By Bob Katzen

Gov. Healey signed into law a bill adding 225 new alcohol licenses for the City of Boston over the next three years.

Supporters said the licenses would be distributed across 13 Boston zip codes, expanding equity for restaurant owners in historically underrepresented parts of the city and boosting economic opportunity in communities of color that have been systemically excluded for decades.

They noted that sit-down restaurants in Roxbury, Dorchester, Mattapan, East Boston, Roslindale, West Roxbury, Hyde Park, Charlestown, Jamaica Plain and the South End now stand to benefit from the restricted licenses. They said that the high price tag of up to $600,000 for existing licenses has been a major obstacle for businesses looking to turn a profit, including in underserved neighborhoods.

“Neighborhood restaurants play such an essential role in our communities and our economy,” Healey said. “This bill will lower barriers for Boston restaurants to provide the services that their customers are looking for and help them succeed, while also supporting local nonprofits, theaters and outdoor spaces.