“It’s very simple,” said Raynham Police Chief Louis J. Pacheco. “If you believe that the sale of alcohol should be regulated, it’s a heck of a lot easier to regulate it when it can only be sold in package stores.”

If the ballot question passes in November, the number of licenses sold in the state stands to more than double, bringing the number to nearly 5,500 from 2,500, according to a press release issued by the “Vote No On Question 1″ campaign.
Right now alcohol can be bought at three places in Raynham - Market Basket, the Greyhound Package Store and Raynham Wine & Liquor, Pacheco said. If the ballot question passes, and the license change is signed into law, there could be as many as 14 locations selling liquor in the town of 13,500.
Rehoboth Police Chief Norman Miranda and Somerset Police Chief Joe Ferreira, who also support the “No on Ballot Question 1″ initiative, could not be reached for comment.
Last week, Taunton joined the ranks of Berkley, Rehoboth, Raynham and Seekonk, all communities where officials have spoken out against the ballot question. In each, selectmen or members of licensing commissions have vowed that even if the ballot question passes and the Legislature approves the change, the additional licenses will not be issued.
The way the law stands, grocery store chains are allowed three beer and wine licenses, which explains why the County Street Trucchi’s Supermarket and the Market Basket in Raynham sell liquor. But for larger chains, such as Stop & Shop and Hannaford, more recent additions to the Taunton area, the proportion of stores without liquor sales is much higher.
Local package store owners who oppose the ballot question have said it is the large, non-Massachusetts owned chains that are pushing for the increase in license availability, and that it will only result in sale of liquor to underage people and will put more drunken drivers on the road.
Those in favor of the ballot say it will bring an increase in consumer convenience.
From a policing standpoint, Pacheco said a serious increase in the number of liquor licenses will mean that local police departments - many of which are already facing staffing shortages - won’t be able to effectively regulate who is buying liquor.
“With the whole package store system, they have a lot more to lose if they sell to someone underage,” Pacheco said, because if they are caught, the store’s license will be suspended.
However, if a grocery store or gas station is caught selling liquor and has its liquor license suspended, that is only a portion of business that is lost during the suspension.
Pacheco also noted that grocery and convenience stores and gas stations are often staffed by younger employees who would be more likely to sell alcohol to their peers.