Tisbury voters are one step closer to deciding whether or not to lift food requirements for alcoholic beverage service, after the Massachusetts House of Representatives approved legislation sponsored by Rep. Dylan Fernandes (D-Falmouth) that would allow restaurants in the town to serve booze without meals, if approved by a majority of town voters.

The new rule, H.3831, applies to restaurants, including those at inns and hotels, that are able to seat 30 customers at once, according to an announcement from Mr. Fernandes's office. Sales of alcoholic beverages cannot exceed 35 per cent of a business's gross sales, and must end at 11 p.m.  

These stipulations are derived from the 2009 law allowing beer and wine sales in Tisbury with the purchase of a meal, according to the announcement. In 2017, town voters approved a measure to allow all types of alcohol to be sold under the same conditions.

The current legislation now moves to the state senate for further review.