City Point convenience store gets OK to add beer and wine; board concludes that won't pose a threat or temptation to students at the Catholic grammar school across the street

The Boston Licensing Board today granted the East Broadway Market at 869 East Broadway at O Street in South Boston permission to sell beer and wine.

The board also approved a similar license for the new owner of the Beacon Hill Market on Anderson Street, Beacon Hill, to add beer and wine to his offerings.

Board members said they concluded that the addition of the alcoholic beverages would not cause any problems for the South Boston Catholic Academy across the street from the East Broadway Market, especially given that the St. Brigid and Gate of Heaven parishes did not come out against the proposal and because some school parents even supported the idea.

Board Chairwoman Kathleen Joyce added that despite concerns at a Wednesday hearing about South Boston being awash in alcohol, she didn't think the City Point area was "saturated with beer and wine licenses."

She added that owner Tony Patel has a good reputation and that she thinks he will operate the store in a positive and prudent way and that he would continue to run it as a variety store, rather than trying to morph it into a full liquor store.

Still, the board decided that a condition of the store's license would be that it cannot increase the shelf or floor space devoted to beer and wine - currently set at 20% - without seeking additional board approval. The board also required Patel to submit a written plan on how he will keep underage drinkers from getting their hands on the alcohol - whether through fake IDs or by begging adults outside to buy stuff for them - and to bar the sale of single bottles of beer.

The board had less of a discussion about approving beer and wine sales at the Beacon Hill market, which nobody rose to speak against at Wednesday's meeting. In addition to beer and wine, new owner Jason Indelicato also plans to upgrade the store's offerings to include such items as charcuterie.