Massachusetts, Inc. v. Net Contents, Inc., 10 F. Supp. 2d 84 (D. Mass. 1998). “M.G.L. c. 138, § 18B (1991). Under this tight regulatory scheme, consumers cannot purchase alcoholic beverages directly from wholesalers or manufacturers and, in turn, wholesalers and manufacturers cannot sell alcoholic beverages directly to consumers.”
Beverages Int'l, Ltd. v. Alcoholic Beverages Control Comm'n, 512 N.E.2d 1148 (Mass. App. Ct. 1987). “The defendants are the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (commission) and Schenley Affiliated Brands Corporation (Schenley), *709 a liquor wholesaler and holder of a certificate of compliance issued pursuant to G. L. c. 138, § 18B. The appeal is from a judgment, adverse to…”
M. H. Gordon & Son, Inc. v. Alcoholic Beverages Control Comm'n, 438 N.E.2d 1095 (Mass. App. Ct. 1982). “The fact that the commission’s decision hinders Gordon to some degree in its efforts to import alcoholic beverages from out-of-State suppliers holding certificates under G. L. c. 138, § 18B, is not the point. As the first Gordon decision made plain, “§ 25B(d) explicitly…”
Martignetti Grocery Co. v. Alcoholic Beverages Control Comm'n (Mass. App. Ct. 2019). · cites it 2× “The parent company of Constellation, which possessed a certificate of compliance issued under G. L. c. 138, § 18B, allowing it to distribute alcoholic beverages in Massachusetts, assumed responsibility for sales of the brand.”
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